An unusual collaboration was formed this year between the residents of The Jewish Home at Rockleigh and the 8th grade students at Yavneh Academy.  Throughout the year, a group of students visited with residents at the Rockleigh Home on a regular basis.  The goal was to teach the residents computer skills, initially teaching the seniors how to use e-mail, then helping them shop on-line and how to use Skype. The residents also visited Yavneh's computer laboratory for additional learning. After several sessions, the students interviewed 8 Jewish Home at Rockleigh residents and produced a video called "Days of our Lives." (Click the top photo to watch "Advice to Today's Kids," an excerpt from "Days of our Lives," an in depth interview with each participating Rockleigh resident.) 

On June 5th, the video was ready to be viewed and the Jewish Home at Rockleigh literally rolled out a red carpet and decorated the room with gold stars for the students/producers. The Yavneh students,  Abigail Raykher, Noa Barta, Coby Winfield, Cory Mais, Devyn Attias, Eli Hyman, Jacob Levine, Jordan Skydell, Justin Koesterich, Ma'ayan Brandwein, Mayer Scharlat, Sam Fineberg, Samuel Eisenstadter, and Zev Jarashow entered the social hall to a lot of applause and sat down next to the resident they had interviewed. They were accompanied by Rabbi Knapp, Mrs. Barbara Rubin, and Director of Technology Chani Lichtiger, as well as some parents.

After a welcome by Sunni Herman, Jewish Home at Rockleigh's Executive Vice President, and Tracey Coulboly, Jewish Home at Rockleigh's Director of Recreation, the video by the 8th graders, focusing on interviews with residents Shirlee Stern, Bernice Kramer, Sheila Cherry, Julius Slavin, Rae Leibenhaut, Nora Kaufman, Sophie Beldner, and Doris Nirenberg was viewed.  The residents spoke about their early years, where they lived, the work they did, and their families. One resident who grew up in Connecticut called herself "a farmer's daughter." Another said she was the first woman to attend a Brooklyn law school. One resident spoke of his experience hitchhiking to California and back as a young man. Another grew up in the country and walked 1 ½ miles each way to school each day. In addition to telling about their experiences, they came up with advice to the youngsters, including "Decide at a young age what you want for yourself;" "Make the best of what you get;" "If a friend needs a little help, find out what kind of help they need;" "Take extra courses in school if you can;" "Decide what you want to do and go for it;" and "Talk to people. Don't be shy."

All in all, the residents learned valuable skills, but it was the students who really gained the most from this experience.  Invaluable and unlikely friendships developed between the children and the residents, and they were all incredibly proud to have participated in this project together.

This innovative unique initiative was developed by Chani Lichtiger, our Director of Technology, and Sunni Herman, Jewish Home at Rockleigh's Executive Vice President.