It was 3:00 a.m. when I sat up in bed, awakened by a dream of my father juggling. He often kept weighted cloth balls in his pockets and would juggle three while balancing on a Bongo Board. In that moment, I realized: I, too, am a juggler. Aren’t we all?
To juggle is to defy gravity, three or more balls suspended midair, moving in a rhythm only the juggler understands. Our hands don’t chase the balls; they anticipate them. The moment the juggler hesitates, if her eyes stray or her timing slips, the whole act comes crashing down.
For most of us, those balls are our responsibilities: a friend or relative who needs help, an overdue assignment, a difficult conversation we’ve been putting off. Juggling is a daily survival tactic…our own quiet circus act.
I juggle frequently in my role as Director of Development at Jewish Senior Life. Our annual fundraising event, Eight Over Eighty, which honors eight remarkable octogenarians who’ve made extraordinary contributions to our community is my responsibility. Each year, my team and I have dozens of balls in the air: venue logistics, graphic design, sponsor coordination, donor outreach, catering, speeches, lighting, social media buzz. Every detail matters. And like juggling, if you drop just one, the whole performance is at risk.
But Eight Over Eighty isn’t a solo act. It’s more like the best juggling performances from the Ed Sullivan Show, where multiple performers move in perfect sync. Behind every seemingly effortless event is a network of committed students, teachers, parents, volunteers, vendors, staff, board members, and generous hands. Success depends not only on skill but on trust…on knowing your teammates will catch the ball if you miss.
For the staff at Jewish Senior Life, Eight Over Eighty isn’t just an event on the calendar. It’s the culmination of 32 years of tradition, months of preparation, and the coordinated efforts of a hundred invisible hands tossing and catching what must be kept in motion. The show must go on.
Our Eight Over Eighty team includes many great performers, starting with Beth Tryon and Nicole Lupiloff, our tireless event coordinators. They make it all happen, managing the caterers, rental companies, A/V teams and building lasting relationships with the honorees and donors. Our staff juggles planning, logistics, services, and publicity.
But the show couldn’t go on without our generous volunteers. Their juggling is deeply human: answering last-minute texts, filling shifts, reading through detailed committee minutes, setting the stage, welcoming guests, assisting those in need. They step in, step up, and ensure no ball ever hits the ground.
Together, we are a team of jugglers. Sometimes it’s messy. But the magic is that when someone drops a ball, someone else is there to catch it.
The success of Eight Over Eighty isn’t measured only in dollars raised; it’s about creating shared moments of purpose. It’s an event where everyone, our eight honorees, students, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and guests, feels the heartbeat of our mission.
At JSL, we don’t juggle for applause. We juggle for a higher purpose.
Our mission is rooted in dignity, compassion, and community. The residents are cherished. They choose to live with us, and they continue to live full lives grounded in tradition and connection. This annual event, as dazzling and demanding as it is, serves a purpose far deeper than one day of celebration.
These eight honorees allow us to celebrate their lifetime of Tikkun Olam. And their generous act allows us to fund real impact: meals for indigent residents, enrichment programs that spark joy and curiosity; art classes, musical performances, Live and Learn college courses, Shabbat services. transportation, specialized memory care, wellness classes and programs. One-on-one moments of joy-filled connection for those who would otherwise be alone.
Every donor, every attendee, every staff member and volunteer is part of this intricate performance. Our supporters and community partners aren’t spectators, they’re co-performers. They help us care deeply, serve fully, and dream boldly about what aging can look like in a community grounded in Jewish values.
I’m proud to work for Jewish Senior Life, and to be surrounded by so many generous, compassionate people who take our mission to heart. Your partnership makes this meaningful work possible. Thank you for juggling alongside us, with purpose, with care, and with love.
Shabbat Shalom.
