President’s Message
Northwest Suburban Jewish
Seniors
Caring for our Temple Chai family
Jim and I were relaxing at home on the Sunday between Rosh Hashana
and Yom Kippur when our doorbell rang.
There on the other side of our door was
Vicky Gelfond, a wonderful member of our
Temple Chai “Caring Community” holding
a lovely remembrance bag in memory of the
death of Jim’s father this past year. We were
so touched by this outreach of support from
our temple family. This purposeful act of
kindness made a profound difference in our
day.
I realized at that moment that there were
extraordinary people saying, “Hineini, here
I am” every day at Temple Chai that most
of us never see. The Temple Chai Caring
Community is chaired by Cindy Kaplan and is supported by an amazing
group of volunteers who provide a variety of vital and meaningful services for
our members in need throughout the year. If a member becomes homebound
they will shop for groceries. Following a hospitalization they might prepare
and deliver meals for the family. They are there to offer rides to doctor
appointments and physical therapy sessions.
Our Caring Community understands that healing the spirit during illness is
an important part of recovery and sends flowers or plants during a hospital
stay. Marlene Dolin follows up by sending a lovely handwritten “hope you
are doing well” note to the home. During this time of healing, members of
this group may drive someone to Shabbat on a Friday night s o that they can
experience the blessing of Misheberach in our temple community.
The Remembrance bag project that was so meaningful to Jim and I was
lovingly introduced by Susan Millstone over a decade ago and is now cochaired by Marcy Rasky, Edye Sylvan and Reesa Epstein. Once a year, around
the High Holy Days, these three women organize a group of wonderful
members who pack and deliver a plant, wine, challah, apples & honey and
words of prayer to those who have experienced a loss during the year. If you
have been the recipient of one of these visits you understand the level of
emotional healing that this provides.
This wonderful Caring Community is also there to celebrate our Simcha’s.
What could be more joyful than a brand new Temple Chai baby? Lynne
Leonard contacts our new Mom’s and Dad’s and sets them up to receive a
Shalom Baby basket sent out through the Jewish United Fund. It is full of
information and gifts, as well as opportunities for them to connect with other
new Jewish parents.
I am so very grateful for everyone who is involved in our Temple Chai
Caring Community. If you or a friend find yourselves in need of these
special services, or if you would like to say “Hineni, I am truly here to
make a difference” by offering your help, please contact Cindy Kaplan,
[email protected] or Peggy Buchman, [email protected].
Loren Elliot, President
Our group meets once a month on a SUNDAY
evening at Temple Chai. Come join us; we would
love to see new faces. We offer a wonderful
evening of socializing, great entertainment and
refreshments. For more information, please
contact our President, David Shapiro
847-419-1621.
PFLAG -- Deerfield Chapter
(Parents, Family, and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays)
Congregation B’nai Jehoshua
Beth Elohim
1201 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: 630-415-0622 • Office: 630-297-3658
Email: [email protected]
Meets second Thursday of each month from
7:15 - 9:00 p.m.
10%
CORNER
When Dining Out…
Enjoy a delicious meal at the
Continental Restaurant in Buffalo
Grove, and Temple Chai will
receive 10% of the cost of your
meal as a donation! Just sign the “Temple Chai Book”
at the cash register when paying your bill, and please
be sure to thank owner Pete, and the rest of the staff,
for their ongoing support of Temple Chai.
Tired of Shoveling Snow?
For prices starting at just $30/plow, or $300 for the
entire season, our friend Jason at All American
Commercial Services will remove the snow from your
driveway, and will donate 10% of whatever you spend
back to Temple Chai. Please contact Jason at 224-6369600 or at jasonmay@allamericancommercialservices.
com for all the details, and be sure to thank him for
his support of Temple Chai.
NOTE: These businesses are not affiliated with Temple Chai.
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