Activities

 

PAI activities are listed on the Events Page.  PAI’s activities fall into four major categories to best meet the needs of the many older adults in our congregation and to build community:

 

Wellness Workshops: These information sessions held at the synagogue address issues common to many seniors. Examples of these workshops include:

• Introduction to Medicare (annual)

• Advance Directives (wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, etc.)

• Hearing Loss (including an on-site screening)

• Benefits and Entitlements for Seniors

• Ageism

• Preventing Consumer Fraud

 

Shared Wisdom Sessions: PAI is tapping into its tremendous resource of teachers, artists, and other professionals in our congregation to provide informal, small-group learning experiences in members’ homes. Click here for a listing of current Shared Wisdom Course Listings [Insert live link]. Examples have included:

• Digital Photography, with Matthew Septimus

• Jewish Child Soldiers During World War II, with Dr. David Rosen

• Jews in New York Politics, with Dr. Daniel Soyer

• Why the Middle Ages Matter, with Dr. Angela Weisl

• Particle Physics, with Dr. Ellen Briefel

We have also collaborated on off-site workshops with other organizations, such as Tracing Your Roots, a genealogy research workshop at the Center for Jewish History.

 

Social Events: Despite PAI’s emphasis on aging positively, aging does have its challenges, and a having a community of others who share these challenges can provide much needed help and support. Many new relationships have formed through PAI events, and the possibilities are endless for meeting new people, learning new skills, and just having fun.  Examples of social activities include:

•  PAI Book Club (monthly),

•  Dec. 25th Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge & Dinner

• Group walks in Prospect Park

• PAI Dinner in the Sukkah

• Social justice events, including PSJC’s annual MLK Day of Service

 

Advocacy: PAI addresses issues of access for older adults at PSJC and in the outside world. A major example was a Hearing Loss workshop with on-site hearing screenings. This well-attended workshop raised consciousness about how to address the issue of hearing loss with loved ones, from our own children to our aging parents.

 

PAI has also participated in UJA-Federation of New York focus groups on the needs of older adults in Brooklyn. In addition, PAI informs its members of resources outside of the synagogue that may be helpful to them, such as HIICAP, a Department for the Aging program that helps seniors with questions about health insurance; HIICAP does an annual workshop for PAI on Medicare.