Rabbi Richard Address, founder and director of the Jewish Sacred Aging project (www.jewishsacredaging.com), will be scholar-in-residence at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, 
Friday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 26.

Ordained in 1972 by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, since 1997 Rabbi Address founded United Reform Judaism’s (URJ) Department of Jewish Family Concerns, for which he also serves as director. Prior to joining URJ, he served as spiritual leader for several congregations in California. A major part of Address’s work has been in the development and implementation of the project on “Sacred Aging,” a project aimed at 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.

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. He also contributes articles for web sites on issues related to spirituality and aging and hosts a weekly radio show in Philadelphia called “Boomer Generation Radio.”

Schedule:

Friday night, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. –
Rabbi Address will speak at Shabbat services on the topic of  “The Jewish Response to Illness.”

Shabbat, Oct. 25
9:30 a.m. – Rabbi Address will lead a discussion based on Noach.
11 a.m. – During a lunch program following services, Rabbi Address will speak about the “art” of caregiving and caring for aging parents.

Sunday, Oct. 26 
9:30 a.m. – Emanuel Brotherhood will host a breakfast with Rabbi Address, who will discuss “Decision Making at the End of Life,” including a look at legislation dealing with ‘right to die’ issues. Guests will be Dr. Herb Ross, an endocrinologist from Lyme, and Tim Appleton of the organization Compassion and Choices.

Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Ave. For more information call (860) 233-8215.