Hazak programming to launch in St. Louis, but what is it?

Published September 22, 2023

Hazak is a powerful Hebrew word. It means strength. It also has become an acronym within the Conservative movement for programming designed for members of the Jewish Community who are 65 and older.

In the Hebrew word חֲזָקָה, The het stands for Hokhmah (wisdom), the zayan for Ziknah (maturity) and the kuph for Kadima (looking ahead).

According to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, “Hazak notes that the senior represents cumulative knowledge, the ability to judge as zakeyn in a mature fashion, and has aspirations to move ahead during the decades remaining. With that in mind, Hazak is designed to address the needs of seniors in full-service congregations where programming priorities are often largely targeted to the younger congregants.”

Now, thanks to a grant from the Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for Jewish Aged, Congregation B’nai Amoona is excited to launch Hazak here in St. Louis.

Congregation B’nai Amoona Launches Hazak

Hazak is a once-a-month program for members of the Jewish Community who are 65 and older.

“We promise not to card,” joked Liessa Alperin, director of congregational life and engagement at B’nai Amoona.

Over the past five years, B’nai Amoona provided programming focusing on this age group and listened to the community in order to find out what the community really wanted.

“We recognized three key factors. All of them were around the idea of health. Mental. Emotional. Physical health,” said Alperin. “This new Hazak program does just that.”

The new program has funding to match people with therapists and provide therapy at almost no cost. The first session is free and the following four are $10 a piece. It also guarantees a therapist for you within two weeks.

Physical health is addressed with the medical professional on site.

“We have begun a partnership with St. Luke’s Community Outreach as well as a potential one with the Visiting Nurses Agency,” said Alperin. “They are committing to working with us, doing presentations, possibly vaccines and other health needs focused on this age group.”

To address emotional health — including feelings of loneliness among older adults — Hazak provides lunches, dinners and entertainment at a reduced cost.

“This is a great social outlet. This was originally only for lunches, however, a request was made for a Friday Night Shabbat dinner when sundown is later,” said Alperin.

Getting started

The opening program is Thursday, Oct. 5 at 11:45 a.m. in B’nai Amoona’s sukkah. After lunch, the U City Klezmer Experience will perform.

Guests can stop by a health table to ask the director of St. Luke’s Community Outreach health questions, have blood pressure checked and learn about important health tips as flu season approaches.

Future dates for Hazak Include: