From Older to Elder

August 2024 – February 2025
– This Program is Now Full –

About

This is a program for people aged 64+ who want to explore their identity as elders and reflect on what to do with “this one precious life” during your next phase of life. We believe that there is a difference between being old or elderly, and being an elder—a role of continuing personal growth and service to one’s community. In this program, we hope to support you to find ways to fulfill your potential in this last stage of life. It is for people who identify as Jewish or are connected to Jewish life and want to participate in a program in a Jewish context. Read more about inclusivity in our FAQ. 

We aim to create a supportive, safe, and respectful environment in which participants can risk feeling vulnerable and can experience and share deeply.

This program will help you address questions such as the following: 

  • How can I transform fear of aging into anticipation of the rich possibilities of elderhood? 
  • What does it mean to become an elder at this time? 
  • How can the elder part of my life be a time for deep emotional and spiritual development? 
  • What does it mean to embrace elderhood in a Jewish context?
  • How can I harvest what I have learned over my life?
  • How am I called to be of service to the human and earth community as I age? 
  • How can a deepened connection with the natural world support my growth as an elder?
  • What inner work do I need to do to age consciously, to claim and embody my elderhood? 

The program will offer an exploration of the inner work that prepares people to fully embrace elderhood and become the elders whose wisdom and gifts are so urgently needed in today’s world. We will also focus on the vital role elders can serve in our communities, especially in supporting the growth, aspirations and gifts of youngers in a partnership of generations.   

This program will NOT address practical topics like where we want to live as we grow older and managing the health issues that come with aging.

Topics in the Curriculum

  • Eldering Jewishly and spiritually with teachers Rabbi Saraleya Schley & Rabbi Zelig Golden, using foundations from Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi’s book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing
  • Becoming an Ancestor in Training with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
  • Dying, Death and Grief with Avi Rose
  • Connecting with our Inner Wisdom with Rabbi Jill Hammer
  • Being of service to the human and earth community

Read more about your facilitators & teacher bios.

Other topics to be addressed throughout the program include:

  • Understanding age-ism and internalized age-ism
  • Facing our fears of aging
  • Life review and repair
  • Exploring dreams for the rest of our “one precious life”

Program Options

Offering two 6-month program options:
Hybrid (in-person and Zoom) or Virtual (Zoom only)

About the Hybrid Program

This option is designed for people who are interested in a more intensive program, who want to share the experience in a small group (12), who can meet for two in-person retreats AND gather for zoom sessions, as well as benefit from other program elements, like small peer-group meetings and nature connection wanders near where you live. This program will give you a more in-depth experience, with 6+ days of in-person retreat time to explore important topics, to engage in self-reflection through writing, nature wanders, council time, storytelling, and more. You will have an opportunity to develop relationships that will last beyond the program, with people who can support you on your eldering journey. 

Hybrid Program Fee: $1650
Note: fees cover only direct costs of lodging/food/materials/speaker honoraria. If you need a payment plan, please contact us.

Limited scholarships available. Please indicate on your application if you are interested in financial aid.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE HYBRID PROGRAM.

About the Virtual Program

The Virtual option is for people who need or prefer a program that does not require any travel, and can take place in the comfort of your home. We include this option based on feedback from people around the country (and beyond) who would like the opportunity to be part of an “eldering” program, as well as people who prefer the virtual option for health or mobility reasons.  We have designed program elements that will provide depth and connection, including small peer-group meetings and nature connection wanders near where you live. We will create a community within the virtual program, and bring as much self-reflection and deep conversation as we can, including options to meet with people in your geographical area during the program.

You will do more on your own, including the vision board process. You will also organize your own nature wanders. This program will take less time and is significantly less costly.

Virtual Program Fee: Sliding Scale suggested amounts ($575, $475, $375)

What you pay is up to you, but if you can afford to pay more this is your chance to contribute to our mission and support those with less resources. 

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

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Scroll to the right >> on mobile to view chart.

IN COMMON HYBRID ONLY VIRTUAL ONLY
5 combined Zoom sessions, and separate program zooms at beginning and end Monthly nature wanders 2 Nature wanders
Monthly peer groups Eldering ceremony at retreat End-of-program gathering in your own community
Monthly calls with a “friend” from your program Two, 3-day retreats in the Bay Area (one at the beginning and one at the end of program).  Learn more about the retreats.
Buddy meetings (in person) every other month ( a friend outside the program- to share your experience)

Additional program elements for both programs

  • Read/listen to a book from our list of eldering books- and share with your peer group
  • Interview someone younger than 40, and someone 10 years older than you; share in your peer group 
  • Hold a gathering with your loved ones in Feb/March 2025 to share your experience in the program and honor your identity as an elder or hold an eldering ceremony
  • Optional sessions of spiritual direction or coaching (at an additional cost)

