Teaching and Training

I would be honored to teach your community, congregational or professional group on spirituality and aging, lifespan spirituality, ethics or pastoral care. I am equally comfortable in addressing lay audiences, delivering formal lectures, and in training professionals through engaging, participatory, hands-on workshops and conferences.

Keynote Addresses, Lectures, Scholar-In-Residence Programs

I bring passion and humanity to teaching professionals, congregations and community organizations. As I speak, I draw on my rich experience in accompanying individuals and families in later life. I blend inspiration from the wisdom of Jewish tradition with cutting-edge professional perspectives to frame engaging and empowering presentations. I always tailor a presentation to its context; I will learn from you about your community and event, and design a presentation to achieve your objectives.

Training for Clergy, Chaplains and Professionals on Spiritual Dimensions of Later Life

As a seasoned trainer, rabbi and chaplain, I can help you or your organization gain the skills to foster wholeness by addressing the spiritual dimension of later life. I love crafting dynamic, interactive workshops and conferences for clergy, pastoral care, human service and healthcare professionals. I will happily work with you to design a learning experience to meet your group’s unique context and goals.

Selected presentation topics

• Grit and grace beyond midlife. Click here for audio clip.
• Dementia: wholeness amid brokenness
• Tough decisions at the edge of life. Read more.
• Thinking ahead: advance care planning
• Life Story Midrash: an interactive, healing experience
• Forging congregations for all ages
• Fostering resilience for healthcare professionals
• The holy art of blessing

Selected recent venues

Aging services

• 6th International Conference on Aging and Spirituality, Los Angeles, CA
• Meadowood Senior Living, Worcester, PA
• Hebrew Senior Life, Boston, MA
• Phoebe Institute on Aging, Phoebe Ministries. Allentown, PA.
• Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, Montreal, CA
• Miami Jewish Health Systems
• Alzheimer’s Association, New York City, Montreal, Philadelphia
• Jewish Home for the Aged, Los Angeles, CA

Adult learning

• The Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
• 92 Y, New York City
• JCC Manhattan, New York, NYLIMMUD, Coventry, UK, Philadelphia, PA
• WHYY (NPR affiliate), Philadelphia, PA

Synagogues

• Tiferet Bet Israel, Blue Bell, PA
• Beth Evergreen, Evergreen, Colorado
• Congregation Beth El, Berkeley, CA
• Kane Street Synagogue, Brooklyn, NY
• Temple Aliyah, Needham, MA
• Congregation Beit Simchat Torah,  New York, NY
• Temple Emanuel, Westfield, NJ
• Congregation Dorshei Emet, Montereal, Canada
• Congregation Beth Israel, Charlottesville, VA

Clergy/chaplains

• Brite Divinity School, Ft. Worth, TX
• Joint Israeli-North American Spiritual Care Conference, Jerusalem, Israel
• Spiritual Directors International Conference
• Central Conference of American Rabbis Convention
• Medical Mission Sisters, Philadelphia, PA
• Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia

Academic institutions

• Duke University Institute on Care at the End of Life
• Mt. Sinai School of Medicine division of geriatrics and palliative care
• Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies, Baltimore, MD
• Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles, CA and Jerusalem, Israel
• Society for Spirituality, Health and Theology
• Academic Coalition for Jewish Bioethics