For Immediate Release
Contact: Wendee Cutler
wcutler@carolinajewishseniors.org
336-337-6584
Respect for the Older Jewish Population
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is still fresh in our minds. We have repented for the sins of the past year and pledged to make 5778 a better year for everyone, including our older Jewish adults.
The Torah instructs us “to honor the elderly” (Leviticus 19:32). We should honor ALL of the elderly, regardless of their current abilities and circumstances in daily living.
Some older Jewish adults may have retired to pursue hobbies and passions they didn’t have time for while engaged in a professional life. They may not be current with today’s technology trends, physically able to participate as they did when they were 30 years old, or have the same mental ability, but they still deserve our respect and honor.
The generations before us have paved the roads for our successes today. They instilled wisdom, courage, and often times financial stability for others to live comfortably. As Jews, we are commanded to help them in their later years of life.
The grantee organizations funded by BJH Foundation accept the responsibility of “enhancing the lives of older Jewish adults” by providing programs and services for people with varying degrees of need.
BJH Foundation funds programs in 2 priority categories:
- Health and Wellness programs that target people who may have multiple, complex, specific mental and/or physical health needs. This may include: Case Management, Congregational Nursing, Dementia or memory impairment, Group Day Care and Respite programs as a few examples.
- Socialization Programs reaching out to older Jewish adults whose basic needs may not be met and/or are geographically isolated may focus on: Community building, education and furtherance of Jewish values, Food Distribution, and Transportation.
These examples are just a few of the ways we can fulfill our responsibility to “honor the elderly.” Each and every one of us is capable of doing something to make life a little brighter, happier, less stressful or more fulfilling for our older Jewish adults.
In order to have the greatest impact on the older Jewish adult population, we must stay current on interests and needs. We encourage all of you to think about the life you envision in your retirement years. What are some of the ways you may need assistance? What are some of your social and educational areas of interest? Where do you envision yourself living as you gracefully age? These are just a few of the questions the BJH Foundation Board tries to answer each year.
Of course it is important to note we always welcome contributions. Growing the balance of our funds invested with the Jewish Foundation of Greensboro allows greater amounts of money to be allocated each year as grant awards.
For more information, please contact Wendee Cutler at 336-854-8400 or email wcutler@carolinajewishseniors.org.