Yad Sima Tova: Adath's Caring Community
Make a difference to people who may be ill or feel a need for companionship, through Adath’s volunteer corps or Yad Sima Tova: Adath’s Caring Community. Yad Sima Tova coordinates visits, rides to the synagogue and minyanim in the community. Individuals or families are also needed to deliver occasional gift packages to homebound congregants, bake and reach out in other ways. Even an hour of your time is appreciated.
A Tzedaka Opportunity For
Adath Families Celebrating a Simcha
Yad Sima Tova: Adath’s Caring Community
Reaches out to members
of the Adath community and their families
Yad Sima Tova offers meals to individuals and their families
in need of assistance while ill or after returning home
from the hospital or nursing home.
Kosher meals are purchased and then delivered by
Yad Sima Tova volunteers.
Dinners usually include chicken, a side dish, salad and dessert.
On Shabbat challah and grape juice are included.
Your family can make your simcha even more
meaningful by sharing your joy with others.
By adding a donation to the catering costs of
your simcha,
you can help us provide this service
to congregants in need.
Click Here for a donation form.
Yad Sima Tova: Five Years and Moving Forward
Five years ago, Rabbis Harold Kravitz and Aaron Brusso asked Susan Himmelman Shapiro and Julie Kozberg to co-chair a committee to discuss and develop new ways to reach out to the older adult members of the Adath Jeshurun community. No name was given to this committee until the true focus was determined. The two chairwomen, with the assistance and guidance of Jim Sherman, Rabbis’ Associate at Adath who was assigned as staff liaison, held numerous meetings to form a committee and develop several new programs of outreach. The new plan was ready to launch in the fall of the year.
Tragically, Susan Himmelman Shapiro was killed in a car accident during the summer, and the visionary, committed, creative, exciting ideas that she brought to the table were taken away from us. Julie Kozberg asked Fay Kaye to become her co-chair and upon her acceptance, the work was scheduled to begin.
Knowing how important this committee’s mission was to Susan, the decision was made to honor her memory and her work by naming it after her. Taking her Hebrew name of Sima Tova, the official name became YAD SIMA TOVA: ADATH’S CARING COMMUNITY. This seemed so appropriate. The Hebrew word yad means both hand and monument or memorial. Now it was felt that the “hand of Susan Himmelman Shapiro” was truly invested in this work of outreach, which would serve as a fitting memorial to her.
With much pride and hard work on the part of Julie and Fay as well as many volunteers, Susan’s vision is healthy and strong, and a valuable asset of the Adath community. A recent development has been the creation of a Congregational Nurse Program for the congregation through the work of Yad Sima Tova and the assistance of JFCS and NORC with funding grants. A vote of confidence was just received through a grant from the Mt. Sinai Community Foundation. Fay Kaye has become the chair of the Health Advisory Committee that works with Debby Jewett, our nurse, and Kim Gedan has replaced her as Julie’s co-chair.
Yad Sima Tova now provides transportation to Adath services and synagogue events. Volunteers visit homebound congregants, enabling them to stay connected to our community. An annual Hanukkah Party and a monthly Ma’ariv service and program are provided for the residents of Knollwood Place Apartments. A volunteer for Yad Sima Tova arranges for leaders of monthly Kabbalat Shabbat services at Jones-Harrison Residence and Sholom Home West. Meals are provided when desired to those who are ill or returning home from the hospitals, grief support through personal contacts to those who have lost a loved one, and a healing service is available upon request, providing comfort and prayer for those recovering from an illness. The link that Yad Sima Tova provides to our members has been met with excitement and praise.
Warm thanks and appreciation to the Susan Himmelman Shapiro Foundation for its continued support and funding that provides such a vital link to our Adath community. Many thanks also to the volunteers that have made this dream become a reality and a success.
Susan would be so proud of our accomplishments.
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