On Friday, April 10, Handmaker residents gathered in the Great Room alongside BBYO teens, Tucson Hebrew Academy students, and family members for a truly special evening — celebrating Shabbat, marking the conclusion of Passover, and honoring four remarkable years of the Better Together intergenerational program.
More than four years ago, Emily Ellentuck of Tucson Hebrew Academy and Libby Bacall of BBYO secured grants from the Better Together organization to bring this vision to life: monthly gatherings that would connect generations in meaningful and lasting ways. While leadership has evolved, with Rabbi Jesse Davis and Davis Hubbell stepping into key roles, the heart of the program has remained unchanged.
Over the years, these gatherings have created powerful connections, leaving a lasting impact on both the teens and the residents. As Rabbi Jesse candidly shared during the celebration, many fifth graders may not initially feel excited about spending time with older adults. But that quickly changes. After just a few visits, those same students begin to look forward to the relationships they are building and the stories they are hearing.
His daughter Norah, a 5th-grade participant this year, beautifully captured this transformation. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “The person who stuck with me the most was Barry [Rabbi Baruch Cohon]. He talked about his experiences in World War II and the book that he wrote. I’ve learned about World War II in school, but sitting there and listening to Barry was completely different. It wasn’t just information — it wasn’t who attacked who, or the story of some important battle or general. It was a real person telling me what actually happened to him. It made history feel less like something you memorize and more like something that happened to real people. I think about that a lot…and every time I have come here, I have walked away feeling like I understood something a little better — about history, about people, about what it means to get older.”
Moments like these have defined the program. Over time, genuine friendships have formed across generations. One especially meaningful connection grew between Avey, a BBYO teen, and Karen, a Handmaker resident. During many Sunday gatherings, the two could often be found deep in conversation. At the end-of-year celebration, Avey presented Karen with a heartfelt handmade card that read: “Karen, throughout my four years coming to Handmaker, you are one of the most wonderful people I have met … I hope to help as many people in my lifetime as you have in yours. Thank you for being such a joy and a friend to everyone. I’ll certainly see you again soon.”
While this four-year chapter of the Better Together program may be coming to a close, plans are already in the works to continue intergenerational programming utilizing the partnership between Tucson Hebrew Academy, BBYO, and Handmaker. Rabbi Jesse, Davis, and I, as Handmaker’s community outreach coordinator, are actively exploring new ways to keep these meaningful intergenerational connections thriving in the years ahead.
