E-Connect
March 18, 2022--Shabbat Shalom!
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Reflections on Ukraine by Rabbi Renée Bauer
A couple of weeks ago I was leading Shabbat services at Capitol Lakes. I began by asking people to share if they had family that had come to this country from Ukraine and how they were feeling about the war. One resident said, “It is confusing that now we are supposed to support Ukraine. I grew up hating Ukraine, and that is where so much of my family was persecuted or killed. Now there is a Jewish president, and Ukrainian people are victims of a terrible invasion.” This Jewish elder struggled with her juxtaposition of feelings around the war today with her family’s history. I acknowledged how confusing it feels for the tables to have turned, and I reiterated that the Ukrainian people today are innocent victims who need our support. This moment helped me understand how important it is to acknowledge the complexity of this moment and grapple with the many feelings that it is engendering.
As the rabbi at Jewish Social Services, I find myself at a fascinating intersection of different groups during this conflict. I primarily serve Jewish seniors and have come to understand how traumatic it can be for many Ashkenazi community members to watch lines of refugees fleeing the same cities and towns that our forebearers escaped or in which they perished. Lviv, Kyiv, and Odessa are places that both birthed a wealth of Jewish culture and saw some of history’s most horrific Jewish persecution.
I also work with Russian-born Jews. They are devastated as they watch was is happening. They have friends and family on both sides of the border, and the politics of war are dividing their families and friends, all while fellow Americans are blaming them for the war. It is not a simple time to be a Russian speaker in our community.
I also work with our refugee resettlement team and interact from time to time with our refugee clients. Recent Afghan refugees are still settling into new homes in Madison and struggling to adjust. Over the past 4.5 years before the influx of Afghan refugees, when very few middle-eastern refugees were allowed in the country, we mostly resettled people from the Democratic Republic of Congo and other Central and East African nations. Most of these families waited 15 + years or longer to come here. They speak about the severe lack of food in refugee camps from which they came and wonder aloud when more Africans will arrive. They move to the back of the line with each new crisis. As I listen, I recognize that the American response and media coverage of the wars that upended their lives were not nearly as robust as it is to the current conflict in Ukraine.
Comparing suffering and hardship is never fruitful. No human being should live in fear of violence, persecution, or death. All people deserve to live in safety with their basic needs satisfied. War creates rifts and divisions between innocent people. It takes work to see complexity. It is harder to eschew putting groups of people into groups of the "good guys" and "bad guys" based on their government.
But Jewish tradition, with its treasure chest of complex arguments, paradoxes, and honoring of differing opinions, calls us not to take the easy road but instead to struggle with contradictions. We must open our hearts to all those suffering and do our best to comfort the afflicted, no matter their language, nationality, or skin color. May the source of peace put an end to violence and war.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Renée Bauer
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Wish List Items eeded:
Our Social Services Team is seeking a crib and baby bottles for a client. Please contact Maya Garbuz at Maya@jssmadison.org or 608-442-4085 if you are able to donate one or both of these items.
Thank you!
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Volunteer Opportunities with Refugee Resettlement:
1) Bus riding volunteers – help with familiarizing our clients with where city buses go, reading the schedules, and planning routes. You will also ride along with the clients.
2) Donations management – all aspects as needed from picking up to triage and matching up donations to current needs.
3) Are you interested in providing short-term temporary housing for a refugee individual or small family? JSS is aware of several single men who will be arriving soon as resettlement clients. Please contact Ari Pollack, ari@jssmadison.org, if you have a spare room in your home and may be interested.
For either of these tasks, you will be working with fellow volunteers and will have training and support from staff and existing volunteers.
For further information on programs or volunteering contact me anytime: Paul Borowsky, paul@jssmadison.org, 608-442-4083
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Advocacy Ask from The Church World Center
Dear Friend,
As you know, over 130,000 Afghans were evacuated, 44% of whom are children, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Given that tens of thousands of Afghans were evacuated to the United States using humanitarian parole, a temporary immigration status typically granted for one or two years, Congress needs to provide a legislative solution to ensure Afghan evacuees have a chance for permanent protection and thrive in our communities.
