President John F. Kennedy designated May as Older Americans Month, an occasion to honor and acknowledge the contributions of older adults. The 2025 theme, Flip the Script on Aging, focuses on challenging stereotypes of aging, as well as exploring opportunities for staying engaged, highlighting opportunities for purpose and connection.
JFS strives to address this on a daily basis with various programs. The transition from working to retirement is a significant life change that requires preparation and adjustment. Many retirees seek new ways to be involved.
The JFS program, Schmooze and Schmear, is one example of a program that helps ease the transition to retirement. In 2018, Sam Bub and Leon Zoller had an idea for a small men’s group where they could socialize as well as learn together. The first group consisted of eight men who met at Wegman’s, and has now grown into a gathering of 25 gentlemen who meet in the social hall
of Temple Beth El. They begin their morning with a bagel and schmear and transition into the presentation portion of the program. Facilitated by members, a wide variety of topics have included The History of Psychedelics, The History of Magic with a magic show, photographic essays, and travelogues from presenters’ work and leisure travel around the world. This diverse group of men pull from their various backgrounds as businessmen, attorneys, educators, photographers, dentists, and physicians to create appealing program topics.
Schmooze and Schmear participants are flipping the script on aging. The gentlemen are engaged in community, continue to learn and grow, see friends and develop new connections. One speaker commented, “Everyone has a story worth telling.” The
participant-driven model gives anyone who would like to make a presentation a platform to share their knowledge.
If you or someone you care about would like more information on Schmooze and Schmear or any of the older adult services or programs, please contact Carol Wilson, clinical coordinator of older adult services. Carol can be reached at 610.351.9956 or
olderadults@jfslv.org.