Sacred Aging Project

The Caring Community and Adult Education Committees at JRC are grateful to be in continued partnership with Rabbi Richard Address for our ongoing exploration of Jewish Sacred Aging. Below you will find Rabbi Address' upcoming class schedule for Winter 2022/23,  as well as an archive of the previous classes he led at JRC.

What is the Jewish Sacred Aging Project?

The Jewish Sacred Aging Project, founded by Rabbi Richard F. Address, is a forum for the Jewish Community offering  spiritual guidance on entering the third and fourth life stages. With resources and texts based in Jewish values and teachings, this project has created  awareness for congregations on the implication of the aging revolution for Jewish communal and congregational life, with emphasis on the aging of the baby boom generation.  

Meet Rabbi Richard F. Address

Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min, is the Founder and Director of The Jewish Sacred Aging Project. Rabbi Address served for over three decades on staff of the Union for Reform Judaism;  first as a Regional Director and then, beginning in 1997, as Founder and Director of the URJ’s Department of Jewish Family Concerns and served as a specialist and consultant for the North American Reform Movement in the areas of family related programming. Rabbi Address was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1972 and began his rabbinic career in Los Angeles congregations. He served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, NJ from 2011-2014. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including That You May Live Long: Caring for Our Aging Parents, Caring for Ourselves

Navigating our Life's Journey and how Jewish texts and values can be our spiritual guide for our third and fourth life stages.

Rabbi Richard Address will lead the Judea Reform community through a series of sessions throughout the coming months and all are welcome. These workshops (August/September, October, and December) explore various issues related to aging and entering the third and fourth life stages. Drawing on his foundational work with Jewish Sacred Aging, Rabbi Address will offer teachings for the High Holy Days, new rituals for new life stages, and the art and challenge of the life stage of caregiving.  

Section I: These Are The Good Old Days 

• August 25: For Elul 1: The Myth of Control: The Unetaneh Tokef and the Power of Choice. To watch the recording, please click here.
• September 1: Elul 2: Torah Texts that can Form the Foundation as We Write our own Scroll for the New Year. To watch the recording, please click here.
• September 22: Sukkot: Creating our own Sukkat Shalom: Physical and Mental Health. To watch the recording, please click here. 

Section II: Light One Candle: New Rituals for New Life Stages

• October 6: What is Ritual and Why is Ritual Meaningful? Bring YOUR Favorite Ritual. To watch the recording, please click here. 
• October 13: New Rituals 1: Signing an Advanced Directive, Removing a Wedding Ring After Mourning, Moving from Family Home. To watch the recording, please click here.
• October 20: New Rituals 2: Older-Adult Cohabitation, Simchat Hochmah, Mental Health Challenges, Redefining Adultery. To watch the recording, please click here.

Section III: I Want to Hold Your Hand: The Art and Challenge of the Life Stage of Caregiving

• December 1: Why is Caregiving a New Life Stage? A Coming Generational Storm? To watch the recording, please click here.
• December 8: A Look at Caregiving Through Jewish Tradition from Torah to Talmud to Today. To watch the recording, please click here.
• December 15: Bring this All Home to Judea Reform . . .. To watch the recording, please click here.