Caring Committees

Learn About Anshe Emet Synagogues Caring Committees

The Caring Committee is comprised of five subcommittees that provide support throughout the life cycle. We are here to help whether it is preparing meals for the families of new babies, or people who are ill; being there to provide support and friendship to those who are isolated; or being on hand for rituals upon dying and helping members set up Shiva when they have experienced a loss. We are here to engage our communities, to help each other as needs arise, and to do so together. Whether you want to help, or need services, contact us at caring@ansheemet.org.

View our Volunteer Training Video

Chesed

The Torah teaches us that “All Jews are responsible for one another,” and the members who volunteer with the Chesed group take this teaching seriously.   For any member of our community in need, they are there. Whether in happy times, as with the birth of a child, or in the most difficult times of sickness and mourning, Chesed volunteers are there to support our community in any way they can. Three pillar programs are as follows:

    1. Cooking and delivering meals to families with newborns. If you are interested in cooking meals for families with new babies, please contact Jessica Bearak at jbearak18@gmail.com.
    2. Shiva Committee: Making Shiva calls and setting up homes for Shiva. Contact Diane Tesler at d.tesler@sbcglobal.net to learn more.
    3. Visiting sick children at Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Jewish elderly and The Self Help Home on a monthly basis.

Chevra Kadisha

Service group comprised of men and women who perform the pre-burial preparations of a Jewish body; Involves being informed when there is a need and you may participate based upon your availability. Volunteers should be 18 and older. Contact Barry Gross at bbgross39@gmail.com / 312-988-4010 or Merle Gross at merlekgross@gmail.com / 312-988-4010. Click here to learn more.

Bikur Cholim

Have you or a loved one become ill and wanted to stay connected to the Anshe Emet community during this difficult time?

Would you or a loved one benefit from a visit by a community member?

Anshe Emet, as part of an initiative within the greater Chicago Jewish community, has assembled a group of volunteers to perform Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick). The Bikur Cholim Team at Anshe Emet performs the mitzvah of visiting the sick for the connection and continued healing of those who have become ill or impaired. Volunteers do not need prior experience, but rather a desire to learn about the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim and to be an active participant in Bikur Cholim for the Anshe Emet community. Acts of Bikur Cholim may take on many forms, such as offering spiritual strength, guidance and companionship, or simply sharing time together and swaping stories or watching a favorite television program. Training in the Jewish mitzvah of Bikur Cholim from Jewish texts to the hands on every day practice of visiting the sick is available.

For more information about receiving a Bikur Cholim visit please contact Rabbi D’ror Chankin-Gould at dcgould@ansheemet.org/773-868-5145. For more information or to become a volunteer, please contact one of the co-chairs, Julie Ann Sklaver at aesbcteam@gmail.com.

Project at Friedman Place

Friedman Place is an assisted lifestyle community for blind and visually impaired adults and is currently at full occupancy with 83 residents. The residents range from age 20 – 90 with the mean being 60 years of age. The facility is managed by an amazing group of women. They have many wonderful volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved. Please feel free to read more about Friedman Place.

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Beth Elman at beth@friedmanplace.org. To learn more, contact Anshe Emet member, Paulette Freed at paulettefreed@gmail.com.

Chesed Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunity Volunteer Activity; Time Commitment Age Restrictions Contact
Bikur Cholim Visiting the sick; Involves being informed when there
is a need and you may participate based upon your availability
18 and older Julie Ann Sklaver at aesbcteam@gmail.com
Chevra Kadisha
Click here to learn more.
Lakeview Funeral Home
1458 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657 Chicago
Jewish Funerals
8851 Skokie Boulevard
Skokie, IL 60077
Service group comprised of men and women who perform the pre-burial preparations of a Jewish body; Involves being informed when there is a need and you may participate based upon your availability 18 and older Barry Gross at bbgross39@gmail.com
312-988-4010
or
Merle Gross at
merlekgross@gmail.com
312-988-4010
Friedman Place 
5527 N. Maplewood
Chicago, IL 60625
Various opportunities; As often as you’d prefer Age 16 and older, unless accompanied by an adult Beth Elman at beth@friedmanplace.org
New Baby Meals Cook a meal when a new baby is born; As often as you’d prefer N/A Jessica Bearak at jbearak18@gmail.com
Self Help Home 
908 W. Argyle St.
Chicago, IL 60640
Various opportunities; As often as you’d prefer All ages Paulette Freed at paulettefreed@gmail.com
Shiva Committee  Help prepare homes for Shiva,
help serve food at Shiva, cook a
meal for the immediate family; Involves being available upon short notice
16 and older Dianne Tesler at d.tesler@sbcglobal.net

 

For Support with a Personal Affliction, or that of a Loved One, We Are Here to Help.

For a consultation with
Rabbi Michael Siegel
contact Tory May at
vmay@ansheemet.org / 773.868.5120

For a consultation with
Rabbi D’ror Chankin-Gould
contact Tamar Brooks at
tbrooks@ansheemet.org / 773.868.5125