Next Senior Shabbat Initiative: Friday November 27, Ohef Sholom Temple
In August, Ohef Sholom Temple hosted its first Senior Shabbat Initiative made possible by a generous grant from Beth Sholom Village. This was the first in a series of programs designed to enable seniors to remain actively connected to Jewish communal life.
“We frequently get requests for our clergy to conduct services at area senior living centers,” says Alyson Morrissey, director of Lifelong Learning at Ohef Sholom.
“With only two clergy for nearly 700 families, at best, they can only get to one facility, touching a fraction of our members. Bringing the seniors to Ohef Sholom and providing them with a social and spiritual experience was the obvious solution.”
The evening began with a traditional Shabbat dinner, giving participants the opportunity to meet new people as well as connect with friends and acquaintances. Ohef Sholom teens and young adults were encouraged to attend to interact with the seniors, and share about their involvement in Temple, which was intended to foster multigenerational relationshps.
During dessert, Rebecca Weinstein, a congregant, performed songs from the Golden Age of Broadway by notable Jewish composers. She shared insights about their Jewish backgrounds and why their music has stood the test of time.
Following dinner, everyone attended Shabbat services. That evening, congregant Zibby Robertson shared a compelling teshuvah story about her journey discovering Judaism. Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg, Cantor Jen Rueben, Music Director Chuck Woodward, and the OST Choir uplifted the congregation with prayers and traditional music. Services were followed by an oneg, providing additional time for community and socialization.
In addition to outreaching to OST’s own congregants, residents of two Norfolk senior residences, Harbor’s Edge and The Talbot on Granby, were invited, arriving on a bus provided by the Temple. More than 120 people attended the event and service.
Jewish tradition teaches the importance of sharing unique gifts with community. OST’s Senior Shabbat Initiative is a perfect example of that concept in action: congregants providing stories, songs, and greetings; clergy leading prayers and traditional music; and people gathering to share a meal and celebrate the joy of Shabbat.
The next Senior Shabbat Initiative will be November 27. The evening is open to all; transportation will be offered to residents from two Virginia Beach senior residences, Westminster Canterbury and Aviva.
For more information about the program, contact Jennifer Levin-Tavares, Ohef Sholom Temple’s executive director, at 757-625-4295 or jennifer@ohefsholom.org.