Seekers of Meaning, the Podcast of Jewish Sacred Aging
Spirituality & Philosophy > Inspirational
Religion > Judaism
About the Podcast
The Seekers of Meaning podcast features news and interviews on the subject of Jewish sacred aging. Jewish Sacred Aging is a forum for the Jewish Community with resources and texts that feature discussions on the implications of the revolution in longevity for Baby Boomers and their families. W
About the Host
Rabbi Richard Address, D.Min.
Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min, is the Founder and Director of www.jewishsacredaging.com. Rabbi Address served for over three decades on staff of the Union for Reform Judaism; first as a Regional Director and then, beginning in 1997, as Founder and Director of the URJ’s Department of Jewish Family Concerns and served as a specialist and consultant for the North American Reform Movement in the areas of family related programming. Rabbi Address was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1972 and began his rabbinic career in Los Angeles congregations. He also served as a part time rabbi for Beth Hillel in Carmel, NJ while regional director and, after his URJ tenure, served as senior rabbi of Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, NJ from 2011-2014. Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min. (Steve Lubetkin Photo)Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min. (Steve Lubetkin Photo) A major part of Address’s work has been in the development and implementation of the project on Sacred Aging. This project has been responsible for creating awareness and resources for congregations on the implication of the emerging longevity revolution with growing emphasis on the aging of the baby boom generation. This aging revolution has begun to impact all aspects of Jewish communal and congregational life. Rabbi Address was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati (1972) and served congregations in California before joining the staff of the Union for Reform Judaism (formerly the Union of American Hebrew Congregations) in 1978. He directed the Union’s Pennsylvania Council from 1978 through 2000. In 1997 he founded the Department of Jewish Family Concerns and went full time in New York in January of 2001. Rabbi Address received a Certificate in Pastoral Counseling from the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health in 1998 and his Doctor of Ministry from HUC-JIR in 1999. He also received his honorary Doctorate from HUC-JIR in 1997. In January of 2007 he was awarded the “Sherut L’Am” award by the Kalsman Institute for Judaism and Health. He teaches classes in Jewish Family issues and Sacred Aging at the New York campus of HUC-JIR. In March 2010, Rabbi Address was awarded a Best Practices in Older Adult Programs: First Place by the National Council on Aging-Interfaith Coalition on Aging. Rabbi Address contributes articles for web sites on issues related to spirituality and aging. He co-chairs the Committee on Spirituality and Diversity for C-TAC (Coalition to Transform Advanced Care), and serves as Rabbinic Advisor to Men of Reform Judaism. For four years, he hosted a weekly radio show in Philadelphia called “Boomer Generation Radio,” which is archived in podcast form on this website. Beginning in winter 2018, Rabbi Address began hosting a weekly podcast, Seekers of Meaning, dedicated to discussing issues related to aging, spirituality and the impact on families, and congregations. Rabbi Address has authored numerous articles, book chapters and books related to the issue of aging. Some include: “Till Death Do Us Part? A Look at Marriage Rituals When A Partner Has Alzheimer’s Disease” in Generations-Journal of American Society on Aging. Fall 2011. “With Eyes Undimmed and Vigor Unabated: Sex, Sexuality, and Older Adults”: in The Sacred Encounter. Rabbi Lisa J. Grushcow, DPhil, ed. CCAR Press. 2014 “Tradition, Texts, and Our Search for Meaning”: Judaism and Health. Jeff Levin, PhD, MPH and Michele F. Prince, LCSW, MAJCS. eds. Jewish Lights. 2013″Jewish Relational Care with Healthy Aging”: in Jewish Relational Care. Jack Bloom. Haworth Press. 2006 “Creating Sacred Scenarios: Opportunities for New Rituals and Sacred Aging”: in Religion, Spirituality and Aging: A Social Work Perspective. Harry R Moody, Ph D, Ed. Haworth Press. 2005 “The Human Body and the Body Politic”: in Midrash and Medicine. Dr. William Cutter, ed. Jewish Lights. 2011 “What Elders in Congregations Need From Spiritual Leaders”: in Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging. Vol. 32. Jan.-June, 2011 “The Unbroken Path: Emerging Issues for the Care-giver”: in Broken Fragments: Jewish Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease. Doug Kohn, ed. URJ Press. June 2012 “Standing in Life Before God: Report on One Congregation’s First Steps for Creating a Congregation=Based Program on Health and Wellness” in CCAR Journal. Journal of Reform Judaism. Summer 2012 “Contemplating A Theology of Healthy Aging”: in Healing to All Their Flesh: Essays in Spirituality, Theology and Health. Dr. Jeff Levin and Dr. Keith Meador, eds. Templeton Press. Fall 2012 Seekers of Meaning: Baby Boomers, Judaism and the Pursuit of Healthy Aging: URJ Press. 2011 “To Honor and Respect: Programs and Resources for Congregations on Sacred Aging” ( Union for Reform Judaism Press. 2005) “That You May Live Long: Caring for our Aging Parents, Caring for Ourselves. Jewish Perspectives On Caregiving” (with Rabbi Hara Person. URJ Press. 2003) “Caring for the Soul: R’fuat Ha Nefesh: A Mental Health Resource and Study Guide. (URJ Press. 2003) “A Time to Prepare”. A Practical Guide for Individuals and Families in Determining One’s Wishes for Extraordinary Medical Treatment and Financial; Arrangements. (URJ Press. 2001)
