Local program redefines what it means to age wisely — and Jewishly

What does it mean not just to grow old, but to grow into an elder?

That’s the question at the heart of From Older to Elder, a nine-month program that invites participants 64 and up to explore the challenges and opportunities of aging, all through a Jewish lens. The program is run by Wilderness Torah, a Berkeley-based nonprofit that focuses on earth-based Jewish experiences, traditions and teachings.

Ellie Schindelman, a longtime Wilderness Torah participant and From Older to Elder’s organizer, said the program is rooted in two central themes: radical acceptance and resilience.