The Chesed Committee meeting was held on Sunday, December 4, 2011. In attendance were Rabbi Wolff, Gerry and Brenda Canter, Lisa Gariepy, Goldie Newman, Rick Granowitz, Mickey Wilson and Sydney Torrey.
Rabbi Wolf told us that visiting, calling, or sending a note to a sick or homebound person are very important mitzvot. He reminded us, however, that sometimes that person may not want a visit, and that wish must be respected. In some situations it is best to call before visiting. If we visit a hospitalized congregant who may be asleep, it is best to leave a note because it lets the patient and their family know that their B’nai Torah family is thinking of them.
Thank you notes from congregants consoled by the committee were read. We acknowledged the generous support of Sisterhood. Regular budget updates provided by Ken Gorenstein are appreciated. Visits by Rabbi Wolff and Goldie Newman to congregants at the Jewish Nursing Home are going well and Rabbi Wolff and Gerry Canter continue to visit homebound congregants. In response to Rabbi Davis’ suggestion, regular visits by other committee members to a very ill congregant were initiated and help to support the congregant and family. Phone calls to homebound congregants continue. If anyone is aware of someone who wants calls and isn’t getting them, or a congregant who does not want calls, please call Gerry at 734-0847. Our Rabbis and other members of the committee are visiting hospitalized congregants at Mercy Hospital, Baystate Medical Center and Weldon Rehabilitation Center once a week. Visitations continue smoothly with the help of Bonnye Pillar who also arranges follow up phone calls to recently hospitalized members. Bonnye also notifies Marian Pava so that Marian can send them a note. Donna and Carolyn distrbute cards for Rosh Hashana, Channukah and Purim. If you want to add someone to the list, please call Carolyn at 783-5524 or 732-2324.
Sarah Kaye has purchased six beautiful books on mourning for loan to congregants. Brenda and Gerry Canter deliver a yahrtzeit candle to a deceased’s family one or two weeks prior to the first yahrtzeit. Gerry has also volunteered to deliver a challah and a bottle of wine to new congregants, and Rabbi Davis will provide him with the names.
At the end of the meeting Rabbi Davis shared that he and Yehuda Edry are planning for our youth, including students from Heritage and LYA, to visit residents at the Jewish Nursing Home. They are exploring the use of a simple questionaire for the youth to fill out during their visits, giving them three or four guiding questions to help communicate with the seniors. The information they gather might be used as an oral history archive, possibly for a school chesed project and posted on the B’nai Torah website. The project could enable our youth to practice the “seven habits of highly successful people” that both schools are promoting in their Leader in Me programs introduced by Diane Troderman.
Thank you and kol hakavod to everyone for their superb efforts on behalf of the Chesed committee. Our next meeting will take place on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
Sydney Torrey