Richard Address

Caring.com Expert

About

Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min., serves as the Union for Reform Judaism's only consultant and specialist on spiritual and programmatic issues concerning older adults and baby boomers. He created the award-winning program known as Sacred Aging. He teaches classes in this and related subjects in the rabbinic and doctor of ministry programs at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, and he speaks on these issues across North America. His interest in this area was motivated by his previous work in developing programs for congregations on the subject of family concerns and caring communities.

Rabbi Address has authored numerous articles and book chapters on issues of aging and spirituality. His writings include That You May Live Long: Caring for our Aging Parents, Caring for Ourselves, which he coedited with Hara E. Person; and To Honor and Respect. Both are available through URJ Press. He founded and edits the website www.jewishsacredaging.com and contributes to sites such as www.silverplanet.com.

Rabbi Address was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati (1972) and received his doctor of ministry from the same institution ion 1999. In 1998 he received a certificate in pastoral counseling from the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York City.

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Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Wednesday March 23, 2011

    1. Where can I find Shabbat liturgies for home use?

      Answer - Shalom: The desire to find liturgies for home shabbat use is growing. Thankfully, there are ahost of resources, both print and electronic. The "Gates of the House" is a tried and true book (published by the CCAR Press in New York) that is perfect for a variety of home ceremonies and has a wonderful home shabbat service...

  2. Wednesday August 11, 2010

    1. Can a pregnant woman attend a Jewish funeral?

      Answer - The question of a pregnant woman attending Jewish funeral speaks to a wide range of customs that are still in evidence in our community. This custom is linked to beliefs that somehow the ambiance of the funeral and death will impact the fetus and thus the child. This custom has curency among some communituies and generations...

  3. Sunday May 09, 2010

    1. How can I convince my mother to set up final arrangements?...

      Answer - The issue of how to begin the conversation of planning and paying for final arrangement comes up regularly as I travel doing workshops for congregations in the area of decision making. It is not an easy conversation. It took the death of my mom's sister to have her become more open to such a conversation...

    2. Is this really an Orthodox tradition?

      Answer - First of all, let me extend to you my condolences on the loss of your grandmother. The issue you raise is becoming more common as the number of inter-faith families rise. The idea of having your non-Jewish cousin "step-back" from graveside is not based on Jewish law...

    3. How do I get my mom to not fast on Yom Kippur?

      Answer - The issue of "fasting on Yom Kippur" will become more prevelant in the coming years as we live longer and, for many of us, deal with chronic medical issues and types of disabilities. I have had this conversation with my own 94 year old mother. Fasting on Yom Kippur is an important statement...