Chesed: Caring Community
Chesed: Caring Community
The Chesed (Loving-Kindness) Committee coordinates our congregation’s response to a member’s life cycle event such as a birth or adoption, illness, or death. We facilitate gestures of Chesed such as preparing or buying meals, grocery shopping, providing transportation for medical appointments, and visiting members who are ill.
If you have a chesed need, please contact the Chesed Coordinators at chesed@dorsheitzedek.org.
Lotsa Helping Hands
To coordinate the community’s chesed needs, we are using the Lotsa Helping Hands website.
We ask that all Dorshei Tzedek members create a login to Lotsa Helping Hands by clicking on this link. Please fill out the right-hand side of the form where it says ‘Interested in becoming a member of this community?’. Click on ‘Continue’ and then ‘Send Email’ on the next page. Once a chesed coordinator approves your request, you will receive an email with instructions for signing in. Thank you for taking the time to be involved with chesed.
If you have any problems or questions, please contact chesed@dorsheitzedek.org.
Chesed Inspiration
These articles describe the feelings that sometimes get in the way of participating in Chesed, as a giver and as a receiver. We encourage you to read these articles as part of our ongoing effort to build connections for a caring community. We hope these articles will inspire you to participate in Chesed.
A Small Pot of Violets
“We’ve all felt it; that moment’s hesitation before we ring the bell. Here’s why you need to do it anyway, ” writes Dorshei Tzedek member Nancy Gertz. (LivFun, page 30, Autumn, 2015)
How Not to Say the Wrong Thing
One of the barriers to participating in Chesed is the feeling that we don’t know what to say or we fear that we might say the wrong thing. A couple of years ago we shared this article by Susan Silk and Barry Goldman (Los Angeles Times, April 7, 2013). “It works in all kinds of crises – medical, legal, even existential. It’s the ‘Ring Theory’ of kvetching. The first rule is comfort in, dump out.”
Accepting Meals from Strangers as Caregivers
Linda Matchan describes how a health crisis brings donations of food that teach humility and gratitude — and provides a lesson for those who want to help others. (Boston Globe, March 25, 2014)
When The Time Comes: Tips For How To Visit The Dying
“As my father-in-law lay in his deathbed after a brief illness, people wanted to say goodbye. In those last days, we learned some valuable lessons.” Rebecca Steinitz writes on the WBUR Cognoscenti blog (April, 2016).
How to Help a Friend Who’s Going Through Something Horrible, Alex Ronan
Chesed Articles and Q&A
What Do the Shiva and Chesed Committees Do?
Chesed Creates A Caring Community
You Never Know When You’ll Be on the Receiving End
Chesed Committee: A Matchmaker
Collaboration. Sometimes more than one volunteer fills a Chesed request.
Q & A I’m not a cook…What should I do?
Q & A: What types of Chesed does Congregation Dorshei Tzedek provide?
Q & A: What about a family’s allergies?
Q & A: Gluten Free? What does it mean when someone requests a gluten-free meal?
Q & A: What about returning food containers?
Chesed-Related Books
There Is No Good Card for This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love, by Dr. Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell
Mourning
Dorshei Tzedek has produced a brochure (available here) about Jewish mourning practices and resources at CDT and in the local community.
Additional author:
Corinne Lofchie
Dianne Lior
Elaine Landes
Sun, January 24 2021
11 Shevat 5781
Upcoming Events
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Sunday ,
JanJanuary 24 , 2021
Sunday, Jan 24th 12:30p to 5:00p
Join this Virtual Day of Learning with Reconstructing Judaism, including a panel discussion with Rabbi Toba. -
Wednesday ,
JanJanuary 27 , 2021Torah Study
Wednesday, Jan 27th 8:00a to 9:00a
Start your Wednesday mornings with Torah Study! Join Director of Congregational Learning Earnest Vener for a weekly hour-long study of the weekly Torah portion on Wednesdays at 8am. You are welcome to drop in or come weekly. All are welcome and no prior knowledge is required. Please email Earnest at e.vener@dorsheitzedek.org with any questions. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Is The Talmud Racist?
Thursday, Jan 28th 1:30p to 2:30p
In this presentation, Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies director Professor Steve Weitzman will introduce the series and its goals. Following that, Mira Wasserman will explore concepts of race and racism as they relate to the foundational source of Jewish tradition, the Babylonian Talmud. This is part of a Reconstructing Judaism free online lecture series on Jews, Race, & Religion. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Tu B'Shvat Seder & Celebration
Thursday, Jan 28th 7:30p to 9:00p
The holiday of Tu B'Shvat, the “new year of the trees,” is a time to celebrate the natural world and the diversity and abundance of the earth’s resources. Come celebrate the fruits of our Tikkun Olam labor this year at CDT, including the Voter Mobilization Project, GBIO and more. Bring your own figs, dates, olives, pomegranates, grapes, etc. -
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2021
Shabbat, Jan 30th 10:00a to 12:00p
This "Shabbat of Song" we mark the Israelites' crossing of the Reed Sea and celebrating with the Song of the Sea. Our morning service will feature new recordings from CDT Sings, and song and Torah learning with special guest Arielle Korman of Ammud: Jews of Color Torah Academy. -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021
Sunday, Jan 31st 10:00a to 11:15a
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Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021
Sunday, Jan 31st 12:00p to 12:20p
We need your help for the CDT Purim Shpiel! Sign up to work with CDT Purim Shpiel creator Sheree to create scenes for our first (and hopefully last) Zoom Purim shpiel. The first session, January 21st, will be a 20 minute info session. The following three sessions will be one hour on Sundays after Religious School and during February break: Feb. 7, Feb. 14, and Feb. 21. -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021Adult Hebrew Part 2: Rooting In Hebrew
Sunday, Jan 31st 1:30p to 3:00p
A five session Hebrew class for anyone who has learned the letters of the Alef Bet, recently or years ago. We will focus on becoming more proficient at reading and pronouncing Hebrew while simultaneously growing our skills at making meaning of Hebrew words and relating personally to the language of the siddur (prayer book). Payment for this course will be on a sliding scale and participants will need to purchase a book. -
Wednesday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2021Torah Study
Wednesday, Feb 3rd 8:00a to 9:00a
Start your Wednesday mornings with Torah Study! Join Director of Congregational Learning Earnest Vener for a weekly hour-long study of the weekly Torah portion on Wednesdays at 8am. You are welcome to drop in or come weekly. All are welcome and no prior knowledge is required. Please email Earnest at e.vener@dorsheitzedek.org with any questions. -
Wednesday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2021
Wednesday, Feb 3rd 5:30p to 5:45p
All are welcome to join Rabbi Toba for a moment of calm each week. The content will vary - a brief teaching, a meditative moment, some music, or another contemplative practice. We will start promptly at 5:30pm each Wednesday, but feel free to drop in at any time. Each session will end with an opportunity for those in mourning or observing a yahrzeit to recite Mourners Kaddish. Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97091443951?pwd=dVk4bFZIVitMcDViYllNQnRIdmhmZz09