E-Connect -- L'Shana Tova
September 17, 2021
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Spread Over Us Your Shelter of Peace - Supporting Refugees in Our Community
The Jewish Holiday of Sukkot occurs right after the High Holy Days. During Sukkot, we appreciate our blessings and think about our tangible and intangible harvests.[1] At JSS we are so thankful that we can do the work that we do in our community, to help others obtain those harvests, whether they be housing, employment, financial security, or a sense of community.
The gratitude that we feel right now to donors and potential volunteers for the Afghan refugees in Wisconsin is overwhelming. So many people want to volunteer, donate goods and donate funds. That is wonderful. JSS is a small agency that prides itself on doing things well. We can’t connect volunteers to Afghan refugees, for example, because they just aren’t in Madison right now. Since 2016 we have resettled over 200 refugees from Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Syria, and Vietnam. We expect to continue to resettle from all of these countries. Many of the donations and offer of volunteering has specifically been for the Afghan refugees. Today, I am asking all of you to reconsider, and make your requests to volunteer and to donate to be for all the refugees and immigrants we are working with to allow them to become self-sufficient. There are currently 82.4 million individuals who have been forcibly displaced from their homes from all over the world. Please allow us to use your gifts to help all of those who come to Madison and need our help. Of course, we will use your help however you designate the help. But with a little bit of flexibility, we can provide shelter and peace to so many more.
Shabbat shalom and chag sameach,
Dawn Berney
Executive Director, Jewish Social Services
[1] https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/jewish-time-shabbat-and-holidays/sukkot
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To all our volunteers and staff for outreach and gift bags for the New Year – 118 bags delivered this year !
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Here are some highlights from FY 2020
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374 clients received case management or chaplaincy services
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18 clients resettled
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95 resettlement clients served
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204 volunteers performed 5.269 hours of service
Here are some highlights so far from 2021
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48 clients resettled
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69 clients received financial support through out COVID-19 Relief Fund
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New program established: Madison's Mental Health and Psychological Support (MHPSS) For Refugees
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Donations Item Wish List
We are looking for the following items for our current clients:
New socks – size 11 for male
New underwear, size 42-46 for male
Winter hat and gloves for male
Please contact Maya Garbuz at maya@jssmadison.org or (608) 442-4085 if you have any of these items. Thank you!
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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. On Monday mornings, we send out an email notice with the link for Yoga From A Chair. If you are not on that email list, but wish to be – please let us know.
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.
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Join JSS on Mondays for Schmoozing at 11am and
Yoga From A Chair at 11:30am
With Betsy Haimson
Meeting ID: 406 575 567
Join by phone: (312) 626-6799, 406 575 567#
For questions about Zoom programs, call Paul Borowsky at (608) 442-4083.
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Join us for Shabbat – All are welcome!
Capitol Lakes in the Grand Hall
333 West Main St (first Fridays)
Upcoming: Friday, October 1: 3 – 4 pm
Oakwood Village West in the Chapel Annex
333 West Main St (third Fridays)
Upcoming: Fridays, September 17 and October 15: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Masks are required for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for keeping our community safe!
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JSS Winter 2021 Jewish Grief Support Group (virtual)
This 8-week group will support those on a journey of grieving with insights and tools from the Jewish tradition.
Facilitated by Rabbi Renée Bauer, Community Chaplain, and Nancy Feingold, MSSW
WHEN: Tuesdays, Nov. 2 - Dec. 21, 2021; 4:30-5:45 pm
FEE: $54 includes book, readings and professional facilitation. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.)
OR
Print and fill out and mail attached form (side 2 of PDF flyer)
JSS staff will contact you about Zoom access, payment arrangements and other details later.
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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 safely interact, 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 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.
We understand that as we move forward volunteers and those we help will have varying degrees of comfort level and needs regarding any in-person visiting or transportation help. We will work together with you and clients to respect that and keep us all safe. Look forward to hearing from you.
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Adult learners need your help with English language and literacy
Thanks to 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.
Research shows that adult learners with basic skills need individualized support. Through a unique model in which interns plan individual lessons delivered one-on-one by volunteer tutors, Literacy Network provides effective and efficient direct support to hundreds of adult learners each year. Staff creates personal education plans thru a flexible curriculum, and provides opportunities for follow-up and feedback between staff, clients and volunteers.
Thanks for 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
For further information on programs or volunteering contact me anytime: Paul Borowsky, paul@jssmadison.org, (608) 442-4083
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PROGRAM EXTENDED!!! Thank You Bader Philanthropies.
Transportation Program for Older Adults:
Significantly subsidized private rides
JSS is excited to have received a grant from Bader Philanthropies of Milwaukee to allow JSS to provide additional transportation support to ALL older adults throughout Dane County, specifically focusing on those with fewer resources. When JSS cannot find a volunteer driver, trips to and from medical appointments, grocery stores, and similar necessities will be made available for a maximum of $8.00, round trip, with fee waivers available.
If you know anyone who may benefit from this program, please let us know. We have it for our community. For transportation assistance, please contact us at (608) 442-4081 or office@jssmadison.org. We will connect you with one of our social workers who will be happy to help you access this service. We thank Bader Philanthropies for their interest in our community.
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Community News: Free COVID-19 Vaccines available at The Dane County Job Center!
Where? Dane County Job Center, 1819 Aberg Avenue, Madison, WI
When? Wednesday, September, 22 and 29 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
No appointment necessary. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson available while supplies last.
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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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A tribute gift is a meaningful way to convey sympathy to the bereaved, memorialize a loved one, commemorate a special occasion or honor a person’s life and accomplishments.
Your gift to Jewish Social Services made in honor or memory of this special person ensures a legacy that extends far into the future.
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Recordings of our Zoom presentations and programs are available to view on JSS' YouTube channel.
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Do you have a vehicle that you no longer need???
Donate your car to JSS! The proceeds go directly to our programs.
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JSS is proud to be a beneficiary agency of: |
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