Volunteer Spotlight

Sisterhood Shiva Meals

by Carole Graham

A little over ten years ago, my Mom passed away. Right after the funeral, I received a call from a Sisterhood member, Blanche Fried, offering me a Shabbat Shiva Dinner. It made me feel so supported, comforted, and cared for. When I got up from Shiva, I called Blanche, and told her that I thought this was such a wonderful kindness and if she ever needed help to please let me know. That’s how I got involved.

Every family that suffers a loss receives a call or email from me extending condolences and an offer for a Shabbat Shiva Dinner. I get many thank you notes and I want to share a thank you note “You are the Shiva Dinner SuperHero. This is one of Sisterhood’s most welcome services. It was like a warm hug.” I think that quote says it all. Not only do the families really appreciate this kindness, it makes me feel that I am doing something to help ease their mourning. I do it out of love and genuine caring for others. I always think of the expression “we take care of our own.” It increases the sense of our Beth El Community.

Chesed Community Shiva Meals by Sandy Gruenberg and Joyce

Wechsler

We got involved in the Chesed Community’s Send a Meal program a number of years ago. We decided that a strong community has a responsibility to provide help to families in need during periods of great joy and great stress. We started bringing home-cooked meals to new parents, those who were recovering from hospitalizations, and an extra meal to those sitting shiva locally for three days or longer. Now the effort has grown so that a different committee cares for the new parents, our communal kitchen freezer project cares for those who are ill and in need of a meal, and we continue to provide meals for shiva.

We have a group of about 15 volunteers who make meals and deliver them to shiva homes. We feel that our actions help to strengthen our community both by offering volunteers a mitzvah to do and mourners a chance to receive one. It is Jewish tradition to comfort the mourner and this is our way of bringing a bit of Beth El into your home when the need is there.

Contact Joyce Wechsler or Sandy Gruenberg for info on mourner support and Lisa Sitkin for new parent support! (joywechsler@gmail.com gamson36@gmail.com Lkmendler@gmail.com)

Volunteer at Beth El!

Beth El is looking for volunteers to help lead our efforts to expand Beth El’s involvement in the following areas: social action, chesed, and community building/social programming

If you are someone who is looking to get more involved, please contact Stephanie Lederman at slederman@bethelnr.org