Seniors Are Anything But Sedentary at Jewish Center

Dancing, laughing at jokes, socializing and learning about Jewish heritage is par for the course when Senior Adult Group Enthusiasts (SAGE) meet at the Woodbury Jewish Center.  

Rather than having the seniors, 55 and older, just sit in their chairs and listen to presentations, Program Director Roberta Weinstein-Cohen wants them to get on their feet and participate.

"I had a dance therapist once," Weinstein-Cohen says. "She did music and exercise and even showed the seniors how to get out of the bed properly. She got them up and dancing. It was great."

As program director for the past 10 years, Weinstein-Cohen prefers to offer diverse presentations. "I try to vary as much as possible and have a wide variety of topics," Weinstein-Cohen says. "(Congressman) Steve Israel was here. I've also had comedians come here. The goal of the monthly meetings are a combination of mental and physical socialization. It's also a place to schmooze, chit-chat."

With a diverse selection of programs designed to bring health awareness, fun and companionship, the seniors flock to the meetings once a month on Thursdays.

"One guy sang Jewish songs from different backgrounds like Eastern Europe and Spain," Weinstein-Cohen says. "He combined the two types of Jewish languages of Ladino, which is a mixture of Spanish and Hebrew, and Yiddish, which is German, Polish and Hebrew together." 

Recent speaker Charles Fine discussed "The Road to New York from Eastern Europe."

"It's about the Jewish Immigration to America," Fine says. "My presentation was about teaching them from whence their family came from."

Ruth and Albert Smith of Syosset savor the lessons learned.

"The programs are very interesting," Ruth Smith says. "I especially enjoyed the one about American presidents and their mothers. I am a history buff." 

Holocaust survivor Annie Bleiberg of Woodbury couldn't be happier at the meetings because she is among friends. "I come here all the time. I enjoy the programs. When I moved here to Woodbury 8 ½ years ago, I joined the Jewish temple," she says.

Close to tears, Bleiberg shared her Holocaust experience and how much it makes her appreciate things in her life like SAGE.

"I survived the concentration camp," she remembers. "I was there 2 ½ years. The war ended and the Russian Army liberated us. I got here in 1950. I was married and became a mother. I was born in Poland and lived in Germany. I think the United States is the best place to live. I love it here and I love my friends. My friends love me too."

Showing her arm imprinted with the number 38330 with a triangle on top, Bleiberg explained the difficult times she endured under Hitler's reign.

"I didn't want to do whatever Hitler said and they put the triangle on me which means I was a troublemaker and I went to jail. I took every day one day at a time," says Bleiberg. "I was hungry all the time. I prayed all the time. I was a young girl at the time. My father survived the Holocaust and lived until he was in his 90s. My mother and younger sister died in another concentration camp. It was a horrible time but I'm still standing. I survived."

If interested in joining SAGE, call Weinstein-Cohen at 516-496-9100, ext. 352. The program is free for members of the synagogue and $36 per year for non-members.