Blog

Welcome to the ResponseAbility blog, where we pose questions and discuss the cutting edge issues facing Britain and the wider world from a distinctly Jewish perspective.

Positive Ageing

ResponseAbility, in association with Melton and the London Jewish Cultural Centre, presented a symposium on positive ageing at Ivy House on July 1st, attracting over 50 attendees. 

May you live to be 120: does Judaism have the answer to the secret of a long and healthy life?

Leading speakers were Felicia Huppert of the Cambridge University Centre for Wellbeing, Maureen Kendler, a lecturer at the London School of Jewish Studies and Rabbi Shoshana Boyd-Gelfand, the executive director of Reform Judaism.

We examined the practical steps which we can take to improve our chance of living a long and healthy life – steps which have their clear counterpart in Judaism, such as:

Kehilah, Strong bonds, communities

Torah, Life long learning

Five different viewpoints, including a Jewish one, were put forward about positive ageing and then we broke into smaller groups to come up with a Jewish charter for positive ageing. This symposium will form the basis of a Charter for Older People, which ResponseAbility is now working on with Jewish Care and other independent contributors. If you wish to be involved in this consultation, please e-mail info@responseability.org.uk.