By Sara S.
Seventh Grade, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
As technology rapidly advances, the distance between senior citizens and modern society seems to widen.
To help close this gap, seventh grade students at Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s Krieger Schechter Day School (KSDS) are participating in the national Better Together program, which brings students and seniors together to form intergenerational bonds.
Once a month throughout the academic year, 30 KSDS students travel together to the Edward A. Myerberg Center and spend time interacting with seniors in small groups. The students offer knowledge and information about technology, while their new senior friends share heartwarming and amusing stories of their past.
The goal of the the program is very clear: for the students to live the value of kavod z’keynim (honoring our elders). According to Liz Minkin Friedman, Krieger Schechter’s director of development and strategic advancement, Better Together enables students to learn life lessons, gain wisdom, forge relationships and learn to appreciate seniors.
In return, the students help the elders create a digital legacy and record their stories to keep for future generations. Because some seniors struggle with technology, the relationship is mutually beneficial.
As Eliyah B., a seventh-grade student at KSDS, says, “I had a wonderful time meeting with all the seniors and casually talking; every single one has a different story.”
The program at KSDS benefits from success in other schools. Minkin Friedman attended a day school conference and met the main staff programmer who supports Better Together in about 90 Jewish day schools in the United States.
Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, Krieger Schechter’s headmaster, had organized the program at his previous school in New Jersey and recommended it for KSDS.
While students are normally prohibited from using cell phones in school, phones are valued and encouraged to help create a digital legacy as part of the program. The students teach seniors how to use their phones more effectively, while making new friends, gaining confidence, and doing a mitzvah.
“Seniors struggle with technology, but it’s a language that is very natural for students,” Minkin Friedman explains.
During each interactive session at the Myerberg Center, the students and seniors work with digital media together while the students improve their interview and communication skills and also build very special relationships.
Following the students’ first visit in September, the seniors expressed their gratitude.
“It makes me feel that I’m way behind the times, that I need to catch up, but I admire the fact that you are willing to help,” Harriet Cooper says.
Better Together fulfills the capstone program requirement for seventh grade, chosen based on its parallel to the family history curriculum project. In addition, as seventh graders demonstrate the maturity needed to appreciate strangers’ stories and lives and serve as leaders, according to Minkin Friedman, who hopes the students and seniors will develop and grow true friendships over the eight visits during the course of the project.
She also hopes that the time spent on the project is meaningful and provides confidence for the students, and that the seniors realize the unique and special attributes of Krieger Schechter Day School students.
Photo: Sara S., Harriet C. (left to right), photo by Maya M.
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