Caring Community’s sole purpose is to answer the call of community with a caring response. We respond to crisis with calls, meals and assistance. We are present at times of bereavement, as well as, offer support, deliver yahrzeit candles along with notes of sympathy, connect congregants who share life challenges, help those who may be hospitalized, celebrate simchas, make Shabbat calls and coordinate congregants to share a holiday meal.

As a congregation, we exist to take care of each other. Please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here for you.

Caring Community is comprised of the following committees:

• The Crisis Response Committee helps congregants with both short-term and long-term emergencies. This may involve illness or hospitalization, and includes such action as sending flowers, baskets or other gifts, organizing and delivering meals, making visits at home or the hospital, arranging for rides, pet care and sending cards and notes.
• The Bereavement Committee assists grieving families in whatever way possible. Our response includes: making phone calls, helping with Shiva arrangements, delivering Shabbat challahs, sending shiva baskets and bereavement We also plant a tree in Israel in memory of the deceased, deliver a Yahrzeit Candle on the first year anniversary, and arrange for a social worker from Westchester Jewish Community Service to be available to meet with the family, as appropriate.
• The Simcha Committee celebrates our community’s simchas with acknowledgements for new babies, bar/bat mitzvahs, marriages, college graduations, new homes, jobs, promotions or significant This includes sending notes, and the purchase of gifts, if appropriate. Please share your simchas with the committee.
• The Shabbat Calls Committee seeks to connect with shut-in congregants each Shabbat through a phone call to say “Shabbat Shalom” and lets them know we are thinking about them. This committee needs volunteers.
• The Welcome & Thank You Notes Committee sends notes to new members inviting them to join the Caring Community and welcome them to the Temple. A thank you note is sent to the donor for donations to our committee.
• The Caregiver Committee helps and supports the caregiver by organizing meals, arranging child and pet care (including transportation needs); Our social worker moderates a caregiver meeting every 3rd Thursday of the month

To let us know how we can help or to volunteer to assist for an occasional task, please contact us. We thank the Sisterhood for their financial support.

Harriett Zeller
Susan Goodman

Caring Community Co-Chairs:

Harriett Zeller

Susan Goodman

Bereavement Chair:

Susan Goodman

Bereavement Notes:

Susan Schachne

Susan Goodman

Israel Tree Chair:

Mary Kasman

Yahrzeit Candle Delivery:

Ira Russo

Sympathy Baskets:

Rose Colonna

Caregiver Chair:

Adele Browdy

Welcome & Thank You Notes:

Susan Goodman

ECC Caring Community Chair:

Michaela Freitas 

Shabbat Challah Delivery:

Harriett Zeller

Stanley and Irene Wiener

Sisterhood & Brotherhood liaison:

Jill Seraita

Laurence London

Yahrzeit Reminders:

Harriett Zeller

Resource to Caring Community

To provide an additional level of emotional support, WJCS Social Worker Shari Baum, 761-0600 ext. 2145, is available to congregants on an as needed basis. Up to 3 private sessions are absolutely free (through a grant by UJA- Federation NY). All information is confidential.

Thank you in advance for volunteering generously on these committees. Together, we can make a difference in so many lives. The beauty of our efforts is that, while

helping others, we truly enrich our own lives also.