Co-sponsored by Elat Chayyim, Jewish Retreat Center

June 18-23, 2006 (Sunday evening through Friday lunch)

Rabbi Shaya Isenberg, Lynne Iser and Bahira Sugarman
Featuring Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

Program Information: or

Program Fee: $275 (includes materials)

This work evolves from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi's vision of shifting the cultural paradigm about growing older. This new vision empowers us to:

• Affirm the value of our life's experience
• Mature in our relationships and in our communities
• Develop a regenerative spirit
• Take active leadership roles in society.

This 5-day training workshop will focus on relating in wise ways by exploring the quality of relationships and the vitality of the social web. Presentations will be intertwined with journal writing exercises, interactive and individual meditations, movement, and group sharing. The workshop will feature the participation of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, who will share his current thinking about Sage-ingŪ work and answer questions via teleconferencing from his home in Boulder, Colorado. This is an unparalleled opportunity.

While learning transformative "Sage-ing Tools" based in Jewish practices, we will also draw on the wisdom of other traditions, psychotherapy and current integral teachers. We view this as a deeply ecumenical process and invite all participants to connect their aging to their spiritual life.

This workshop is appropriate for:

• Elders and their families
• Professionals working with elders

Course credit for ALEPH smicha students may be available for this class.

Rabbi Shaya Isenberg, Lynne Iser, M.P.H. and Bahira Sugarman, MSSW, DCSW, co-direct the ALEPH Sage-ingŪ Program. They are senior students of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of the Spiritual Eldering Institute, (SEI). Lynne was the Co-Founder and first Executive Director of the SEI where Bahira and Rabbi Shaya were senior faculty.

Rabbi Shaya Isenberg teaches Jewish studies and comparative mysticism at the University of Florida where he is past Chair of the Religion Department. He is co-founder and co-director of UF's Center for Spirituality and Health, an affiliate member of UF's Center for Gerontological Studies and he serves as Rabbi for P'nai Or Gainesville. He also is a faculty member and serves as a director of studies for the Aleph Rabbinical Ordination Program.

Lynne Iser's professional passion is to create elder communities designed to add value to our world and culture. She brings over 30 years experience and a wealth of information to community non-profit organizations. She currently facilitates vision councils for "Second Journey;" is the board chair for Elat Chayyim, The Jewish Spiritual Retreat Center; and, is trained as a chaplain.

Bahira Sugarman, a traditional Reiki Master Teacher, is ordained as a spiritual guide by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and has been celebrated as an Eyshet Hazon (Woman of Vision). She combines psychotherapy with transpersonal and healing work in private practice. Licensed as a clinical social worker, as a marriage and family therapist, and as a massage therapist, Bahira teaches T'ai Chi Chuan and Reiki and has taught workshops on the relationship as a spiritual path with Rabbi Shaya.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the spiritual leader of the Jewish Renewal movement, is known as the "Zaydeh," the "grandfather," of the Conscious Aging Movement and creator of the Spiritual Eldering Process. He is Professor Emeritus from Temple University and has just retired from several years as the World Chair in Spirituality at Naropa Institute, Boulder, Colorado.