E-Connect
October 1, 2021--Shabbat Shalom!
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What is a Memory? by guest contributor Jaime Goldberg, MSW, LCSW
One of my favorite children’s books is Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox. In it, the titular character, a young boy, lives next door to a home for older adults. He knows and loves all the residents who live there, but his favorite is a 96-year-old named Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. It’s a lovely friendship – Wilfrid tells Miss Nancy his secrets and when he finds that she has lost her memory he sets out to discover what a memory is and how Miss Nancy can get hers back. Wilfred asks all the other residents and through the bits and pieces of information he gathers from them, he puts together a ‘memory basket’ for Miss Nancy. The basket is filled with things that make you laugh, things that make you cry, things that are warm, and things that are precious. By sharing these special treasures from his own life, Wilfrid helps Miss Nancy find some of her own memories.
This week we observed Yizkor once again during Shmini Atzeret. Through this special service of remembrance, each of us holds close the memories of our own loved ones. We recall when they lived, where they lived, and how they lived. We think of the cherished moments we spent with them. We recall what made them giddy with pleasure and what made them tear up with emotion. We remember how it felt to hold their hand or to be wrapped in their loving embrace. We think about how their lives interwove with ours. We think about how best to honor them, how to hold on to those special remembrances, and how to perpetuate their memory.
We recite the Yizkor prayers because we understand that remembrance itself is a blessing. May we, like Miss Nancy, be blessed with memories that make us laugh and cry, memories that are warm, and memories that are precious. May we have the strength to share those memories as an everlasting memorial to those whose lives touched ours. Zikhronam l’vrakhah, may the memories of our loved ones always be a blessing.
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JSS is hiring a new full-time Case Manager!
See the full job posting here
Job Title: Social Services Case Manager
Reports To: Director of Social Services Case Management
Status: Full time, Non-Exempt
Location: Madison, WI
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to the Associate Director Chris Shanahan at shany@jssmadison.org. Please include CM-SS in the subject line. Position open until filled.
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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Advocacy Ask: Take Action with HIAS to End Title 42
Title 42 is a 75-year-old public health law that allows border agents to remove people from the U.S. without any opportunity to seek asylum. It has been misused by both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Click here to tell Congress to stop the misuse of of public health laws and restore the rights of asylum seekers
See HIAS' website for a variety of infographics to share on social media. Thanks for your help!
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Take Action with AARP's Fair Prices Now! Campaign
Do you pay high prescription drug prices? It's time to #ShowYourReceipts to Congress.
Your lawmakers have an opportunity to lower Rx prices - let's urge them to ACT NOW!
Watch our video and show your receipts today!!
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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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Join us for Shabbat – All are welcome!
Capitol Lakes in the Grand Hall
333 West Main St (first Fridays)
TODAY: Friday, October 1: 3 – 4 pm
Oakwood Village West in the Chapel Annex
6205 Mineral Point Road (third Fridays)
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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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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Marijuana on an Altar: A Year of Zooming Biblical Archaeologically
Thursday, October 21, 3:00- 4:00 PM
An exploration into women’s lives in ancient Israel, inscriptions external to the Bible that verify named people, and technological methodologies that are enhancing archaeology.
Presented by Phyllis Holman Weisbard
Women's Studies Librarian Emerita - University of Wisconsin System
(details of venue and also online option to be announced)
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Arboretum Public Talks
Exploring the Future of Ecosystem Restoration
Tuesday, October 5, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Virtual talk: The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
For the 2021 fall lecture series, we explore the global movement to restore ecosystems. We will learn about international and local efforts and how environmental health and social justice intersect with restoration projects and community well-being.
Hazel Thornton, Programme Officer for the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 2021 marks the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – a ten-year effort to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.
Join us as we explore the how, what, where, when, and why of this global movement that aims to tackle poverty, combat climate change, and prevent mass extinctions through the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Free. Register by October 1.
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Public Panel: Stories on Afghan Women, Art, and Everything in Between
October 4th, 4:00pm (Zoom)
Featuring Afghan artists and intellectuals
Sponsored by the Middle East Studies Program at The University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Upcoming Jewish Federation of Madison Events
October 3rd, 5:30 pm (Zoom)
See information and registration details here
October 24th, 8:00am-1:30pm
Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Jewish Community Campus
See information and registration details here
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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.
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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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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