Alumni Nurturing Intergenerational Connections

“I am joyously defiant about empowering older adults to carve out space for their unique perspectives within and beyond their spiritual and religious traditions, sometimes adding their voices to a millennia-long conversation.” — Rabbi Giulia Fleishman`22

As the inaugural director of spiritual care at 2Life Communities, discovering new and ancient ways to support the individual and communal spiritual lives of those she serves grounds and inspires Rabbi Giulia Fleishman’s work. Many of the Jewish values which guide the work — such as honoring parents and elders and making the world a better place — are shared across faith traditions, which means Rabbi Fleishman (right) can help residents and staff feel supported, age in community, connect with others, and find meaning in their lives no matter their faith identity. “I’m excited every day to translate the Jewish concept of ‘welcoming the stranger’ to my ongoing support of 2Life Communities’ residents and staff.”

2Life Communities is a Boston-based Jewish organization that provides affordable, inclusive senior housing, programming and support services to its seven Boston-area communities for adults aged 62 and up, regardless of their income level or background. After her ordination in 2022, Fleishman joined 2Life as the organization’s first lead provider of interfaith spiritual care across their campuses — a role created specifically to focus on spiritual life for all residents and staff, Jewish or otherwise, in their decision-making, spiritual direction, and education. “I love my work. I can be creative, whether it’s thinking about how to facilitate meaningful group memorial services for residents who carry different cultures and identities, or how to grieve communally on days like October 7th in such a richly diverse context,” says Fleishman.

Among the many rewards of her work are the “unexpected joys,” says Fleishman, such as an unexpected assistant director of spiritual care — her dog, Oco! (Oco’s title was bestowed by 2Life residents.) Fleishman has been surprised by the way Oco (pictured right and below) can help her create lasting pastoral relationships with residents who might not otherwise feel comfortable requesting spiritual care simply because they immediately trust him. When one resident who struggles to make connections was hospitalized, Fleishman brought him a picture of the dog. “The resident began weeping and said, ‘No one has ever done anything so kind for me.’ His reaction speaks to the way that Oco has become an important spiritual resource for him, a being who supports this resident’s sense of love and belonging in the world.”

She has also been pleasantly surprised by how much she loves the interfaith gatherings she facilitates at 2Life’s community in Shirley, MA. Because of the diverse population in this residence, most gatherings she facilitates are interfaith by default. For example, one-third of the community’s population came to last year’s Hanukkah celebration: three were Jewish, one Mormon, and the rest a mix of Protestant, Roman Catholic and secular. In order to mark the holiday in an accessible way, residents shared something they were grateful for and spoke vulnerably about people in their lives who have brought them light in dark times.

Fleishman also leads a Bible study group in Shirley where residents are learning Genesis chapter by chapter. The group includes, among others, two Jewish residents, two Seventh Day Adventist, and a resident who used to be a Roman Catholic nun. “Residents have shared how much they appreciate learning across differences. I’ve been moved by the ways everyone at these gatherings brings their questions and insights and how they can both honor differences and lift up our common humanity,” Fleishman says.

From Intern to Mentor

Fleishman began her relationship with 2Life Communities more than seven years ago as a rabbinical intern while studying toward ordination at Hebrew College. Her internship was supported by a grant from the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, which provides grants for Hebrew College rabbinical students to do pastoral work at 2Life. “My relationship with some of the residents runs deep. It has been incredibly meaningful to serve these residents through so many different losses, milestones, and celebrations,” says Fleishman. As an intern, Fleishman developed a new b’nei mitzvah program that culminated in a group ceremony with for 22 residents ages 69 to 97 years old becoming b’nei mitzvah, which caught the attention of The Forward.

As an intern, Giulia developed a b’nei mitzvah program for adults

She is still close with multiple residents. For one particular resident who was in her adult bat mitzvah program, that connection runs even deeper — that resident is also close to Fleishman’s fellow Hebrew College Rabbinical School classmate Rabbi Elyse Pincus Abrahams, who interned after her at 2Life. “Recently, Rabbi Elyse and I arranged for a visit with all three of us, along with Elyse’s son. The resident was overjoyed by the visit, as were the rest of us. I love how this work allows me to nurture community connections within and beyond the walls of any 2Life building.”

Rabbi Giulia and Rabbi Elyse Pincus Abrahams with a resident

In her new position, Fleishman finds herself in the mentor role, guiding other Hebrew College rabbinical students like 2024-2025 2Life intern Sivan Piatigorsky-Roth. “Having Rabbi Giulia as a supervisor was definitely a draw. She’s a wonderful supervisor,” says Piatigorsky-Roth, who leads 2Life weekly Shabbat services, Jewish learning classes/discussion groups, and offers residents spiritual care. “I heard positive things about interning at 2Life from other Hebrew College students who had done so in the past.” Piatigorsky-Roth was seeking an internship where they could learn a wide range of skills. Interning under Rabbi Fleishman’s supervision at 2Life provides the opportunity to practice prayer leadership, one-on-one spiritual care, and teaching.

Fleishman  loves being in the supervisor seat, witnessing how the rabbinic interns are shaping the rabbinate — experiencing the talent, wisdom, skill and insight they have to offer. “It can be challenging to feel like I’m supposed to have the answers when there is still much that I’m figuring out. At the same time, I use these moments to invite the interns into a process of collaborative leadership, exploring together what might be the best path forward. And, if needed, I try to support them in sitting with the difficulty or the not-knowing.” Her goal for Piatigorsky-Roth and other interns is to help them hone their skills, open their hearts, and discern where they need additional support to thrive in their work. “I hope that through their work at 2Life interns will come to have greater appreciation for the particular spiritual struggles and potential for spiritual flourishing among older adults,” she says.

Intergenerational Learning

The 2Life environment also fosters a community of learning between the generations.

“A lot of the residents are very interested in Jewish learning and ask to hear about what I am studying,” says Piatigorsky-Roth (right). “When I lead weekly Jewish learning or Torah study, it’s a good chance to bring some of that text learning to them in a direct and accessible way. Piatigorsky-Roth also looks to their rabbinical school peers to prepare for this work. “There are so many wonderful rabbis and rabbis-to-be who have extensive experience, and hearing stories and wisdom from people who have been a rabbinic presence in all sorts of different communities and contexts helps me feel like I have resources to lean on for anything that comes my way.”

Fleishman says she’s been lucky in her own training to have learned from “some very wise and skilled mentors” at Hebrew College, in her rabbinic internships, through clinical pastoral education, and from the interns themselves. “I often find myself thinking through how my mentors might respond in a given interaction and then try to do the same.”

For Fleishman and Piatigorsky-Roth, it’s been meaningful to see how many spiritual needs are universal across ages. “I used to work teaching preschool, and now I spend most of my non-2Life time with people in their 20s-40s,” says Piatigorsky-Roth. “So many of the spiritual needs and desires of people transcend any age categories. Everyone needs to feel communal belonging, connection, to feel trust and faith in the structures that support them, and to feel like their individuality is seen and appreciated.”

Learn more about Hebrew College alumni here. (Top image courtesy of 2Life Communities.)

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