One of the tasks of a JFS social worker is to keep an eye out for opportunities to engage with the community. One Friday afternoon, I went to Abe’s Garden to visit a Jewish resident and found them engaged in a group sing-along. I did not want to interrupt the activity, so I decided to sit next to them and enjoy the program together. I noticed how much the residents enjoyed the songs. Halfway through the program, another Jewish resident asked if the musician knew any Jewish songs. The musician thought for a moment and then sang the Dreidel song, the only song she knew. I saw the Jewish residents faces light up with joy as they sang a familiar song together. We knew we wanted to recreate this experience and decided to offer a monthly Jewish singalong program.
The first JFS sing-along at Abe’s Garden was on a Sunday afternoon. I arrived early and found one of the Jewish residents asleep in a chair in the lobby. She had been reminded of the sing-along and wanted to be sure she didn’t miss it. I spent time catching up with her, and she attempted to entice me to a game of ping pong, which at 98 years old, she can still beat most anyone.
Thirteen residents sat in a circle around Cantor Josh Goldberg as he played familiar tunes including Shalom Aleichem and Hinei Ma Tov on his guitar. I was amazed at how many residents knew all the words to the songs whether they were in English, Hebrew or Yiddish. The Jewish residents sang their hearts out and some even danced. The songs brought back memories of Jewish summer camps and Yiddish speaking grandparents that they talked about as a group. Together as part of a micro community within the Abe’s Garden facility, they shared a common culture, history and interest. Afterwards, one of the Jewish residents wanted to give a tour of the building and their new apartment. Our executive director, Pam Kelner, stayed behind for the tour and a personal visit.
JFS provides a Shabbat service (and holiday celebrations) for Jewish residents once a month in facilities with enough interested residents. This began after a community needs survey in 2003 that concluded there were not enough Jewish seniors to justify building a senior housing facility. If we could not have a Jewish facility, then we wanted to bring Shabbat services to them in their homes. Shabbat services and the new sing-along program bring the Jewish residents together as a micro-community where they can be together with their tribe. Being part of a community fosters a sense of belonging and connection. As a JFS social worker, there is nothing better than seeing the joy our programs bring to their lives, and it’s an honor to witness it.
The Jewish Observer is published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Become a supporter today.