"Chesed", acts of loving kindness, have always been a part of the Jewish soul and have long been a part of the fabric of our community. At present the Committee offers the following services:
Bereavement calls.
Shiva arrangements. When called upon, volunteers can take over all kitchen duties, provide extra chairs and insure that a minyan is available.
Meals. The Committee maintains a list of congregants who will bring meals to families in crisis.
Transportation. A congregant-to-congregant driving service for any ad hoc situation requiring a driver.
Follow-up calls or visits to congregants in connection with bereavement or illness.
These services are available to all members.
As we grow, the demographics of our community change, and more congregants are experiencing the loss of beloved family members. The need for meals during the period of mourning or prolonged illness comes up more often, as does the need for rides to medical appointments and other engagements.
To meet the need, ideally members of CBE should be prepared to render an occasional Chesed service at their convenience. Please help us fill our roster of volunteers. Signing up as a volunteer does NOT involve attending any meetings; it merely means that you may be called occasionally to provide the service you have selected providing you are available at the time. The larger the roster of volunteers the less likely it is that you will be needed.
Please choose a service category and add your name to our roster of Chesed volunteers by contacting us at chesed@bethelohim.org or call the office at 978.263.3061.
The rewards of performing chesed far outweigh the efforts involved and, in the words of Hillel, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?”