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Group for Adults Ages 67+ Offers Social Events, Stimulating Programs and Cultural Outings with Peers 
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., November 9, 2018 – One thing members of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) in South Orange prize is connection—to their synagogue and through the many ways in which TSTI brings its members together. One example is PrimeConnection, a group for adults in their prime of life that provides monthly opportunities to connect with peers at dinner and a movie, holiday celebrations, stimulating educational programs and more—all designed to meet the needs and interests of those ages 67+.
PrimeConnection members recently celebrated the group’s first anniversary with an elegant luncheon, attended by 75 people who came to hear from Patrick Murray, director of The Monmouth University Polling Institute, who shed light on political polling ahead of the midterm elections.
“Our members are engaged, bright, and interested in current affairs so we wanted a meaningful, provocative program before the elections,” said Ellen Barocas, who co-chairs the PrimeConnection with Doris Spector. She and her husband Irv, Cedar Grove residents, joined TSTI in 1975; they raised their family at the temple, where she also served as president.
Barocas said that the group caters to many long-time members of TSTI who raised their families at the Reform synagogue and have known each other for years; but it has also welcomed new members who recently joined TSTI. “We invited five new members, singles and couples, who were excited to learn they have a ready-made social circle here, with activities they can enjoy at this time in their lives,” said Barocas.
She explained that the temple clergy, staff and lay leadership had been talking for a few years about the need to reinforce connections within the community for its mature members—retired, semi-retired or still working, but all interested in getting together with a vibrant group of peers. When a group of members approached Rabbi Daniel Cohen last summer about starting PrimeConnection, he got behind it immediately.
Cohen personally invited synagogue members ages 67 and older to the group’s opening meeting in September 2017 so they could experience the excitement firsthand. There was a klezmer band and an elaborate luncheon to inaugurate what Barocas called “a fabulous year of programming.”
“We had an extremely successful first year, thanks to the support of our clergy, steering committee and PrimeConnection general membership,” said Barocas, who has applied her years of programming experience as assistant executive director of the New Jersey Y Camps to PrimeConnection.
On this year’s calendar are: breakfast preceding a Beatles tribute concert at the JCC MetroWest, a latkes and karaoke party for Hanukkah, a New Year’s Day “pajama” brunch, a pizza-and-movie night, a facilitated book discussion on Phillip Roth’s “American Pastoral,” a trip to South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) to hear a Julliard quartet, and more. Part of the programming agenda is to support area non-profits such as the JCC MetroWest and SOPAC.
Reflecting the group’s membership, PrimeConnection’s steering committee covers a spectrum of ages and interests, and is creating an array of programming designed for this age group. In addition to Barocas, the committee members are: Mimi Braun, Jane Brick, Bobbie Futterman, Daniel and Matty Goldberg, Richard Koch, Annette Littman, Ann Merin, Doris Spector and Gail Szenes of West Orange, Enid Friedman Rosenberg of Montclair, Mel and Alice Prager of Murray Hill, Lois Rose of Livingston, and Arnie Rintzler and Hanie Warshaw of South Orange.
Connecting other cohorts at TSTI are Young Family Connection, ParenTeen Connection for parents of teenagers as well as the teens, (Re)Connection for those around ages 45-60, Second Connection for ages 58-70 and Women’s Connection, a multi-generational women’s group.
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) is a dynamic, inclusive Reform congregation that offers numerous ways for members to connect with and celebrate being part of the Jewish community and the world. Welcoming Jews by birth or by choice, interfaith, traditional and non-traditional families, and children of all abilities, TSTI provides lifelong learning and enriching programs for all members through a full complement of religious services, early childhood and religious school education, cultural programs, and activities that foster connection, engagement and community outreach in a joyful, judgment-free environment. TSTI is located at 432 Scotland Road in South Orange, drawing members from Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston and surrounding areas. For more information, visit www.tsti.org.
PHOTO CAPTION:
(l. to r.) Annette Littman, Doris Spector and Matty Goldberg of West Orange and Ellen Barocas of Cedar Grove, members of the steering committee for the PrimeConnection group at Temple Sharey Teflio-Israel in South Orange. PrimeConnection offers a mix of programming designed to meet the needs and interests of synagogue members ages 67+.
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