The Strangest Year
Rachael Wortzel
Friday, March 13, 2020 was the last day that my son was in school. I’ll probably remember that date for the rest of my life because it felt like something that happened in fictional story lines; students went home like it was any Friday and by Monday the schools were closed. Then nearly everything was closed. We were told to work from home, stay at home, limit time spent in public places, stay 6 feet away from strangers, keep children inside, and medical resources had to be reserved for treating coronavirus. I understand that while some people were not terribly bothered by being at home and some even liked it, I am not one of those people. I love being around people. I love going to the movies, eating out, traveling, sitting in coffee shops, live music, live theatre, holidays with family, parties, live comedy, festivals, county fairs, and lucky for me I also love to be outside, preferably with other people.
Of all the scenarios I imagined that could interfere with my plans for 2020, a pandemic was not among them. In 2020, I was going to attend my first black tie gala in Chicago, I had scheduled a long-awaited train trip to Colorado, my son’s B’nai Mitzvah was to be on November 7, and in August I would start a graduate level internship. Plus, we expected to attend dozens of family gatherings. You can guess how all of that turned out. For me, there’s nothing like losing something to reveal how truly significant it was to me. Which has brought me to this question; what do we live for? Is it love? Is it G-d? Is it anger? Is it justice? I believe each of us has to have something to live for. We can decide for ourselves what this will be and we can change it whenever we want. The year 2020, the strangest year of my life, has changed my perspective of my own life and of the world. It has changed what I live for. There’s a quote I once heard that goes something like, “I never learned anything from the good times.” And I think it is true that good times are great, but it is from hardship and struggle that we learn the most about ourselves. For most of my life, I felt that what I lived for had to be a means to an end; if I didn’t accomplish something, I was wasting my time. This year I learned that life itself is enough to live for.
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Thanks much to staff and volunteers who helped set up our Purim goodie bags. And, thanks to all our volunteers who delivered the 105 Purim goodie bags this year. We did get about four or five different spellings of Hamentashen. But, all were in agreement that it is always nice to be thought of during the holidays and celebrate our connections and share some good treats:
Thanks for the delicious surprise!
You can't imagine what a great lift your Purim treat gave me! Just to think that you all cared. You put a big smile on my face.
Thank you, Thank you
I loved it! The packaging was so nice, and I haven’t had such nice variety of dried fruit. I usually don’t eat Hamantaschen – but these were really good! And really appreciate you thinking of me during these holidays.
Thanks for remembering me with the Purim bag of treats. It brought back fond memories of taking my children in costume to the Purim Carnival.
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JSS wants to connect our community
JSS has launched a new program called L’dor V’dor (From Generation to Generation) to connect our community members who may be feeling bored or isolated. In particular, we'd like to connect older adults and young people. Artist and JSS supporter Kathy Mazur has generously donated beautiful notecards shown here featuring her artwork to get us started. If you are willing to engage with teens or other adults and exchange stories or discuss anything you want. The JSS program is modeled on successful programs from other places. We can provide materials, and even suggest questions or topics to get started. You may communicate via letters, emails, phone calls, or video. Computer or computer skills NOT needed.
If you are interested or know someone who may be, please complete this brief form here, or contact Christina at christina@jssmadison, or (608) 442-4060.
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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 ON MARCH 29th**
For questions about Zoom programs, call Paul Borowsky at (608) 442-4083.
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The Beauty and Power of Raptors
Friday, March 12 from 10:30 – 11:30 am
Rob Hults, Executive Director and Board Member of Open Door Bird Sanctuary invites us to experience the world of raptors. Edutainment, as they call it, provides the opportunity to bring the hidden aspects of nature a little closer while at the same time inspiring wonder and awe. In 2006, Rob became a volunteer at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. At that time he began his training in animal husbandry and educational presentation of their collection of 14 native birds of prey. Currently Rob leads the volunteer team in operating the Open Door Bird Sanctuary, a 34 acre facility that provides homes for un-releasable birds of prey.
Meeting ID: 867 0233 8489
Passcode: 842389
By phone: (312) 626-6799
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Liberation in the time of Confinement: A Study of the Themes of Passover
with Rabbi Renee Bauer
Thursday, March 18, 3:30-4:30pm
As we prepare to celebrate our second Passover with Covid restrictions we will use the structure of the Haggadah and themes from the holidays of Passover to explore where we have been and where we are now in the journey through this pandemic. This session will be a combination of looking at traditional texts and exploring spiritual meanings with the goal of deepening our observance of Passover this year.