An Afghan Adjustment Act would allow Afghan evacuees to apply to become lawful permanent residents one year after arrival. Join us in calling for Members of Congress to uphold our moral obligation to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act as part of the next congressional must-pass legislation.
Here is what you can do:
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Call on your Members of Congress: Click here to contact your elected officials and urge them to support and pass an Afghan Adjustment Act.
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Amplify on Social Media: Use the sample social media posts here and this Evacuate Our Allies social media toolkit with digital tools to amplify your message.
Thank you for taking action, and please share this alert with your networks
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Beit Olamim dedication event - save the date!
May 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM
The Jewish Burial Association of Madison is hosting a dedication event at the cemetery, where we will express appreciation to the people and organizations who allowed us to achieve such great success at the cemetery. We will showcase the cemetery, driveway, Mazur Garden, and new entry markers. It will be at Beit Olamim, the Jewish section of Sunset Memory Garden. More details to come.
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JSS is hiring for 3 NEW POSITIONS
Office Manager
Please see the job description here.
If this seems like you, please send a resume and a cover letter describing why you think you’d be great at this job to hr@jssmadison.org.
We’re interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible if you're interested.
Social Services Case Manager
See the full job posting here
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to Associate Director Chris Shanahan at shany@jssmadison.org. Please include CM-SS in the subject line. Position open until filled.
Resettlement Case Manager, ICM
See the full job posting here
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to hr@jssmadison.org. Include RR-ICM Case Manager in the subject line. This position will be posted until it is filled but priority will be given to applicants who submit early, so don’t wait. Apply today!
If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at office@jssmadison.org or you may call us at (608) 442-4081.
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Download or read online our paper Connections newsletter. It has different stories and photos than you see in our electronic newsletter.
To reach our office, call (608) 442-4081*
*Please leave a message. We check the voicemail frequently, even when the building is closed.
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Have a car you no longer use? Consider donating it to JSS! The proceeds go directly to our programs.
Donating a car to JSS could mean hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars in support of our programs. Our vehicle donation program provides free pick-up and supports you through the entire donation process.
To learn more or to get started, call CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) at 877-537-5277 or simply submit a secure online donation form. The CARS Vehicle Donation Support team is available seven days a week.
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We are running low on funds for this NECESSARY program.
Watch for our next E-Connect to hear more about some of the people that YOUR gifts have helped.
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TO JOIN ZOOM PROGRAMS: Watch out for an email, or go to www.jssmadison.org/calendar and choose a program by date. Click on the event title to open up a new window that will have details and a Zoom link for that program.
Recordings of past Zoom programs are available on JSS’ YouTube channel. There is also a link to the channel on www.jssmadison.org under the Communications menu.
If you would like further information about programs and transportation, contact Paul Borowsky at (608) 442-4083, paul@jssmadison.org.
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Join us for Shabbat – All are welcome!
Capitol Lakes
333 West Main St (first Fridays)
Friday, April 1: 3- 4 pm
Oakwood Village West in the Chapel Annex
6205 Mineral Point Road (third Fridays)
Friday, March 18: 3:30 – 4:30 pm-TODAY!
No advance registration is necessary for Shabbats, but you will need to have a face mask and must be fully vaccinated and prepared to show your card at either location.
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Harry J. and Belle Goodman Lechayim Lunchtime Plus
Find changes, updates, and new information about JSS programs on our website, www.jssmadison.org.
PLEASE READ BEFORE ATTENDING:
Beth Israel Center is now requiring proof of vaccination to enter the building. Please bring your vaccination card to show at the office. If you do not have proof of vaccination, you can order your meal to-go. Please buzz at the Randall St. parking lot entry door.
Join us for great food, friends, fun, and interesting programs at Lechayim Lunchtime Plus.
Meeting at Beth Israel Center, 1406 Mound Street, located on the corner of Mound Street and Randall Avenue.
If you would like a meal, contact Jewish Social Services at (608) 442-4083 or email: paul@jssmadison.org by Wednesday preceding the meal. If you are 60 years or older, a minimum donation of $4.00 is suggested, but please only pay what is comfortable for you. The cost of the meal is $9.07 for those younger than 60 years old.
