If you were to attend the Yavneh Day School in Cincinnati, Ohio, you would likely see a smile on 91-year-old Misel Wieder’s face as he heads down the hall to join his third-grade class to share a story or some photos from the “old country”. You might also nd pride in the eyes of 89-year-old Gene Miller, working one-on-one with second graders on their cursive-writing skills. And you might even have to hold back tears as you witness the sheer joy on Esther Lucky’s face when her class races to greet her with shouts of “Grandma Lucky’s here!”
   19 senior citizens could not pass up the chance to be part of the groundbreaking new program at Yavneh. The school is a beneficiary of the Cincinnati Jewish Federation. The seniors are now part of Dor L’ Dor (Hebrew for “generation to generation”), a program at Yavneh that began as a way for different generations to have a positive effect on each others’ lives.
   Once a week, participants meet for coffee and a chance to chat with the other seniors before heading to their assigned classes. In class, they assist the teachers, interact with the students, and add their own special touch of grandparent wisdom and affection.
   Helen, a legally blind senior, declined the first time she was contacted to participate because she thought she would get in the way. Luckily, with a little encouragement she was convinced to give it a try.“It’s hard to believe that was the same woman who, in just the second week of the program, could be seen dressed as a butterfly and fluttering around a room full of giddy preschoolers,” remembers Sandy Kaltman, Yavneh’s Dor L’ Dor Parent Coordinator. “Some of our participants start off a little hesitant, but they never stay that way for long. For them, being around young, happy children is like drinking from the Fountain of Youth.”
    Whether it’s lending a hand with a challenging assignment, teaching the tune to an old Yiddish song, or giving a much-needed hug to a tearful preschooler, the Dor L’ Dor program has helped senior citizens turn loneliness into liveliness and substitute something unexpected every week for the “same old, same old”.
     “Our senior participants are very capable and have so much to give,”says program co-creator,Pam Saeks.“Sadly,as some people age, they don’t feel worthwhile and productive any longer. Dor L’Dor has given them the chance to get back into the world and contribute in a very real way.Some of our participants have said that bringing them into the Yavneh setting has truly given them a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”
    Since the program’s inception Yavneh families have been encouraged to invite Dor L’ Dor participants into their homes for Shabbat and other holidays, extracurricular school events such as Sukkah parties, school plays, art shows, and more,” she adds.“It has been such a success that there’s virtually no Yavneh event in which there aren’t at least a handful of our Dor L’ Dor friends in attendance.”
     One of the highlights of the Dor L’ Dor program last year was a very special surprise party Misel Weider’s class gave him in honor of his 90th birthday. Through a mixture of laughter and tears, Mr.Weider, a Holocaust survivor, thanked his “classmates” for bringing such joy to a life overwhelmed with sadness. “It’s a miracle,” he said, hardly able to contain his emotion. “This is the happiest day of my life!”
     “Once children experience first-hand how great it feels to have such a positive effect on someone’s life, we hope they will want to replicate that feeling by participating in social action projects on a regular basis,” says Saeks. “Our hope is that these children will grow up to embrace the Jewish ideal of Tikun Olam, healing and repairing the world. The Dor L’ Dor program is a great first step in that direction.”
   Children of all ages need to learn how to interact with senior citizens and treat them with dignity and respect,” adds the coordinator of Dor L’ Dor, Joy Rothenberg.“By getting to know their senior classmates, children also learn more about their own heritage and culture. Here, survivors of the Shoah have an extra-special legacy to impart.”
     Psychological studies have demonstrated that children who interact with seniors in a regular, organized manner demonstrate a signicant increase in self esteem.When observing seniors in the classroom, we are amazed at the amount of compliments and patience that the seniors continuously offer the children. Children flock to their adopted Bubees and Zaydes because they know that they are accepted unconditionally by them.”
    In addition, the seniors contribute enormously to classroom management. Teachers often anticipate their visits because they lend an extra hand and ear to children who require more attention. The seniors are physically close to the children, lending hugs and assistance in a non-threatening, loving manner. Regardless of age, it is clear that both children and those who are children at heart benefit from the exchange provided by the Dor L’ Dor program.

Pamela Richards Saeks is the Program Director of Jewish Giving at the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio. Now, thanks to the foundation, Jewish day schools around the country can apply for the services of a Dor L’ Dor consultant who can provide ongoing technical assistance and support to schools interested in starting this program. For more information please contact The Mayerson Foundation at 513-621-7500.
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