Conference Explores Spiritual Journeys 

"All of you who work with elders have to help people see that they really have something to contribute," Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi told nearly 200 social workers, rabbis, and other professionals at the Addressing the Spiritual Journey of Jews Beyond Midlife conference, held November 19th at UJA-Federation of New York in Manhattan.

"To be granted an extended life span is very beautiful, but if you don't have extended learning, you're just dying longer, not living longer," added Reb Schachter-Shalomi.

UJA-Federation of New York's Caring Commission and Hiddur: The Center for Aging and Judaism of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College presented the conference. Reb Schachter-Shalomi, who is the founder of the spiritual eldering and Jewish renewal movements, and author of Age-ing to Sage-ing, addressed the audience by videoconference and was one of three plenary speakers.

His remarks that the purpose of the "October to December" years, from 60 to 90, is to "transfer what we have learned to the next generation" and "being of service to the next generation" were among the repeated messages throughout the day that explored how including spiritual dimensions of purpose, meaning, and community can sustain the lives of older adults, especially during times of frailty, illness and loss.

"We are only in the first chapter of this work," John S. Ruskay, executive vice president and CEO of UJA-Federation, said in opening remarks. "This conference is important because it's another moment in transforming how we in the Jewish community draw on the wisdom of our community to reconnect," and help human-service agencies, synagogues, and communal organizations serve older adults.

Mapping the Spiritual Journey

Rabbi Dayle Friedman, director of Hiddur, and Jeff Levin, a scientist based at Baylor University and a pioneering researcher in the field of religion and health, also made keynote presentations on "Mapping the Spiritual Journey of Later Life."

"How do we explain that some older adults flounder and others flourish?" Rabbi Friedman asked. Referring to the teachings of the 16th-century Rabbi Isaac Luria and his "shattering of the vessels," she spoke of how the "shatterings" beyond midlife "are rampant" - friends die, work ends, children leave home, and chronic illness or disability set in. "Faced with shattering, we ask why can't things stay the same," she continued. "We want to return to Eden."

"Life is a series of creations after shattering - we're wounded from them, yet we're still alive," Rabbi Friedman said. "The only existential choice is whether to dwell in darkness or find sparks hidden in reality."

The Jewish community needs to foster opportunities for older adults to study Torah, for prayer and for connection, she said, as this is the path to help individuals find the light they need to sustain them. "We need to grow lifelong Jewish learning and have Jewish learning be relevant and central at every stage of life, and to help older adults discern the gifts they can give in a multigenerational community. Because when we liberate the sparks of the individual, we liberate us all."

Levin said the preponderance of evidence in nearly 3,000 studies since 1980 confirm that living a spiritual life also has a positive effect on health, leading to greater longevity, positive attitudes, and better physical and mental health.

Why does spirituality matter for health and well-being? he asked. "Spirituality motivates us, brings connection - with God and fellow congregants - brings love, meaning, hope, transcendence, and holiness. These things matter for well-being just like diet, exercise, and family history - and lack of these may be sick-making," Levin explained.

"Could Be a Very Exciting Time"

Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, and Bel Kaufman also offered insights on a panel, "Reflections From the Path Beyond Midlife."

Kaufman - who is 98, the author of Up the Down Staircase, and granddaughter of Sholem Aleichem - invoked many of the themes of the conference when she said "the second part of life could be a very exciting time. You are no longer burdened by children or a career; you can feel free to do what you want."

So what is Kaufman doing with her time?

"I'm involved in beginning my next book that I hope to finish by the time I'm 100," she said. "And I dance once a week with a professional partner. It's wonderful. I'm not afraid of falling because someone's holding me."