Will You Be Ready? The Potential Positive Baby Boomer Impact

(Culture and Community) 

Over the next 20 years we are going to experience a population boom in the 65 and older generation – the Boomers.  Over 20% of the United States population will make up this generation, and the majority of boomers are looking forward to this shift in their lives.  Getting older has two overly simplistic sides to the coin.  On the one side we are approaching our final chapters in the book of life, and on the other side we are looking forward to our “retirement” years.  

Is your synagogue planning for this?  The synagogue boomer population has great growth opportunity according to Rabbi Gerald Weider, founder of Jboomers, an organization that uses Facebook to connect Jewish baby boomers nationwide with opportunities for hands-on tikkun olam service, Jewish learning, spiritual fulfillment and Jewish travel. According to Rabbi Weider, neglecting the needs of this important segment of the population will come at the expense of the larger Jewish community.

Most synagogues are structured to live their mission through committees.  Does your synagogue have a ‘boomer” committee? If not, consider what such a committee can provide:

·         Volunteer opportunities

·         Learning opportunities

·         Social opportunities

·         Healthy living opportunities

Synagogues have always attracted our elders.  Yet this group of elders approaching retirement is different than what we have seen over the last twenty years: more positive in their outlook, more active, looking toward a longer retirement period, and financially more secure.   Creating an “elder circle” committee, a group focused on the needs and wants of the Jewish boomer segment, is the starting point for opening the doors of your synagogues wider to this important group.

Given what a major impact on our Jewish lives this population will have over the next twenty years, what better institution than the synagogue to both support our elders and harness their energy?