Jewish Community News

News: September 2008

Children and seniors bond with each other at JCC

     Two Fridays each month, local seniors makes their way to the APJCC for a  different kind of Shabbat engagement — one with four-year-old friends.
      Launched by volunteers Rebecca Geshuri, Carrie McCarthy and Carrie Whitaker, the Grandpals Shabbat program will start its second year this September. Geshuri, McCarthy, and Whitaker, mothers of children at the APJCC Preschool, dreamed up the program last year as a way for preschool age children and seniors to connect.
    Two Fridays each month, seniors in the Grandpals program meet with 4-year-olds from the APJCC Preschool to sing, dance, do crafts or similar activities, and celebrate Shabbat. The program started in February 2008 with a loyal group of seniors from the JCC and plans to expand by reaching out to local synagogues and other seniors in the community.
    Grandpal Margo Choukrone commented, “It’s like having my grandchildren near me. The children are fun and warm and bright - I enjoy their spontaneity and the fun they have.”
       Grandpal Roxy Applebaum added, “My favorite moments were the great conversations that took place during the ‘table time,’ when the Grandpals and children engaged in crafts and other activities together.“It was very special for me as I learned about them and their families. I know from the questions that they asked me, that they enjoyed learning about me and my family, too. An unexpected bonus was is that on several occasions when I would run into the children out in the community or at the JCC, they would approach me and greet me by my name.”
    McCarthy commented, “It’s amazing to see the effortless interaction between the generations. We’re excited about the potential of this program to strengthen our sense of community and our ties to one another.”
   “The preschoolers get the opportunity to grow by establishing relationships with adults outside their families,” said Cyndi Sherman, director of early childhood education at the APJCC. “And these conversations help develop the children’s verbal and social skills. The children also learn about honoring their elders. They serve their Grandpals challah before they get some for themselves.”