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Sacred Aging Institute (SAI)

Our Mission

The Sacred Aging Institute (SAI) of Temple Beth Emeth is devoted to engagement and enrichment for those who identify as seniors in our congregation. We offer a variety of opportunities for learning and connection, including class series, group discussions, guest speakers, and more. We seek to foster growth and mutual support for older adults as we create a sacred community within our larger TBE family. Working together, we can uplift and appreciate the divine in each other.

Our vision is driven by the interests, wisdom, and skills of our seniors. Many SAI initiatives will be guided by lay leaders, as we rely on this community's wealth of life experiences and expertise to inform our programming and direction. All are encouraged to bring their passions, talents, thoughts, and questions to the fore.

Download our digital brochure here

Our Leaders

More than 25 years ago, Cantor Annie Rose teamed up with exploratory committees, focus groups, and, in turn, hundreds of TBE members to create our Caring Community. Our principal advisor in this effort was Rabbi Richard Address, who now returns to advise and guide us as we establish our Sacred Aging Institute. Cantor Annie is thrilled to embrace this aspect of congregational life as a central component of her work as TBE's Cantor Emerita, partnering first with Rabbi Josh in the Senior Initiative, and now with Rabbi Chelsea in SAI.

Rabbi Chelsea Feuchs serves Temple Beth Emeth as our first-ever Director of Engagement and Lifelong Learning. She previously oversaw the Terri A. Ginsburg Religious & Hebrew School as Interim Director of Education. After spending a year connecting with our young families, Rabbi Chelsea is thrilled to expand her relationships at TBE across all ages and stages. She cannot wait to facilitate Jewish exploration and leadership for individuals, families, and the community as a whole. Rabbi Chelsea attended HUC-JIR as a Wexner and Tisch Fellow, and was ordained in May 2023. She is so happy to be building her home here in Ann Arbor with her husband Will, daughter Leyna, and their lovable golden retriever Koufax.

Our Programs

Aging Healthy and Strong

January 9, 16, 23, & 30 from 1-2 pm.
In-person at TBE

Let’s start the New Year 2025 healthier and fit, NOT with a diet or weight loss program, but with functional health education. Join Lori Shepard, a beloved TBE member, professional chef, and certified nutrition and fitness coach. She will increase your knowledge about balanced nutrition, healthy choices, and hidden ingredients, and engage in functional exercise. Each week we will discuss a topic in nutrition, demonstrate a fun and easy recipe for us to enjoy, and participate in a short functional exercise program. We will discuss how to get stronger to enable us to avoid/prevent falls, and in the situation that you do fall, how to best get up from the floor or to a phone to get help.

Wear clothing you can move in.

Death and Legacy in the Tanach

Mondays 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17,
12-1pm Hybrid
and 7:30-8:30pm Zoom only

Our texts and traditions don’t shy away from grappling with mortality and legacy; in this class, neither will we. Together we’ll read about the deaths of several figures in the Tanach, identify examples of the best (and worst) practices for facing the inevitable, and explore how we can apply those lessons to our own lives. Both the structure and content of this course will be based on Rabbi Chelsea’s rabbinic thesis, and students will be invited to complete an optional final project.

 

Register Now

Intro to Mussar

January 14 from 1-2 pm on Zoom only

What is Mussar practice? This class, led by beloved teacher and member Judy Freedman, is designed to explain the process of working with Mussar, learning about soul traits, and designing your curriculum for personal growth. We will also briefly cover the history of Mussar.

This session will prepare you to join the ongoing Mussar group that Judy runs at TBE, or can simply serve as an opportunity to learn more about the basics of Mussar.

 

Continuing Mussar

January 21; February 4, 18; March 4, 18; April 1 from 1-2 PM.
On Zoom only

What is Mussar practice? This class, led by beloved teacher and member Judy Freedman, is designed to explain the process of working with Mussar, learning about soul traits, and designing your curriculum for personal growth. We will also briefly cover the history of Mussar.

This class will require the book Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis. If obtaining a copy of the book presents a logistical or financial challenge, please reach out to Rabbi Chelsea.

