Provide a helping hand during times of illness, loneliness, or bereavement
Deeds of Loving Kindness
Beth El is a kehilat chesed (loving community) – a congregation of people who care about each other and stand ready to help one another through the physical and emotional storms that punctuate our lives. At some time almost every family faces a difficult situation that can be overwhelming. When this happens, the Caring Community Committee (CCC) delivers meals, offers transportation, runs errands, provides information and suggests resources, or just lends an ear.
We can only help people if we know about their needs. We keep the clergy informed about our activities so that we do not intrude upon theirs. To maintain the trust of the congregation, we operate on a strictly confidential, privacy-respecting basis.
If you or a Beth El member you know is in need of assistance or information, please call the Beth El office at 703-370-9400 and ask to speak to one of the clergy, or call Ruth Perlstein, CCC chair, at 571-653-2353 or 703-623-5209. Your call and all subsequent services will be kept in strict confidence.
The CCC engages in the following areas of action:
- Bereavement – We contact members of the congregation who have experienced a death in their immediate family and offer condolences, meals, assistance with arrangements and other desired help. Click here for information about what to do when a death occurs.
- Long-Term Needs – We call congregants with long-term needs to offer them various services, a visit, or just a friendly ear. We deliver bags filled with holiday goodies to homebound members three times a year.
- Immediate Needs – We call members whom we know are acutely ill or have other immediate needs and offer them various forms of assistance such as meals, rides to appointments, pick-up of prescriptions, and friendly visits.
- Shalom Baby – We brings greetings and a bag of goodies to members who have recently welcomed a new baby.
- Support Groups – We offer Bereavement and Caregiver Support Groups as needed.
- Information – We offer members information about area services and resources and help them obtain what they need.
- Cards – We send condolence and get well notes to members.
In good times and bad, we are here for you.
We welcome ideas, suggestions, and offers of help.