Key Program Dates

Hybrid

Retreats

  • Sunday August 18 – Wednesday August 21, 2024: first Retreat at Point Reyes
  • Sunday February 9 – Wednesday February 12, 2025: Second retreat at Point Reyes

All Zoom sessions are Sundays 4:00-6:00 pm PT, 7:00-9:00 pm ET

  • Sunday Aug 4: Zoom Kick-off class* (*Just added, please add to your calendar)
  • Sunday Sept 8: Eldering Jewishly and spiritually with Rabbis Saraleya Schley and Zelig Golden
  • *Sunday Oct 27: Ancestral connection and healing, with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone  (*Was previously Oct. 20, but has been updated to avoid a conflict with Sukkot)
  • Sunday Nov 10: Dying, death and grief, with Avi Rose, LCSW, end of life doula &  spiritual leader at Kehilla Community Synagogue
  • Sunday Dec 1: Connecting with our inner wisdom, with Rabbi Jill Hammer
  • Sunday Jan 12: Being of service to the human and earth community (panel discussion)
  • Sunday March 2: Final Zoom Session

Virtual

All Zoom sessions are Sundays 4:00-6:00pm PT, 7:00-9:00pm ET

  • Sunday Aug 11: Zoom kick-off class
  • Sunday Sept 8: Eldering Jewishly and spiritually with Rabbis Saraleya Schley and Zelig Golden
  • *Sunday Oct 27: Ancestral connection and healing, with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone (*Was previously Oct. 20, but has been updated to avoid a conflict with Sukkot)
  • Sunday Nov 10: Dying, death and grief, with Avi Rose, LCSW, end of life doula &  spiritual leader at Kehilla Community Synagogue
  • Sunday Dec 1: Connecting with our inner wisdom, with Rabbi Jill Hammer
  • Sunday Jan 12: Being of service to the human and earth community  (panel discussion)
  • Sunday Feb 23: Final Zoom session

Program Leaders

Meet your main program organizers & leaders

Ellie Schindelman

Jerry Falek

Meet your guest teachers

Rabbi Jill Hammer

Rabbi Saraleya Schley

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone

Avi Rose

Rabbi Zelig Golden

FAQ

For the Hybrid program: Applications are now closed. 

For the Virtual program: You can register now to enroll. We are accepting registrations on a rolling basis. Registration will close on July 1, 2024, or until the program is full (max. 25).

4:00-4:15 pm PT: Separate into two groups by cohort

4:15-5:45 pm PT:

  • Presenter will facilitate the curriculum
  • Breakout groups: participants in virtual program and hybrid program will be in breakouts with their own cohort
  • Activities like guided visualization and writing prompts
  • Q&A

5:45-6:00 pm PT: Separate into two groups by cohort

When you review the program plan, make sure you can attend at least 4 of the 5 main Zoom classes. We expect that everyone may have to miss one of the sessions; we will record them for you to review. We also expect everyone to only miss one of the 90 minute peer group sessions. Those will be scheduled at multiple times so you can find a good time for your schedule.

We estimate that you will need an average of 8-11 hours/month to devote to the Hybrid program (not including the retreats), and 7-9 hours/month for the Virtual program.

The Hybrid and the Virtual program will join together for 5 zoom sessions. Everything else will be separate.

We will be looking at elderhood through a Jewish lens. The presenters are rabbis and Jewish spiritual leaders. Many of the topics we explore are universal, but as Jews we share a common culture. In the hybrid program, there will be an invitation during the open space time for participants to bring Jewish topics and text study. There will be Jewish music and prayer.

We welcome people who fall in any of these descriptions: 

  • People who identify with any of these Jewish denominations: (Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal, Conservative, Modern Orthodox)
  • People who identify as “Just Jewish” or “Jew-ish”
  • Jews by choice
  • People who are not Jewish and are either married or partnered to a Jew, or are interested in the beauty of Jewish tradition and what it has to offer

We will design a process where people can form groups of ~4 based on preferred schedules for meeting times.

After we have had our first retreat (for the Hybrid program) and our first zoom meeting (for the Virtual program), we will ask people for 5 choices of possible “friends” and then pair you with one of your choices (or you can select that you are fine to be paired with anyone).

For the hybrid program: Because this is a pilot project with a very tight budget, we are not able to offer refunds unless you or we can find someone to take your place. In that case, you will receive a full refund minus a $100 admin fee.

For the virtual program, full payment is due at registration. Payment is not refundable. Under exceptional circumstances, we will consider offering credit for a future Wilderness Torah program.

We hope to create a diverse cohort of elders to enrich our program experience. In addition to age, where you live, race/ethnicity and gender/sexual orientation, we seek a wide range of diversity variables, including your background and life experiences, relationship to Judaism and spirituality, and areas of interest in your current life.

Please read more on the retreat webpage.

Still have questions?

Contact Wilderness Torah for questions about registration and payment.
Contact Ellie Schindelman for questions about the program.

We look forward to meeting you!