Summary: Episode Description: In this inspirational and thought provoking talk, Rabbi Malka encourages us to explore what it means to age. in our later years what is our role in society and what is our responsibility both to ourselves and others. Throughout history, mankind has relied on the elders of a community to tell stories, to remind the community of who it is, to provide guidance in numerous undertakings. Their years gave them the calm reflection that balanced the dynamic of the middle. Malka frames life into three acts. The first our formative years spent with our family of origin. The second act that of a "hero's journey." And the third act where we come to understand the meaning of the first two acts and finally find an inner life. While her talk focuses on this final act, we can not dismiss the previous two. Malka encourages us to review the past, that it is not immutable, to look deeply at one's memories and experiences of our youth. Through a process of introspection we can transform this "stuff" that we have been carrying around and turn it into wisdom. We must strive to cultivate and share this wisdom for the benefit and future of everyone. BIO : Malka Drucker is the author of 21 books, including the award-winning-Frida Kahlo, Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust, Grandma's Latkes and White Fire: A Portrait of Women Spiritual Leaders in America. White Fire won the 2005 PEN Southwest Book Award in non-fiction. Her highly acclaimed Jewish Holiday Series won the Southern California Council on Literature for Children Prize series. Another of her biographies, ELIEZER BEN YEHUDA: Father of Modern Hebrew won the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Janusz Korczak Literary Competition and Frida Kahlo was chosen as an American Bookseller "PICK OF THE LISTS." She belongs to many literary organizations, including: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Southern California Council on Literature for Young People, the Association of Jewish Librarians, The Authors Guild, and PEN. Ordained in 1998 from the Academy for Jewish Religion, a transdenominational seminary, Malka Drucker is also the founding rabbi of HaMakom: The Place for Passionate and Progressive Judaism, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
