Action Groups
Caring (Hesed) Committee
The Caring Committee reaches out to our Emanuel family to provide comfort and support in times of need and joy. Please tell us if you or someone you know needs a contact from our Caring Committee.
Examples of our activities include:
- Delivering plants and baked goods at Rosh Hashanah and Purim and sending greeting cards made by our schoolchildren at Hanukah to members who are homebound or residing in convalescent homes.
- Maintaining freezers of food and delivering meals to homebound members, shiva homes, new baby homes, etc.
- Providing rides for members unable to drive.
- Staying connected with members living out-of-state.
- Sending “get well” cards or paying visits to members in the hospital.
- Sending packages to college students prior to Hanukah, Purim, and finals, with hamentashen baked at the synagogue and other sweets.
- Knitting or sewing lap quilts for homebound Emanuel congregants and others outside our community.
We welcome you to join us!
CONTACT Joanne Pasternack, (860) 236-1275
Social Justice (B’yadeynu) Committee
The Social Justice, or B’yadeynu (“In Our Hands”), Committee is a focal point at The Emanuel for promoting causes of social justice and reaching out to both local and national groups in need. Our projects address the needs of many different groups, such as the poor, the homeless, soldiers stationed overseas, foster children, Jewish prisoners, victims of natural disasters and/or diseases, and organizations that provide services for others. The committee’s focus is caring and making lives better, no matter what race, religion, or location. Members have the opportunity to bring forward their special interests and chair projects based on them.
Our committee generally meets on the second Thursday of each month to decide on projects to undertake. Some of our projects have included:
- Collecting food for Foodshare and the Kosher Food Pantry.
- Blood and bone marrow drive.
- Turkey drive for Thanksgiving.
- Helping victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
- Working with St. Timothy’s Church on joint projects.
- Sending holiday boxes to Jewish soldiers in Iraq.
- Giving gifts to foster children through Covenant to Care.
The committee is a member of the Jewish Community Relations Council Social Justice Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford that establishes connections between us and other social action committees in our community.
We welcome you to join us!
CONTACT Risa Davidson, (860) 236-1275
Israel Solidarity Committee
Part of the B’yadeynu Committee, this group supports Israel through education and advocacy.
CONTACT Risa Davidson, (860) 236-1275
Job Club
A job club is a group of people who support each other during the job search process. It is usually led by a facilitator such as our own Cookie Melito, and can be structured with specific topics for discussion ie. interviewing techniques, resume writing etc. Additionally participants come to discuss success and frustrations with their personal job search and offer support and encouragement to each other. The frequency of the meetings and the topics discussed depends on the needs of the group.
Please contact Cookie Melito through the synagogue office at 236-1275 or email carolyn@emanuelsynagogue.org and mention job club in the subject line.