by Mrs. Sharon Fixler
Recently, I noticed a video clip circulating on social media that really tugged at the heartstrings. The clip showed the remarkable connections being made between senior citizens in a nursing home, and young children in a preschool, who were sharing a facility.
Amazingly, this is a very real and growing phenomenon, and it beautifully demonstrates the richness of intergenerational learning. (You can read more about this facility here and see the clip of the trailer for the documentary created on this facility here.)
At Ulpana, we are also benefitting from the power of intergenerational learning, through the entry point of literature. Our intergenerational book club with a group of seniors from the Bernard Betel Centre, a local community organization for seniors, began simply as a vehicle to read and discuss books together. Now in its seventh year, I have started to reflect on how the book club meetings have become so much more than just an opportunity to discuss shared reading experiences.
Over the years, and to the credit of our wonderful students and alumni, lasting and meaningful friendships between teens and seniors have developed. Some of our girls have taken it upon themselves to make weekly pre-Shabbat phone calls to the Betel ladies, as an example.
Another highlight of our joint venture was the time a few years ago when a group of Ulpana students won a $5000 donation to the Betel Centre through their participation in YPI (Youth Philanthropy Initiative) at Ulpana.
Most incredibly, one of our student book club members took it upon herself, as an alumna, to meet and interview one of the book club ladies, going so far as to compile the interviews into the woman’s life story. At our next book club meeting after she had been presented with her life story, this woman, Shirley, declared that she had never felt so important in her life as when our student wrote her life story.
Ultimately though, it is the strength of those face-to-face connections that really prove the importance of such a club. When students and seniors sit together discussing books (regardless of book quality!), it is clear to see how much both groups are gaining from the interactions. I also enjoy observing how in-the-moment our students always are, completely engaged in the conversations and device-free.
The quiet power of the interactions between young and old brings to mind the beauty of the simple yet profound words of Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot, Ethics of Our Fathers: “Who is wise? He who learns from everyone”.
Mrs. Sharon Fixler is Director of Admissions and Academics at Ulpanat Orot
Any Ulpana students or alumni wishing to join our intergenerational book club, please contact me at sfixler@bastoronto.org. We are always looking for more members!
