JewishCare

JewishCare’s web site is headed by its slogan – “The Caring Heart of Sydney”

JewishCare launches bereavement support

Sydney’s JewishCare’s Chessed Bereavement Support program launched for a wonderful resource booklet on loss and grieving.

It was officially launched by Julie Dunsmore, President of National Association for Loss and Grief .

Want to be an Aussie?

Sydney’s JewishCare will conduct a naturalisation ceremony in June.

JewishCare is holding its regular Citizenship Ceremony on 30 June this year.

These are always wonderful events and often the preferred way for members of the community to officially become Australian citizens.

Malcolm Turnbull will be officiating, as in previous years.

Please ask any family, friends, clients who may be interested to contact Warren Hurst on 9302 8005 or w.hurst@jewishcare.com.au

100 not out

Fred Austin has celebrated his 100^th Birthday at Sydney’s Burger Centre.

The Burger Centre celebrated its second centenarian since moving to the Randwick campus in March 2007.

Fred Austin was joined by his wife Alice, son Jeff and family and 40 Burger Centre clients, plus special guests from JewishCare and Montefiore Home.

Mr Peter Cavanagh Deputy Mayor of Woollahra presented Fred with congratulatory certificates and letters from The Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister and local Member Malcolm Turnbull.

Voiceless adds voice to domestic violence initiative

Sydney identity Brian Sherman, a director of animal welfare group Voiceless, spoke at JewishCare this morning on domestic violence heralding the beginning of campaign involving 16 rabbis , 16 days…and 16 synagogues.

The initiative is under the auspice of the United Nations and is worldwide and focuses public attention on the plight of those affected by domestic violence.

Sherman used his talk to show how the unpopularity of his cause against ‘violence’ perpetrated on innocent animals by mankind is paralleled by the unpopularity of the cause highlighting plight of those women who experience violence in their homes. He urged the community to stand up for those victims of DV.

The initiative will produce individual efforts from each of the 16 congregations involved including a giant version the white ribbon logo of the campaign being displayed Sydney’s Great Synagogue on the bima of Sydney’s Great Synagogue this coming Shabbat.

JewishCare domestic violence caseworkers Belinda Gold, Roberta Freedman and Lisa Shapiro remained outside the meeting which was an all male affair.

Freedman told J-Wire: “We deal with 19 cases of domestic violence each working week and take on board about two new cases in that period. On top of that we manage 60 cases where family support is needed.”

JewishCare maintains a crisis hotline for  those in its care.

Gold told J-Wire that women are the victims in more than 90% of domestic violence cases. She added: “We appeal to men who know of cases where women are being subjected to domestic violence to let us know. Our aim is to help, not prosecute. We need to help them break the cycle.”

Shapiro told J-Wire that a training program had been held in 2007 for rabbis and teachers. She added:  ”A respect for relationship course is taught to Years 10, 11 and 12 students in Moriah, Masada, Kesser Torah and the Emanuel schools. Help cards headed ‘Never in a Jewish Home’ will be placed in the bathrooms of all the participating Shuls and doctors’ surgeries.”

The participating Synagogues are :

Central Synagogue, Chabad Bondi, Coogee Synagogue, Cremone Synagogue, Emanuel Synagogue, Great Synagogue, JLC, Lindfield Synagogue, Maroubra Synagogue, Masada, Newtown Synagogue, Or Chadash, Sephardi, Shtiebel, South Head and Yeshiva.

Each one has been assigned one day of the 16 and will hold a special event to highlight the cause, including raising the topic of domestic service in their sermons.

JewishCare president Eva Fischl said: “I am very proud of the way our community has united on this issue. Each rabbi we approached enthusiastically agreed to participate.”

89-year-old wins volunteer award

JewishCare worker Dorothy Clarke has won the prestigious Southern Sydney Volunteer of the Year Award conferred by the Centre for Volunteering.

Dorothy is the President of the Triple S Friendship Club, which is one of JewishCare’s 11 Friendship Clubs around Sydney, providing regular opportunities for active elderly people to get together, have fun and learn. She is 89 years old.

For the last five years Dorothy has been spending more then 10 hours a week volunteering for JewishCare; organising bus outings, Sunday walks, visits to the local Guild Theatre as well as the weekly meetings which take place at the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah. She also visits local JewishCare clients, volunteers as a mentor at the Gymea TAFE where she helps older women to become computer literate and teaches a course at the Benevolent Society Rooms in Hurstville in conjunction with her involvement with the University of the Third Age.

Eva Fischl OAM President of JewishCare said “Dorothy is defying the typical stereotype regarding the capacity and capability of older people. Dorothy has been setting a wonderful example of remaining active and independent well into what many people may consider to be old age. This award is richly deserved and we hope that she will continue to serve her community for many years to come”.

In accepting the award Dorothy said “I feel uncomfortable when I am congratulated for whatever I do. I help for the satisfaction of just doing. My philosophy is Life is for Living, don’t waste it, be busy, do something for others and use your  time wisely”

.

Next Page »