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Growing Older

An elderly woman joyfully jumps in a garden, with sunlight and trees in the background.

Several generations ago, a woman got married in her early 20s, had children immediately, and by the time she was finished having children, she was well on the way to being a grandmother. And life was shorter. Today, most of us can hope to enjoy many years when our focus shifts back to our own goals and purposes, much as it did in our 20s. Questions of meaning and purpose again present themselves. At the same time, we have acquired the wisdom of years, and some of us long to have that recognized and celebrated within our communities. Other important events characterize this time of life: our bodies change, some of us become grandparents, some of us retire from long-established careers, and at some point we may move out of our homes and downsize, or even move in with children or into a facility. All of these changes present opportunities for ritual.

Latest Rituals

Source sheet pairing verses from Eicha with voices of immigrant parents separated from their children

Older couple laughing together inside a tent, enjoying a sunny day outdoors.
A happy couple laughing together inside a tent during the day.

“God lives inside my walker…”

black and white photo of walker zimmer
A poem acknowledging we each have divine gifts.
Silhouetted wildflowers against a mountain backdrop during a sunset.

“I would like to bless us … To go naturally, and simply, and glowing on the face of the earth”

Two women wearing sunglasses, taking a selfie outdoors; one holds flowers, the other a gift.

A ritual for saying goodbye to a sacred text or person

A black and white photo of two people hugging on a beach.

Traditional blessings for mikveh immersion

A woman in a white shirt floats calmly on water, with her eyes closed and hair submerged.

Four Questions to interview Jewish women at Passover

adult grandchild and grandmother at dinner table

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

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The Reconstructionist Network