Many thanks to UW Hillel Adamah Catering for providing our delicious kosher meals!
(note: meal orders for this Monday were made on Wednesday, 3/16 – you can call to check if there were any cancellations)
Monday, March 21
11:00 am -11:30 am: Yoga from a chair with Estelle Katz
11:30 am -12:30 pm: Chicken Shawarma, (Veg option: falafel), yellow rice, cucumber and tomato salad, fruit, dessert
Monday, March 28
11:00 am -11:30 am: Yoga from a chair with Estelle Katz
11:00 am -11:30 am: Complimentary Blood pressure check with Lori Edelstein
11:30 am -12:30 pm: Lemon-Rosemary chicken (Veg option: Lemon-Rosemary tofu), roasted red potatoes, garlic green beans, fruit, dessert
Monday, April 4
11:00 am -11:30 am: Yoga from a chair with Estelle Katz
11:30 am -12:30 pm: Chicken Biryani (Veg option: eggplant fritters), yellow rice, tomato and cucumber salad, fruit, dessert
If you would like further information about programs and transportation, contact Paul Borowsky at (608) 442-4083, paul@jssmadison.org.
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Save The Date! Passover Events
Passover Seder
Capitol Lakes - Seasons Dining Room
Wednesday: April 20, 2022
11:00 am – seating begins, 11:30 am – Seder-see details below
Seder at Oakwood Village West
(look for details in next e-connect)
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Yoga From a Chair and Schmooze
All are welcome to join us to schmooze and check in with each other, followed by yoga from a chair session with Betsy Haimson
Thursday, March 31
Schmooze: 10:40 – 11:00am
Yoga with Betsy Haimson from 11:00 – 11:30 am
Recordings of Zoom programs are available on JSS’ YouTube channel. There is also a link to the channel on www.jssmadison.org under the Communications menu.
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MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES |
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As more of us are vaccinated, and COVID restrictions ease and protocols evolve, we want to thank our volunteers that could do so for staying active, often via telephone, internet, and expanded holiday gift-giving and deliveries.
Now that there are expanded ways to interact safely, requests for volunteers as friendly visitors, shopping partners, and other tasks are coming in quickly. We will be having volunteers help with Shabbats and hopefully more in-person events beginning this summer. Also, we are receiving more families for refugee resettlement. JSS has a van that can be used for larger families. If you are comfortable picking up and driving the van or have a larger vehicle yourself, we are always looking to have a good size pool of drivers. Some of you are already engaged in some of these roles – thank you again.
For those of you who would like to get more specifics about these and other emerging volunteer opportunities or know someone who may be a good fit for our programs – please contact me via email or phone number below.
As we move forward, we understand that volunteers and those we help will have varying degrees of comfort and needs regarding any in-person visiting or transportation help. We will work with you and your clients to respect that and keep us all safe. I Look forward to hearing from you.
For questions about volunteering, please Contact Paul Borowsky at 608-442-4083 or paul@jssmadison.org.
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Adult learners need your help with English language and literacy.
Thanks to the Jewish Federation of Madison through the Cheryl Rosen Weston Fund, Jewish Social Services is partnering with the Literacy Network to offer training and volunteer opportunities this fall working with adult learners in English as a Second Language, GED preparation, and/or general literacy skills.
It will involve an initial training session, gaining familiarity with lesson plans and materials prepared by Literacy Network staff, and weekly meetings with an adult learner. The fall session begins in September and runs through mid-December. Until further notice, all meetings will continue to be online.
Thanks to those of you who responded already – we still are recruiting. To get further info about this opportunity, please contact JSS volunteer coordinator, Paul Borowsky, 608-442-4083 or paul@jssmadison.org. Check for further descriptions, specific training dates, applications, and other details on the Literacy Network website: https://www.litnetwork.org/
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Recordings of our Zoom presentations and programs are available to view on JSS' YouTube channel.
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JSS is proud to be a beneficiary agency of: |
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