Chesed Community

Our Chesed Community helps people in various times of need. When our congregants are chronically or acutely ill, recovering from an operation, experiencing a period of bereavement, or simply going through a tough time, our Chesed Community provides support – and partners with our clergy to make sure members get the care they need.

We Call. We Visit. We Help.

Temple Beth-El’s Chesed Community responds in a variety of ways to the special needs of our congregation. When necessary, this caring team reaches beyond the walls of the synagogue to help strengthen individual, family and community life. The Community is evolving, as it aims to meet the needs of our congregants and take advantage of our volunteers’ skills, and it continues to be a model for other temples. The numerous thank-you notes received by our Chesed Community are maintained in a scrapbook. 

They work with the Town of North Hempstead’s Project Independence, which assists senior residents who wish to remain in their own homes by providing them a variety of services including transportation.

We’re always seeking new volunteers and new ideas.

“Priceless acts whose worth cannot be measured.” —The Mishnah

Components of our Chesed Community include:

• Care Baskets arranges for a platter of sweets to be sent to grieving families who live locally.
• Care Cards are written to congregants, acknowledging illnesses or key life cycle events such as births, engagements, weddings or the death of a family member.
• Floral Delivery Mitzvah Corps delivers pulpit flowers to convalescent or bereaved congregants.
• Friendly Visitor trained volunteers provide visits to the homebound and bring items knitted by Sisterhood’s Knitzvah Group.
• Holiday Greetings are sent each year to members no longer in the Great Neck area.
• Knitzvah Group knits gifts that are presented during visits to congregants by our Friendly Visitors as well as blankets and caps that are distributed at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, ProHealth Oncology Department and Monter Center at North Shore-LIJ Hospitals.
• Minyan Group is comprised of congregants and conducts services during the shiva period in the home of the grieving.
• Shabbat Bags are delivered on Fridays to our members who are in local hospitals during Shabbat.
• Temple Rides provides transportation to temple services and for certain local errands for those unable to drive.
• New Home Mezuzot are provided to members who move into a new residence.