WEST HARTFORD – “Moving Forward,” a new collaborative program designed for Jewish singles ages 65 and older, will debut on Thursday, Mar. 24 at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford. The event is co-sponsored by Beth Israel, the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, Jewish Family Service of Greater Hartford, and The Emanuel Synagogue of West Hartford.
The featured speaker is Dr. Mary Alice Wolf, professor of gerontology at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. Wolf is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. At Saint Joseph College, she helped establish the Consortium for Gerontological Education, a regional outreach organization.

"There are a million groups with good programming for singles ages 35 for 55, but it’s as if the world drops off at 55"

Three workshops cover various issues of interest to the older senior. “Keeping Connected” addresses how to find companionship or love within a wider circle of contemporaries. “Money, Money, Money!” is a discussion on how to make one’s money last. “Spice Up Your Life!” presents ways to add zest to home-cooked meals.
Cantor Pamela Siskin of Beth Israel runs the shul’s  program for older adults, S.A.G.E., Seniors for Arts, Growth, and Education. When member Charlotte Berman brought up the need among older adults for dating and companionship, Siskin asked for some time to think about possibilities. Within a week, she had put together a planning committee with members from the JCC, JFS, and The Emanuel.
“There are a million groups with good programming for singles ages 35 for 55, but it’s as if the world drops off at 55,” says Berman, who was widowed five years ago. “What about those 65 and older? We want to ‘make the best for the rest,’ seek out adventures, and enlarge our social circles.”
Siskin and the committee looked at various programs for seniors throughout the community and found that most are educational and serve a wide age range. “There are many seniors 65 and older who are still pretty independent,” she says. “Once you’re past 65 and, God forbid, you’re a widow or widower, you shouldn’t think that that’s it.”
Berman consulted with S.A.G.E. for ideas. “One man immediately suggested, ‘Sex!’” she says. “He said, ‘Older women are looking for companionship and romance; we’re looking for intimacy.’ I think it’s good to bring all these things up.”
“Moving Forward” hopes to help seniors create new social relationships, “and romance, if possible,” Siskin says. “You rarely see anyone over 70 on JDate. I think there’s a great need for matchmakers in the Reform tradition. It happens in the Orthodox tradition, so why not in ours?”
Siskin says that one of the best parts of her job is playing matchmaker to older adults. Her greatest achievement in that arena was bringing together an 80-year-old man and 74-year-old woman, who both lost their spouses after long and successful marriages. “It is love,” she says. “They come to services, call one another their ‘better half,’ hold hands. Everyone knows they’re an item and they’re not embarrassed about it. To see them together is one of the most satisfying things in my life.”
“Moving Forward”  will be held on Thursday, Mar. 24, 2-5:30 p.m., at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.  For more information call Francene Weingast, (860) 523-7778 or Cantor Pamela Siskin, (860) 233-8215, ext. 234