26 | SEPTEMBER 9 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

F

or the unlearned, old age is 
winter; for the learned, it is 
the season of the harvest.
”
The old Chasidic saying 
applies to everyone moving 
through life. Learning how to 
prepare for old age will surely 
turn those later years golden.
Taking the education chal-
lenge to heart are five members 
of Congregation T’
chiyah, a 
Reconstructionist synagogue 
in Ferndale. Working togeth-
er, they host a series of online 
lectures called “Getting Good 
at Getting Older” (colloqui-
ally known as GG@GO). The 
name comes from an influ-
ential book by Rabbi Laura 
Geller and her now-deceased 
husband, educator Richard 
Siegel (Behrman House, 2019, 
310 pages). Employing Jewish 
wisdom and gentle humor, “the 
authors share their insights and 
recommendations on lifelong 
learning, relationships and com-
munity, healthy aging and the 
importance of purpose,
” said a 
review.
Having covered the book’s 
topics last fall, the GG@GO 

Planning Committee is con-
tinuing the series with its 
own program ideas and local 
experts. The first new GG@
GO program, on Monday, 
Sept. 13, will feature Michigan 
Attorney General Dana Nessel 
discussing online scams. 
The committee’s intent is for 
GG@GO participants “to be 
armed with information that 
will allow us to continue to lead 
meaningful, purposeful lives, 
both helping ourselves and 
helping others,
” said member 

Roslyn Schindler of Huntington 
Woods. While seniors are the 
target audience, the lecture top-
ics also assist younger people 
in preparing for the future and 
better understanding the elders 
in their lives.

PREPARING FOR AGING
In joining the committee, Sandy 
Hansell of Bloomfield Township 
acknowledged he is among the 
older people who find it hard 
accepting their advancing age. 
As a result, “Far too many ‘gee-

zers’ delay asking for help when 
they need it or taking other 
steps to meet their needs,
” he 
said.
“We do not always realize 
how very vulnerable we are,
” 
said Syma Echeandia, a com-
mittee member from Shelby 
Township. “Many of us have 
not sorted out our legal affairs, 
cleaned our closets and prop-
erly adjusted our homes for the 
aging process, even though we 
understand the importance of 
doing so. That’s why meeting 
regularly and talking through 
the issues has been so import-
ant.
”
GG@GO started after 
Victoria Kohl of Shelby 
Township, the congregation’s 
vice president, coordinated with 
Rabbi Geller to speak at Sukkot 
about her book. Each time she 
and the rabbi talked, “I real-
ized what a treasure trove the 
book was and how fantastic the 
opportunity would be to contin-
ue the learning throughout the 
year,
” Kohl said.
Lora Frankel of Huntington 
Woods, who sponsored and also 

Congregation T’chiyah starts new group
to prepare people for their golden years.
Get Good at Getting Older

continued on page 28

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lora Frankel and 
Roz Schindler

Rabbi Laura 
Geller
Sandy 
Hansell
Syma 
Echeandia
Victoria 
Kohl

