40. Combating an Epidemic, with Rabbi Joy Levitt, Susan Lechter, and Dana Wechsler Linden

It wasn’t just a perceived need. It was a moral imperative. In looking at the JCC’s burgeoning population of older adults, it became apparent that cards, trips, and discussion groups weren’t just fun, enriching ways to spend time. They were a way station, a way of conquering one of the most insidious epidemics of our time: loneliness. Under the direction of Susan Lechter and thanks to the care and largesse of board member Dana Linden, the Wechsler Center for modern aging would come to represent something more than a place for excellent programs. It would be a lifeline, a chance to build connections and community among a group that is too often overlooked in society. In today’s episode, joined by Susan and Dana, Rabbi Joy Levitt will discuss the impetus for launching the center — during a pandemic, no less — and how its many facets could change the way we think about getting older. To learn more about The Wechsler Center for Modern Aging, visit mmjccm.org/60plus.