Meeting ID: 862 1810 7308
By phone: 312 626 6799
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The Gift of A Story
Thursday, March 25 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Pam Phillips Olson is going to present a story she calls: A Purple Thread.
It is about an entirely unexpected incident when someone shared a meaningful story with Pam. In preparation for this interactive session, please think about a time when you were given the gift of a story or when you were moved to tell a story to another person. These unexpected exchanges are often so memorable and meaningful that they can stay with us forever!
Meeting ID: 889 9623 2991
Passcode: 669388
By phone: 312 626 6799
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Recordings of our Zoom presentations and programs are available to view on JSS' YouTube channel.
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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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We keep including this because it is so important!
JSS Needs 1-2 Volunteers to Help with Tech Support
And all our regular opportunities as well
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.
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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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Do you have a car you would like to get rid of???
Donate your car to JSS! The proceeds go directly to our programs.
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This weekend is Refugee Shabbat
Here are events happening in Madison
Congregation Shaarei Shamayim Friday, March 5th at 5:45 p.m.
Special Refugee Shabbat Service with Congregation Shir Hadash in Milwaukee
Join Shaarei Shamayim to welcome in Shabbat with this special service led by our members along with members of Reconstructionist congregation, Shir Hadash. We'll have special speakers to discuss specific challenges for refugees, including Kai Gardner-Mishlove and Becca Schwartz. Bring candles, grape juice/wine, and challah if you'd like. All are welcome.
Congregation Rodef Sholom (Rabbi Paula Winnig’s congregation)
Friday, March 5th at 6pm Eastern
“Zoom” into Shabbat Services for HIAS Refugee Shabbat, Featuring guest speaker, Becca Schwartz.
Beth Israel Center
Saturday, March 6th at 10:00am on Zoom
This Shabbat morning service will honor HIAS’ National Refugee Shabbat by hosting visiting speakers Reverend Charles Baraka and his wife, Gilbertine Harerimana . A mixed couple—Hutu and Tutsi—originally from Burundi and were resettled in Madison by Jewish Social Services. They will speak during the service, sharing their experience of life as refugees, and afterwards will answer questions.
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Here are national programs from HIAS
Refugee Shabbat Havdallah - 7:00pm Saturday, March 6
Join fellow refugee advocates and activists across the globe to send out Shabbat with a joyful havdalah service led by HIAS Rabbi-in-Residence Rachel Grant Meyer, Rabbi Yosef Goldman, and Rabbi Annie Lewis. Our blessings will be woven together with the voices of historical and contemporary refugees. We will also enjoy a live performance of the song “You Were Strangers” from the spiritual folk-rock show REVIVAL written by Kristen Plylar-Moore and performed by musicians Lea Kalisch, Julia Ostrov, and Rabbi Tobias Moss. Together, we will raise our voices in support of displaced people worldwide.
Zooming In: Perspectives on the Global Jewish Movement for Refugees
12:30pm Sunday, March 7
an afternoon conversation about how global Jewish communities are making a tremendous difference in the lives of refugees, asylum seekers, and the forcibly displaced. Hear from representatives of HIAS and other organizations working in collaboration with Jewish communities in Europe, Canada, Latin America, and the United States in support of and in solidarity with displaced people, and explore how the emergent global Jewish movement for refugees is evolving.
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Support Refugee Resettlement
JSS Madison to resettle our first refugee family this past week after nearly six months of no arrivals. Unfortunately, Monday morning we learned that travel for the family was canceled because President Biden has not yet signed his ambitious Emergency Presidential Determination relating to resettlement. We know from current JSS clients that travel cancelation can be extremely harmful as the family would have likely sold all of their possessions and given up their housing in order to prepare for their trip and now they are left in limbo, in a very precarious and sometimes dangerous situation.
JSS hopes that we will see movement on this soon. It is vital that President Biden sign the revised refugee admissions goal for FY21 as soon as possible. Each day that passes without this signed executive action is another day that hundreds of particularly vulnerable refugees must wait to be resettled.
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JSS is proud to be a beneficiary agency of: |
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