Generations crossed on the seventh day of Hanukkah at NewBridge on the Charles. As part of their multi-generational curriculum, the Rashi School, which shares a campus with NewBridge, sang traditional Hanukkah songs in Hebrew and Yiddish with residents of the assisted living and independent living center.

Rashi School social justice coordinator Stephanie Rotsky was master of ceremonies at the event in the assisted living area while Rashi School music teacher Sara Schwindt played piano.

This is their first annual holiday event with the NewBridge living center.

"We look for opportunities for our multi-generational events," said Rashi communications director Linda Silverstein.

"We are so happy to be here," said Rotsky. "We didn't even have to take a bus to get here. We just had to walk across the street."

The students participating in the event were as young as kindergarten and as old as third grade. "The Rashi kids are not shy," Rotsky told the crowd. "We love to sing and we have a lot of ruach [spirit]."

Ruach is one of the school's core values.

Rashi parent Josh Goldberg came to the event with his daughter Zoe, a kindergartner, and Andy, a third grader, who both in their first years at Rashi. Goldberg said he and his wife "are always looking for the opportunity to take part in their community," and looking to share that experience with their daughter. 

He also noted that the Rashi School has already come together with NewBridge as a community through other inter-generational programs and they were happy to be a part of it. 

Frances K. Rosen, 90, a resident at Newbridge, said, "I came here to just watch the children." Rosen said that she taught kindergarten many years ago and the event helped her reminisce. 

Sarah Fleckner, a Rashi parent, came with her children, Rachel, Hannah and Josh, a third grader at Rashi. She said she heard about the event through a program her son is in called Mitzvah Makers.

"He loves it," she said. "We feel like it's a good thing to expose our children to this."

She said she and her husband believe it teaches their children to act with love and kindness.

Fay and Julian Bussgang, both independent living residents at NewBridge, have two grandchildren at the Rashi school.

"We go to as many events as we possibly can," the couple said.