The Peaceful Grandparent Project
The Peaceful Grandparent Project is an Orot Peaceful Family initiative offering grandparents the tools to deepen connections with their adult children and grandchildren and infuse family moments with sacredness and tranquility.
Orot has adapted its renowned Peaceful Parent Project® program to cater specifically to grandparents, introducing specialized texts and topics that resonate with the unique experience of being a grandparent. The 5-week course interweaves Jewish wisdom with mindfulness practices and teachings to help grandparents cultivate greater empathy, understanding, and connection in their families.
Orot partners with community organizations and institutions to offer this program to your grandparent community.
As a Grandparent, Do You:
• Wonder about the new role you play within your family?
• Strive to have the strongest relationship possible with your grandchildren?
• Try to impart your Jewish values and Jewish pride to your grandchildren?
• Want to connect more openly and lovingly with your adult children and in-law children?
“Each session gives me the space to explore my grandparenting challenges and beliefs in the context of Jewish sources and other parents’ experiences. Through the close examination of targeted Jewish texts, our small cohort shared, laughed and cried together. And more importantly, we reflected on our relationships with our children and grandchildren.”
Peaceful Grandparent Project Participant
“I found Peaceful Grandparent to be thought-provoking, stimulating and very interesting. It was rewarding to be with such a knowledgeable facilitator and deep thinking group of grandparents. Peaceful Grandparent enables grandparents to engage with one another on a deep level while studying Jewish texts and readings from other sources, to learn how to deepen their relationships with their grandchildren and to think about the role grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives and what they want to leave with their grandchildren. Peaceful Grandparent stimulates you to think differently and opens your ears and eyes and heart to new ways of understanding and practice.”
Peaceful Grandparent Project Participant
Lessons:
Shema - Listening with Attunement, without Judgment
Re-iyah - Seeing our Grandchildren and Adult Children As They Are and
Shavat va’yinafash - Finding Moments of Rest and Renewal
Ahava - Opening the Rich Complexity of Grandparent Love
Hitchadshut - Seeing the Everyday through the Lens of Holiness
FAQ
Who is this class for?
This class is designed for grandparents of children of all ages. Folks who are expecting their first grandchild can also take part - think of it as Grandparent’s Lamaze! No prior knowledge or experience is expected or required. In many communities “Grandplants” who have relocated to be closer to their children and grandchildren have found a new group of friends through this course.
Do I need to have a background in Jewish texts or Judaism?
No - the curriculum is designed to be accessible for those completely new to Jewish learning and those who are veterans. The texts are all in English, and the groups are created as safe and welcoming communities for all, regardless of background or literacy with Jewish texts or ideas.
What is the time commitment?
Typically Peaceful Grandparent cohorts run for 5 weeks with live sessions being 1 hour and 15 minutes. We will occasionally add sessions at the request of participants and/or a partner organization. We also send out optional teachings and meditations for you to try out in the weeks between classes, but those can be done on your own time.
Do I need to attend all 5 classes if I sign up?
It is preferred that you attend all 5 sessions as that is what will enable you to get the most out of this program and build a sacred community of grandparents. If there is an emergency and you need to miss a class, we can send a recording for classes that are online. In-person classes do not have the option of being recorded.
Can I take the class alone? What if my partner does not take it with me?
There is value in taking the course with a partner, but it is not necessary. We have found that when one grandparent enrolls in the program it can have a very valuable ripple effect on the entire family. One grandparent’s transformation can plant a seed for new conversation and can spark important discussion and shared commitment to trying new approaches with their children and grandchildren.
