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Hesed Bereavement Committee
When was the Chesed Committee created?
The Beth Shalom Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Chesed Committee (Kindness) in June of 1999.
Who does the Chesed Committee serve?
The Chesed Committee serves the members of the Beth Shalom Congregation located in Columbia, Maryland.
Why is the Chesed Committee important to the congregation?
Members who are well established in the congregation over a long period of time usually have a circle of support and would likely not need to rely on the Chesed Committee. However, this is not the case for new members, people not in Havarot, congregants who are new to the area or people with out-of-town relatives or no extended family. The Chesed Committee formalized support for the entire congregation that had been occurring on an ad hoc basis. The Committee has institutionalized a process for ensuring that members of the Beth Shalom Congregation in need of assistance promptly and effectively receive that assistance.
What is the Mission of the Chesed Committee?
The mission of the Chesed Committee is to serve as an extended family and provide lay support to an individual or family in need. The individual or family in need is a beloved member of the Beth Shalom community. The Committee provides emotional support to members of the congregation as well as tangible assistance. The Chesed Committee is separate from the synagogue’s Bereavement Committee. Below is a list of the key services that the Chesed Committee provides:
- Meals
- Bikkur Cholim: The Mitzvah of Visiting the Sick
- Transportation
- A Jewish Healing Service
- Training of Volunteers
- Backup Support to the Bereavement Committee
How is the Chesed Committee funded?
The Committee chose to become self-funded and, accordingly, established a Chesed Fund. Donations to the committee from the Beth Shalom Congregation have been generous and have allowed this committee to be self-sustaining.
How was the Chesed Committee created?
Eight dedicated congregants created the Chesed Committee with the assistance of the Rabbi, the President of the congregation and the support of the Executive Director. The Committee received guidance from various community services, for example, the Chaplain at Howard County General Hospital, the Howard County Office of Jewish Family Services, the local Jewish Hospice, and a local licensed psychologist.
During the planning phase the Committee benchmarked other congregations that already had a Chesed Committee in place to learn from their experiences. When the Chesed Committee was first created an Adult Education Seminar was held to provide training for volunteers.
How to contact the Chesed Committee
In most instances, the Rabbi serves as the “front door” of the Chesed Committee, because she usually has first-hand knowledge of the individual or family in need, and maintains confidentiality. The Rabbi asks if the individual or family would like to be contacted by the Chesed Committee. The Rabbi briefly describes the types of services offered and what the Committee has done in the past. Some individuals accept this offer of support and others decline. Some congregants have a well-established support system of family, neighbors and friends and do not need the services of the Chesed Committee.
In some cases, congregants will contact the synagogue office and then the Executive Director contacts the Chairperson of the Chesed Committee.
How is the work of the Chesed Committee accomplished?
In addition to the people serving on the Chesed Committee, over twenty congregants have become volunteers for this committee. As the Chesed Committee recruits volunteers, we identify and match the interests of volunteers with the needs of the congregation. For example, some volunteers offer to visit the sick; others prefer to run errands or help new parents. The goal here is to match the experience and interests of the volunteers with the mitzvah needed by the congregation.
If you are interested in joining the committee and volunteering your services, please contact Hope Corrigan at 410-313-9654 or via e-mail at hope.corrigan@worldnet.att.net.
Further assistance beyond the Chesed Committee
Occasionally the Chesed Committee is asked to provide assistance that is beyond the support that a lay volunteer committee can provide. If the Chesed Committee cannot meet a congregant’s request, the congregant should contact Jewish Family Services or the appropriate organization for assistance.
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