Eitelberg Senior Connections is an initiative intended to address the communal and spiritual needs of the increasingly large aging Jewish population in Central Virginia.

A Senior Connections "client" leans on his cane.

location

Charlottesville, VA

Funding began

May 1, 2015

contact

Latifa Kropf, Director

 

The Eitelberg Senior Connections Story

 

The Eitelberg Senior Connections program addresses the communal and spiritual needs of the aging Jewish population in Central Virginia. "The primary goal of Senior Connections is to connect with and support our Jewish elders,” says Latifa Kropf, Senior Connections director. The program is funded by the Eitelberg Fund of the United Jewish Fund of Charlottesville (UJFC) and is run by Congregation Beth Israel. Ed and Helen Eitelberg were long-time Charlottesville-area residents who made major contributions to the growth and vitality of the Jewish community. Ed began the first Jewish philanthropy here, which was the forerunner of UJFC.

A 2014 survey found that many Jewish seniors in the community live in isolation, lack transportation, don't know how to get the medical attention they need, or face financial problems. Some would like to attend services at the synagogue but can't travel. The Senior Connections program helps Jewish seniors meet those needs, often connecting them to available services, enhancing their security and giving meaning to their lives.

“Our Jewish seniors need support and Latifa Kropf is there to help.”
— Jeffrey Grossman, UJFC Board Member

Senior Connections Support Services

  • 1 on 1 visits.
    Some of these take place at home. Some involve going on lunch dates or to social events in the community, to films and adult education activities at Cong. Beth  Israel, rides in the country, and doctors visits. Latifa also helps seniors maintain connections with their children, and connects them with needed community resources.

    Some visits include learning Hebrew prayers. She’s taken videos of seniors recounting anecdotes about their lives, and shared those videos with their families. And sometimes it’s simply a conversation or a phone call with someone who needs more human contact.

  • Programs that include Jewish content
    There are Torah studies sessions twice a month. They take place on Thursday afternoons at the  Colonnades facility and are led by one of our community’s rabbis and other professional community members. Some the topics covered are commentaries on the weekly Torah reading, genealogy, poetry, healing, and mourning practices all from a Jewish perspective. These sessions are open to and attended by members of the larger Charlottesville community as well as the seniors. Latifa also helps organize Jewish holiday celebrations and coordinates monthly Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Colonnades. 

  • Wise aging classes
    The classes are based on the book Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience, & Spirit, by Linda Thal and Rachel Cowan.  Classes involve readings, discussions, meditations, and more. The topics range from the legacy you’re leaving, writing an ethical will, and forgiveness, to spiritual friendships and maintaining joy in your life. The purpose of the class is to develop strategies that will be helpful to the participants as they face the challenges of aging.

    For more information, contact Latifa at latifafital@gmail.com, or call her at 434-974-7016