Shalom. This is a reminder from myself and Rabbi Mark Levin that our monthly Both Sides Now webinar will be this coming Monday, January 26 at 4pm east/3pm central. We look forward to seeing you for this month's conversation. To register, go to [email protected] and put We're Aging in subject line.

Sandy Taradash responds to Mark Wolkoff's post, sharing reflections on aging and self-fulfillment as she approaches 80. While acknowledging physical changes, she emphasizes the importance of mental vitality and personal interests. Embracing her newfound free time, she explores self-care and finds joy in simple pleasures, encouraging others to prioritize themselves in their golden years.

What hardens your heart? NO, I am not talking about medically, like calcium or bad cholesterol, rather, what are the emotions that get in our way of living a full and unencumbered life? This question leaps from the Torah portion this week as we read that God “hardens” Pharaoh’s heart so that he refuses to let the Israelites go and this God brings on the plague.

Chaplain Barry Pitegoff shares a heartfelt prayer for the New Year written by Rabbi Fred Klein, emphasizing themes of inspiration, reflection, and connection. The prayer encourages personal growth, forgiveness, and the pursuit of joy, urging individuals to build a better world for themselves and others while wishing peace for all.

In this Simchat Chochmah meditation, Mark Wolkoff reflects on turning 80 and identifies a process for self-discovery by posing three key questions to guide his exploration.

In this episode of Seekers of Meaning, Rabbi Address and Dr. Stephen Post discuss love, kindness, and spiritual renewal in today's world. They emphasize the importance of compassion, especially in healthcare and education, while addressing technology's challenges. Dr. Post shares insights from his book, promoting a framework for achieving inner peace through pure love.

In Exodus 7:7 we read this passage. “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they made their demand on Pharaoh”. Our portion this week is a complex one. We see the first inkings of the Exodus, the promise by God to deliver the Israelites to freedom as He declares that they are to be “his”people. Moses is charged with going to Pharaoh to plead for freedom,, despite his being of “aral s’fataim” (impeded speech).

In this episode of Seekers of Meaning, Rabbi Address discusses caregiving for loved ones with Alzheimer's, featuring Rabbi Deborah Hachen’s insights from her experience with her husband Peter. The conversation highlights caregiving challenges, the effects of COVID-19, community support, faith, spirituality, and how poetry aids in coping with grief and loss.

In Jewish tradition, aging is honored as a journey of wisdom and connection, yet it brings physical challenges, particularly the risk of falling. Julia Howells writes that older adults can significantly reduce this risk through strength training and mindful physical activity. Practical exercises and home adjustments promote resilience, ensuring continued engagement with life and community.

“A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph” (1: 8) This phrase in this week’s portion is one of the more famous and meaningful in Torah. The opening portion of Exodus has so many important phrases and events, yet, this week I was drawn to the new king verse for it struck a chord in me about the element of change that so impacts each of us.

Sandy Taradash reflects on the challenges faced in 2025, particularly concerning family dynamics and emotional health. Drawing from Ecclesiastes, she explores themes of life's cyclical nature, including love, loss, and the necessity of letting go of toxic relationships. The discussion highlights how past experiences shape our understanding of present challenges, emphasizing the importance of awareness and resilience.

Prof. Michael Meyer of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform rabbinical seminary, discusses his new book, Above All, We are Jews, a biography of Rabbi Alexander Schindler.

This Shabbat we close the book of Genesis and we do so with great drama. We meet the death of Jacob, and as the portion ends, that of Joseph. There are blessings to be given and promises made. Ephraim and Manasseh, in an act of “bikur cholim”, visit the dying Jacob and receive a blessing that continues the theme of the older shall serve the younger.

This essay reflects the emotional journey of a caregiver supporting a spouse with dementia. It explores feelings of loneliness, anxiety, guilt, and the struggle of balancing caregiving duties with personal needs. The author underscores the importance of self-care and finding hope amidst the challenges while also emphasizing the enduring love that persists despite the changes.

The National Jewish Healing Conference program, running online from January 12 to April 27, 2026, offers sessions for volunteers and professionals in Jewish healing. Topics include support challenges, medical aid in dying, infertility, and antisemitism. National leaders will discuss community innovations. Registration varies, with scholarships available. For inquiries, contact David Balto.

If you wish a Torah portion with drama, this should be one of your favorites. This is the portion of the great reveal, as Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. The drama in these chapters, the emotional give and take between the brothers, is one of the most powerful and emotional passages of text. This week, however, I want to bring your attention to a theological challenge that is reflected in the portion, and indeed, is a theological motif throughout TaNaCh.

Shalom. We hope that Channukah treated you well. This is a reminder that our monthly open webinar for older adults , Both Sides Now, will be held next Monday, December 29 at 4pm est/3pm cst. This our monthly meeting to bring up issues and life experiences that we deal with as we grow older. The is NO cost. It is co-facilitated by myself and Rabbi Mark Levin.

The pit represents a challenging existence, where individuals often feel trapped by circumstances or others. Renowned leaders find solace in dreaming of a better life outside this pit, leading to spiritual transformation. Acceptance of one's reality fosters a new existence, free from despair, enabling personal growth and connection with a higher purpose.

In this episode of Seekers of Meaning, Rabbi Address talks with Rabbis Laura Geller and Beth Lieberman about their book, "Moments That Matter". They discuss themes like elderhood, the role of rituals, the concept of "Renewment," and addressing loneliness in older adults, emphasizing community and spiritual meaning in aging.

This portion is one of the more challenging and fascinating in Torah. The overriding theme is that of the power of dreams and how Joseph is elevated from prison to power due to his ability to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. Joseph, as so many commentaries have mentioned, is a paradigm for our own growth as he goes from self-centered youth to mature figure, tested by life, and as we see in this portion and next week, the family bonds are always there.

Reb Carl Viniar reviews "Eleanor the Great," starring 96-year-old June Squibb. The film explores themes of aging, Jewish identity, grief, and the importance of community and storytelling.

Sandy Taradash reflects on personal traditions surrounding Chanukah, emphasizing the significance of rituals in connecting to family, faith, and community. Despite feeling alone, the joy of lighting candles and giving gifts remains. Sandy says she finds solace in practices that symbolize love and protection for her loved ones, fostering a sense of continuity and connection with their heritage.

Baruch Dayan Emet It is hard to hold on to hope, even in the midst of Channukah, but our history tells us that we mourn and then rededicate ourselves to hope.

In this episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address interviews Dr. Benjamin Corn about hope's role in health, community, spirituality, and family influences.

“Now Jacob was settled in the land where his father had sojourned, the land of Canaan.” So, our portion this week begins. (37:1). Jacob was “settled” (“va’yeshev”). What a lovely opening! One would hope that after the drama and challenges of the previous portion, Jacob had reached a stage in life that things had settled down. But no! We meet the young Joseph, his dreams of power over his brothers and, as the favored child, his magnificent coat.