The Jewish holiday of Shavuot begins at sunset on Sunday, May 16th and ends at sundown on May 18th. This celebratory holiday commemorates the spring harvest and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. In remembrance of G-d giving Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws, many Jewish people attend synagogue and stay up all night to study and learn with one another. The Book of Ruth, a story of kindness and compassion, is also read.
Going to synagogue, studying with each other, swapping recipes, and sharing desserts are examples of meaningful experiences that so many of us have dearly missed over the past year. Community is a principal focus of Shavuot. As we take careful and reunifying steps toward each other this spring, we are deeply grateful for the arrival of this special holiday. It reminds of us of our loyalty to each other and that brighter days lay ahead.
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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. We send out email notices with links for Monday Yoga and End of Week Zoom Programs every Monday and Wednesday. 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#
NO YOGA May 17th or 31st
For questions about Zoom programs, call Paul Borowsky at (608) 442-4083.
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Exploring Our Senses of Taste and Smell
Shannon Gabriel, Registered Dietitian and Healthy Aging Coordinator
Thursday, May 13 from 10:30 – 11:30 am
Have you ever wondered if your taste buds and sense of smell change throughout life? At birth, an infant has 9000 taste buds on the tongue and this number increases to 15,000 taste buds during adulthood. By age 70, this number decreases to approximately 10,000. Wow! Similar changes occur to our sense of smell, as well. A research study recently concluded that if we are unable to see and smell our food – only 13% of us could accurately describe what we’re eating.
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This tells us how closely related our senses are! Changes in our senses can impact our appetite, health, and nutrition as we age. If you find this interesting, make sure to join Shannon Gabriel, Dane County Senior Nutrition Program Dietitian and Healthy Aging Coordinator from the Area Agency on Aging, to learn more about taste and smell changes, how it can impact your nutrition, and strategies to continue enjoying the smell and taste of your foods.
Meeting ID: 841 7198 9161
Passcode: 633766
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We can think of times of uncertainty as liminal experiences, that is, moving through an indeterminate passage toward an undefined future. As our biblical forebears left Egypt on their way toward an indistinct encounter with God at Sinai, today we too are traversing an indefinite passageway toward an uncertain future. Along the way we become injured, we lose ourselves, and we remain rudderless if we forget the values of Torah that help us maintain course. Join Madison’s Jewish communal leaders (including Rabbi Renee Bauer), along with experts in the field of mental health, as we explore the realities, challenges, and opportunities of our times. |
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God Speaks in the Singular: A Model for Embracing Diversity
Taught by Rabbi Renee Bauer
Thursday, May 20 from 3:30-4:30pm
Just days after the holiday of Shavuot we will study texts, biblical and rabbinic, about revelation at Mt. Sinai. We will explore how these texts recognize and sanctify the diversity of humanity while also provide us with a model of understanding our own spiritual journey over time.
Meeting ID: 862 1810 7308
By phone: (312) 626-6799
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Yoga Monday on a Friday
Friday, May 28 from 10:30 – 11:30 am
Haven’t been able to make yoga on Mondays – here’s your chance to try it out on Friday (still on Zoom). We will also have some time to catch up with each other. How have you been? Can we make plans for in-person programming yet? What have agencies, synagogues and others been trying? What are you looking forward to, and what is your assessment of what will be comfortable and doable at this time?
Meeting ID: 406 575 567
Join by phone: (312) 626-6799, 406 575 567#
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JSS Celebrates the Biden Administration's Increase of Refugee Admission Cap
JSS, Madison's only refugee resettlement agency, is thrilled that on May 3 President Biden officially raised the U.S.’ refugee admissions cap for this fiscal year from an all-time low of 15,000 to 62,500. We commend the Biden administration for taking this long-overdue action and acknowledging the vocal public support for refugee resettlement. The administration's actions this week are an important step toward restoring America’s tradition of welcoming those in need of safety and leading by example on humanitarian issues. There is much work to be done to bring our national refugee admissions system back to full health and capacity and setting an increased refugee admissions ceiling is an essential first step.
Through determination and generosity of the community, JSS has maintained its refugee program through the reduction of admissions over the last 4 years as many agencies have closed their doors or are left with diminished capacity. After nearly six months without a single arrival, we have begun resettling refugees once again.
The biggest challenge for the resettlement program in Madison is finding affordable housing. If you have connections or leads to affordable housing, please contact Becca Schwartz at becca@jssmadison.org.
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Volunteer Opportunities
As COVID restrictions continue and vaccines and protocols evolve, we want to thank all our volunteers for staying involved via telephone, internet and expanded holiday gift giving and deliveries. If you are interested in volunteering, opportunities may include no-contact delivery of groceries and other essentials, phone contact, tech support, and other tasks and projects. (Also see opportunities listed below)
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New opportunity: The JSS Resettlement Team is looking for a volunteer to assist a refugee client in studying for the written portion of their driver's exam. The volunteer would meet virtually for a few Saturdays with the client to assist them in their goal of becoming mobile! Please contact sam@jssmadison.org for more information.
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New Opportunity: 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 summer and 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 summer session runs from May 24 through August 14, and 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 through a flexible curriculum, and provides opportunities for follow-up and feedback between staff, clients and volunteers.
To get further information 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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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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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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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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