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

Report on Ageing in the Jewish Community

ResponseAbility, together with Jewish Care, is writing up a report on ageing in the Jewish community, looking at both what we are doing well and what we are not doing so well at present, and what could be done in the future. 

Together we have created a working group to bring together the experiences of a wide range of people across the community, including rabbis, practitioners, academics and volunteers, so that the report can benefit from the perspectives of all. 

If you would like to share your experiences of ageing in the Jewish community with us here at ResponseAbility, e-mail abigail@responseability.org.uk. 

If you would like to be notified by e-mail when the report is published, send an e-mail with 'Positive Ageing Report' in the subject line to info@responseability.org.uk

May You Live to be 120: Does Judaism have the answer to the secret of a long and healthy life?

On July 1st, we presented an event at Ivy House on positive ageing. It featured a line up of renowned speakers, including Professor Felicia Huppert from Cambridge University's Well-being Institute, the Executive Director of Reform Judaism Rabbi Shoshana Boyd-Gelfand, and Maureen Kendler, the head of Educational Programming at the London School of Jewish Studies. 

We examined the question of how to age well, a particularly pertinent question with the dramatic rise in life expectancy. We will bring together various experts and academics in the fields of gerontology and positive psychology, care for the elderly and Jewish thinkers.

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.

Following on from this extremely successful evening, we are now working with Jewish Care and other independent contributors to create a Charter of Wellbeing for Older People.