Beth Tikvah launches new intergenerational program

For many congregations and parishes, members tend to mingle within groups of their peers. Families huddled together in one area, seniors chatting together in another.

At Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates, a new program is the foundation to bridge the groups and offer an opportunity for its teenage members to spend time talking and learning from its senior members of the congregation and vice versa.

The synagogue recently launched the intergenerational program, The Better Together, through a grant from the Legacy Heritage Foundation, said Fran Pearlman, director of congregational learning for Beth Tikvah.

The program involves a series of monthly programs that focus on Jewish values and text, organized by Pearlman, faculty members, adult coordinators of the teen group and a leader for the senior members.

"Too often, congregations are made up of a bunch of different silos. There are the empty-nesters, the families with children in religious school and the singles. In order to build a community, the silos have to be broken down," Pearlman said. "We have to work toward building a community together. This is the perfect opportunity to bring our various groups of the community together for learning, sharing experiences and celebrating."

In October, the program launched with a "speed meeting," where teens and seniors rotated around the room, taking a few minutes for introductions. In November, the focus was centered on the Jewish value of Kavod, which means honor. The temple invited its members who have served in the military, as well as guests from two Illinois chapters of the Jewish War Veterans, to visit and share stories and experiences over a Sunday evening dinner at the synagogue.

Jewish veterans

Since the November program was a few days after Veterans Day, it gave students an opportunity to make connections with the seniors who served in the military, chatting with veterans who saw combat, as well as those who served during times of peace.

Glen Ellyn resident Howard Goldstein, commander of the JWV West Suburban Post 54, said it still feels a bit strange to be able to speak openly about his military experiences with nonveterans. When he returned home, the country was divided and there were no celebrations to welcome those who made it home. Rather, they were told to keep quiet and move on.

"We were told don't talk about it. Don't wear your uniforms," Goldstein said.

Those veterans, many of whom are now retired, are discovering the opportunity to open up and share their experiences among fellow veterans with participation in groups like the Jewish War Veterans, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War.

The Jewish War Veterans is an organization that dates back to 1896, created by a group of Jewish veterans from the Civil War. Willowbrook resident Bruce Mayor serves as commander for the Illinois JWV. The Marine was an aerial gunner aboard helicopters on more than 250 combat missions in Vietnam. He is a member of the DuPage County Veterans Assistance Commission.

Like many veteran groups, Mayor said the JWV is trying to build up awareness of the JWV and encourage all veterans, wherever and however they served, to find a post and opportunity to collaborate with fellow veterans.

Opportunity for learning

For today's generation, which can feel lost when they lose connectivity to Wi-Fi, it's startling to hear stories from the veterans about living in harsh conditions for months on end, losing friends to combat.

"There are so many people who have done so much for our country, it's so interesting to hear their stories and learn from their experiences," said Michah Kier, a high school sophomore.

Even those who served in the military during times of relative peace had students engaged as they shared tales of living miles from the Korean Demilitarized Zone, sleeping in the jungles of Honduras, or coming face to face with a level of poverty unseen here in the U.S.

The Jewish veterans shared how meaningful it was to receive a care package while serving overseas, or what it was like to celebrate High Holy Days in a country far from home.

They spoke about finding fellowship among the other few Jewish soldiers in their unit, a point many of the students can relate to, as Beth Tikvah Congregation members hail from suburban Cook, Lake and Kane counties in areas where students are often the only or among a few other Jewish peers in their middle and high schools.

Bri Kaminski, a high school junior and the social action vice president for the congregation's teen group, said she really enjoyed hearing the veterans' stories and thinking about their experiences. So did sixth grader Maya Campagna.

"I learned a lot," she said.

Even as the program began to wrap up, there were still conversations spilling out into the lobby and parking lot.

"This has been an educator's dream to see this program come to fruition," Pearlman said.