Temple Isaiah’s Caring Community has been active for several years now, and this year they plan to expand their work—so many more volunteers are needed! They offer their services at nursing homes to bring Shabbat services to help residents celebrate Shabbat. Congregant volunteers are needed to help those who are homebound with services such as food shopping, getting to and from doctors’ appointments, and other simple chores.

Of course, whenever death touches a member of our congregational family, volunteers for minyanim are needed. Please help us to make somebody’s day a little brighter. Please contact Silvia Altman at saltman@aol.com for more information.

Among the many mitzvot we Jews are required to perform, bikkur cholim [visiting the sick] is of prime importance. Many members of Temple Isaiah have practiced bikkur cholim as a matter of course, and we have a strong record of devoting our time to easing suffering by spending a few minutes with those who are hospitalized or homebound.

Recently we formalized what was an ad hoc collection of individual mitzvah-makers into an official Bikkur Cholim Society. Volunteers will be trained by professionals and given literature to help them function effectively as assistant, comforter, and friend. There are no age limitations on performing this mitzvah, but it will be helpful if you have your own transportation. If you are interested in learning more about the Bikkur Cholim Society of Temple Isaiah, please contact David Altman at 698-8084.