It has been told to you, what is good and what is required of you: only to do justice to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.”
-Micah 6:8
Members of Fairmount Temple are inspired by prophetic teachings which see chesed (“loving kindness” or “mercy”) as the value that translates our Jewish ideals into reality.
With this value in mind, we engage our members in numerous volunteer projects. We believe that volunteering in the work of building a caring community helps our members to become connected, to meet new people, and strengthen our temple and general community through making a meaningful contribution of time and effort. Click here for some upcoming Mitzvah Projects.
Our members reach out to each other with comfort from our kitchen during times of illness and mourning, and we celebrate together in times of joy. We consistently let our oldest members, many of whom are no longer able to get to temple, know that they are not forgotten. We actively engage individuals and families from all areas of our congregation. We provide professionally-led support groups for those who have lost a loved one. All of these efforts enrich the lives of our members by helping to connect them with each other, with their synagogue community, and with the teachings and values of Jewish tradition. Anshe Chesed is a congregation that truly lives up to its name—we are a people of loving kindness.
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple has a volunteer opportunity that will match your talents, interest and schedule. For more information or any questions about the volunteer opportunities listed below or other ways to do chesed, contact our Caring Community Coordinator, Wendy Jacobson, at 216-447-9542 or email wjacobson@fairmounttemple.org.
- Community Kitchen—Cooking – Volunteers of all ages gather in Fairmount Temple’s kitchen to cook meals that are then stored in our freezer and delivered to congregants who are ill. Lots of cooks in the kitchen means lots of fun!
- Community Kitchen—Baking – Volunteers of all ages bake dozens and dozens of cookies, which they then make into cookie trays. The cookie trays are delivered during shiva to congregants who have lost a loved one.
- Community Kitchen—Delivering – Volunteers deliver meals or cookie trays to congregants who are ill or who have lost a loved one. See first-hand how grateful our members are to be thought of during difficult times! This is a nice activity to do with children.
- Chanukah Mitzvah Day – Hundreds of congregants of all ages perform a variety of mitzvot that fulfill eight different Jewish values—one for each candle of Chanukah. Some volunteers work on projects in the synagogue, while others complete projects at other organizations in the community. Chanukah Mitzvah Day is used as an invitation to all in the congregation to bond on an on-going basis around performing Tikkun Olam, the work of healing and repairing the world.
- Comfort and Coping—a Grief Support Group – This professionally-led group is an opportunity to be with others in our own synagogue community who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Participants learn about the grief process, understand and support each other, and explore coping skills as they prepare to move on with their lives.
- Heart Pillow Project – Come join our “sewing circle” as we make heart-shaped pillows that are distributed through the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. Women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer find that the pillows bring them both physical and emotional comfort. Only basic hand-sewing skills are required.
- We Are One Fairmount – This group is committed to ensuring that Fairmount Temple is inclusive and affirming to all of our members. We focus on researching and implementing best practices as they apply to LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trangendered) people, and in the process we make our temple more welcoming for everyone.
- Midlife and Aging – Fairmount Temple co-sponsors activities to educate and offer outreach on issues that arise as our members reach mid-life. We have worked closely with groups ranging from Montefiore to Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA) in order to meet our members’ needs. Recently, we have planned and co-sponsored a day-long conference together with Hamakom of Cleveland, “Midlife and Beyond: Jewish Wisdom and Spirit As We Age,” to be held at the Mandel JCC. We at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple actively seek new community partners to help our members address these important issues.
- The Usher Corps—Volunteers welcome us into services and distribute prayerbooks and handouts on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, occasional Saturday afternoons, and Jewish holidays. Ushers work in teams that rotate, so each volunteer is responsible for only one Friday or Saturday each month.
- Senior Connections Task Force – This group discusses ways to make sure that all of our members, even those who are no longer able to participate in Fairmount Temple activities, still feel connected to and cared about by their congregation. The following two volunteer opportunities came out of this task force.
- Holiday Deliveries – Volunteers deliver treats on Jewish holidays to congregants with whom we want to stay in touch. During the High Holy Days, we will deliver a small bag of sweets to every Fairmount Temple congregant who has lost a loved one in the past year. On Chanukah and Purim, we will deliver holiday treats to some of our older members who may no longer get out of the house easily.
- Phone Connections Committee – Volunteers call congregants who are 80 years old or older, and congregants who have been married 50 years or more, to extend birthday or anniversary wishes.
- Interfaith Outreach – We want all members of our community, including those who are not Jewish or who have converted, to feel comfortable in and connected to our synagogue. We offer opportunities for interfaith families and their extended family members to learn together and support each other on their journeys. We are always open to hearing how we can meet your needs!
- Shabbat Volunteers – The Greens of Lyndhurst’s few Jewish residents love opportunities to feel connected to the Jewish community. Attend their brief Shabbat service, followed by songs and stories. When: Fridays at 3:00 pm Montefiore needs volunteers to sing the Shabbat blessings before the residents’ Shabbat dinner. When: Fridays at 5:15 pm
- Share Your Seder – Do you have room at your Seder table for someone who has no place to spend Passover? Let us know so that if we hear of someone who will be alone on the holiday, we will be able to make a match.
- Offer a Ride – Some of our congregants would love to join us for worship services or other events but do not drive. Please let us know if you can offer a ride so we can contact you if the need arises.
- Shovel a Walk – Might you or your teenager be able to shovel the front walk of a fellow congregant who is very ill? This mitzvah could make a sick temple member’s home accessible to those who are coming to help. Please let us know if you would be willing to don your hat and gloves should the need arise.
- Chesed Singers – The Chesed Singers rehearse Hebrew melodies, then visit congregants who are ill or shut in to lift their spirits with song. For more information about Chesed Singers, Contact: Lynn Kleinman at LEKchoral@aol.com
