19th Fisesp Aging Seminar unites 325, expands to Latin America

The Jewish Federation of the State of São Paulo (Fisesp) gathered 325 participants this Wednesday (19) at Unibes Cultural for the 19th edition of the Aging Seminar, which this year had the theme “Aging in the 21st Century – Rights and Care.” With 18 speakers and specialists from different fields, the event discussed the challenges of an increasingly long-lived society, focusing on dignity, protagonism, health, autonomy, rights, and new forms of care.

One of the novelties of this edition was the participation, for the first time, of JDC – The Joint, which brought to Brazil a group of about 30 professionals from different Latin American countries, expanding the exchange of experiences and giving the seminar an international dimension. Representatives from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Mexico, and Panama participated, along with professionals from other regions of Brazil.

In her opening remarks, Fisesp president Célia Parnes proposed a reflection on how aging itself is understood. Drawing from the Jewish concept of  kavod (honor), she argued that longevity should be seen not only from the perspective of losses, but as a new life map that requires rethinking continuing education, work, intergenerational relations, social participation, and purpose.

Liora Alcalay, president of Unibes, emphasized the importance of discussing aging in a society that is increasingly long-lived and advocated for building paths that guarantee older people more autonomy, participation, respect, and dignity.

Sérgio Widder, regional director of The Joint for Latin America, highlighted that the aging of Jewish communities is part of a broader discussion about demographic changes in the region.

We are very grateful to Fisesp for the opportunity to participate in this seminar and bring professionals from communities across Latin America. Longevity is not only about caregiving tasks for older people, but also about opportunities to involve them in community life and to think about what Jewish communities can offer to people aged 65 and over, said Widder.

Fisesp’s executive president, Ricardo Berkiensztat, emphasized the growth of the event over nearly two decades and its increasing international projection.

The choice of rights and care as the central themes of this edition reflects the importance of these issues for promoting aging with health, dignity, and quality of life.

As people live longer and with more quality, it is essential to deepen the discussion on how to work with this population. Knowing and ensuring the rights of older people, as well as strengthening care networks, are fundamental aspects for longevity to be lived with health and dignity, concluded Sueli Schreier, Fisesp’s project manager in the area of aging.

The program addressed topics such as active longevity, comprehensive health, quality of life, innovation in care, autonomy and independence of people with disabilities, rights of older adults, and international care experiences. The audience also watched the documentary Each One’s Aging, followed by a roundtable discussion, as well as a presentation of  Pod Pratear, a podcast dedicated to the 50+ audience.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the tribute to Raul Meyer, 82, for his trajectory of community involvement. With contributions to institutions such as Fisesp, CIP, Shalom Community, and the Jewish Cultural Center, Meyer is especially recognized for his work in interfaith dialogue.

The tribute is not only for me, but for all those who have passed 80 and remain active. We need to support these people, because the community has many fantastic leaders who continue working and contributing, said Meyer.

Sponsored by Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and supported by CIP, Unibes, and Unibes Cultural, the 19th Seminar reinforced the idea of looking at aging not only as a matter of assistance, but as a stage of life marked by rights, opportunities, experience, and social participation.

On the eve of its 20th edition in 2027, the seminar reaches this milestone by expanding boundaries and strengthening the exchange of experiences among professionals and organizations from Brazil and Latin America around a common challenge: not only living longer, but ensuring that the years gained are lived with dignity, autonomy, care, and protagonism.

Source: Liane G. Zaidler