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Finding Our Space of Refuge

Sunday 2/9 time 2:30-4:00 pm

Challenging experiences are part of life’s journey, whether deeply personal or universal. During such periods, is it possible to rest into a space of refuge, a space of solace and comfort? The purpose of this workshop is to explore the possibility of finding our own place of refuge, an inner or outer space of nurturing protection. Is it already present in our lives, but we do not know how to access it? If not already present, how can we create it? Come join us in this heart-felt personal and group exploration led by Sandra Berman, a beloved member, educator, and Age-ing to Sage-ing facilitator

This workshop is now closed.
To be added to the wait list please email Rabbi Chelsea: rabbifeuchs@templebethemeth.org

A Good Death: Tough Decisions, Touchy Discussions

Sunday, March 23, 3-4:30pm

We often assume that people agree on what constitutes a "good death," but in fact that definition varies widely. In this workshop, Ann S. Epstein, a certified end-of-life doula, will encourage participants to picture how they want to die, how to communicate their vision to others, and what to do when their wishes and those of their loved ones differ. Ann will also provide an overview of end-of-life doula services and a list of resources to facilitate end-of-life choices.

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Workshop on Hoarding Behaviors with Emily Nagaonkar

Date and time TBD

More information coming soon.

The Sacred Aging Institute Heath & Wellness Fair

Sunday, May 18 from 4-7 pm

Our texts and traditions don’t shy away from grappling with mortality and legacy; in this class, neither will we. Together we’ll read about the deaths of several figures in the Tanach, identify examples of the best (and worst) practices for facing the inevitable, and explore how we can apply those lessons to our own lives. Both the structure and content of this course will be based on Rabbi Chelsea’s rabbinic thesis, and students will be invited to complete an optional final project.

 

Registration coming soon

View/Print our digital calendars:

Winter/Spring Calendar (coming soon)

SAI Origins

A kitchen table, a rabbi's office, coffee shops around town, the sidewalks of Ann Arbor, a garage studio meeting space: Sacred Aging Institute is born!

A loving thank you to Bobbi Heilveil and Andy Ludwig, for that initial discussion at Bobbi’s kitchen table almost 2 years ago.

A resounding thank you to the hundreds of members of our community who came together in formal and informal settings over the past year and a half, informing and encouraging us, inspiring us to reach this moment in time.

Rabbi Josh, Rabbi Chelsea and I want to thank everyone as our Senior Initiative becomes our Sacred Aging Institute. Let's discover everything we can be, together.

-Cantor Annie

Senior Life at TBE

Renaissance Group

The Renaissance Group, TBE's social group for those 55 and over, plans social events throughout the year. Leadership of the programs rotates. In the past the group has attended theater productions and sporting events, held game nights and volunteered at Food Gatherers, gone on a winery tour, visited the glass exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art and also organized a trip to the Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. New ideas and new people are always welcomed. Please check the weekly announcements for details prior to scheduled events.

Visit their web page for more information and events. Renaissance Group.

WISE Aging Services

Rebecca Nieubuurt, LLMSW has served the Temple Beth Emeth Community as the Congregation-based Social Worker since 2020. Rebecca brings with her 15 years of experience as a geriatric social worker in the Jewish community. As an employee of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County in their WISE Aging Services program, Rebecca offers TBE members open access to all of JFS's many services. As a mental health professional, she specializes in anxiety/depression, grief support, isolation and loneliness, and cognitive changes. Her work as a community-based social worker is focused on caregiver support, end-of-life planning, care planning, and accessing community supports and programs. Within our temple community Rebecca offers social opportunities, small group work, and supporting clergy and office staff in engagement with individual congregants. Rebecca is here to help with a multitude of aging related issues, she connects congregants to resources for in-home care, grocery, meal and pharmacy delivery, financial assistance, one-on-one supportive counseling, and ensuring that members maintain access to Temple services. She can be reached at rebeccan@jfsannarbor.org or (734)219-5354

Sat, February 15 2025 17 Sh'vat 5785