Fostering Intergenerational Connections
The Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care Home of Ottawa (Hillel Lodge) is proud to foster intergenerational relationships through impactful initiatives that connect residents with younger community members. We believe that these connections enrich the lives of both residents and youth, creating a vibrant tapestry of shared experiences, wisdom, and learning. By bridging the gap between generations, we cultivate an environment where stories, traditions, and values are exchanged, promoting understanding and respect.
One of our flagship projects, "L'Dor Vador: Passing Wisdom from Generation to Generation," brings together middle school students from the Ottawa Jewish Community School (OJSC) and residents of Hillel Lodge. Through monthly meetups, participants explore Jewish traditions, resilience, and values via storytelling and collaborative projects, enriching the lives of both generations.
The V’Hadarta Pnei Zaken program (You shall honor the presence of the elderly) goes beyond simply respecting our elders; it emphasizes the importance of actively listening and creating space for their stories. Through engaging conversations and thoughtful writing, grade 4 students from the Ottawa Jewish Community School (OJCS) serve as keepers of memory by creating booklets that highlight the life stories of the residents.
In addition, our weekly Oneg Shabbat, meaning "Joy of Sabbath" in Hebrew, creates a vibrant atmosphere every Friday morning. Residents, along with children from Ganon Preschool and OJSC students, come together to celebrate Shabbat through songs, activities, and shared joy.
Seasonal programs further enhance these connections, offering meaningful, hands-on experiences such as the Counsellor in Training "Summer Olympics," and the summer Sugar Hill Barnyard Buddies event.
Various intergenerational projects illustrate how right our community planners were to create a Jewish Community Campus which includes establishments for both the young and the young at heart. Our residents love to engage with youth and feel as if part of things. In exchange the children learn that older people are valuable, interesting members of their community.
— Life Enrichment Manager, Marilyn Adler