the mitzvah gram - Chicago Mitzvah Campaign

Kislev 5772
December 2011
Volume 2, Issue 4
B”H
THE MITZVAH GRAM
Partially funded by the Chicago Department of
Family and Social Services, Senior Division
CMC Chaplaincy and
Senior Services Division
 Hospital visitations
 Weekly “Shabbos
packages” delivered to
hospital patients
 “ S e n i o r
Friendship” (home
outreach for isolated
seniors)
 Monthly Jewish
discussion at dozens of
retirement and nursing
facilities
 Subsidized emergency
response systems
 Free kosher guest meals
in hospitals
 Free
medicar
transportation for the
elderly and infirm
 Delivering shabbos and
holiday meals to patients
 Holiday awareness and
celebrations at retirement
and nursing homes
 Patient
support
and
family
 Telephone reassurance
program
 Promoting traditional
Jewish funeral practices
 Musical rendition
Hospice Patients
 Family
Suites”
for
“Hospi tali ty
The Monthly Publication of The Chicago Mitzvah Campaign
1-866-MY-RABBI
www.chicagomitzvahcampaign.com
New Hospitality Suite
Adjacent to Skokie Hospital
The Chicago Mitzvah Campaign is spend Shabbos or Jewish holidays as
excited to announce that on January 1st close as possible to the hospital.
we are opening up a special
Already the word has spread
“hospitality suite” to serve the Jewish among Chicagoans concerning this
patients, family members, and staff of
new center, and
Skokie Hospital.
the
feedback
The facility will be
received by the
located just east of
CMC has been
the
hospital
overwhelmingly
grounds, at 9631
appreciative.
Gross Point Road,
Physicians and
(suite 8 in lower
patients
alike
level) and will
have responded
include
three
very positively
private rooms and a
to this most
kitchenette.
recent
CMC
The new CMC hospitality suite adjacent to
The new facility
project.
Skokie hospital, at 9631 Gross Point Road
is
intended
to
The new facility
provide Jewish patients, family near Skokie hospital is in addition to
members, and staff of Skokie Hospital the Philip Coleman hospitality suite
with a number of functions and that is adjacent to the University of
a m e n i t i e s . K o s h e r f o o d a n d Chicago hospital, and the food and
refreshments will be available in the lodging available near Evanston
kitchenette at anytime for anyone
hospital.
spending long hours in the hospital.
The CMC is looking to continue
The private rooms will be used to expanding in order to provide similar
provide sleeping accommodation for hospitality suites in many other
patients who need to be in the hospital locati ons as well. For more
the next day for an early morning information regarding food and
appointment, for out-of-town family hospitality centers near hospitals in the
members who have come to be near Chicago metropolitan area, please call
their loved one in the hospital, or for
the CMC office at 1-866-MY RABBI.
local family members who wish to
Donation to Facilitate Hospital Patients’ Study and Prayer
Jewish tradition places
great emphasis on the
importance of praying for an
ill patient, whether the prayer
is said by others or by the
patient on his own behalf.
Studying Torah and
performing mitzvos are also
traditional ways of drawing
closer to G-d in response to a
crisis. But what happens when
a patient or family member
rushes to hospital in an
emergency, and does not have
his usual books and other
resources available?
The CMC is pleased to
announce that
we have
recently distributed a large
number of Siddurim, Tehillim
and Chumashim to all hospitals
that are located in Chicagoland
neighborhoods where Jewish
populations reside. This
donation was made possible by
the generous sponsorship of
ManagCare Healthcare and
Rehabilitation Network, in the
memory of Simcha Eliezer
David ben Yosef Chaim.
The Tzemach Tzedek said:
"If one would only know the power
of verses in Tehillim, and their
effect on high, one would recite
them continuously. The verses of
Tehillim transcend all barriers and
ascend higher and higher,
imploring the Master of the
Universe until they achieve results
of kindness and mercy.”
The Siddurim and
Chumashim have now joined the
sets of Tallit and Tefillin that the
CMC distributed to hospitals
earlier this year. Patients or
family members who wish to
pray, study, or use the tallit and/
or tefillin while in hospital may
do so by calling the hospital’s
chaplain or pastoral care office.
…And Special Shabbat Meals Available Too
Aside from prayer and
study, and as every Jewish
mother will tell you, eating a
hearty meal of good Jewish
food is a critical component of
taking care of one’s health!
From grape juice and
challah and all the way
through to dessert, the CMC
provides full-course Shabbat
and holiday meals to patients
in hospital or undergoing
treatment in a short-term
rehabilitation facility.
Nothing expresses the
message of caring more than a
delicious, specially-prepared
meal. And there is no
mistaking the fact that when a
hospital patient is able to
partake of the traditional
Shabbat or holiday dishes, it
can give him a spiritual boost
and a psychological lift,
thereby providing him comfort
and even aiding in his
recovery.
sponsoring challah and baked
goods for this program, and to
Kol Tuv for helping with this
important weekly mitzvah.
If you know of anyone
who can benefit from these
delicious catered meals that
can be delivered to patients at
The CMC extends special bedside, please call the CMC.
thanks to Tel Aviv bakery for Notification by Thursday is
preferred, but we will send
emergency meals on Friday
when necessary.
In addition, the CMC will
help facilitate kosher food for
any person receiving
rehabilitation at a non-kosher
nursing facility.
Specializing in Weddings!
The CMC’s medicar vans routinely transport
patients to medical appointments such as chemotherapy,
dialysis, physical therapy, and much more. But enabling
a Bubbie, Zeidie, or other elderly or disabled family
member to attend a family celebration such as a wedding
is something that we always regard as a very special
mitzvah opportunity.
Recently, Mr. Don Kirshner had the opportunity to
benefit from this special transportation service. Because
of his very low level of mobility, Mr. Kirshner’s
transportation choices are very limited indeed. In fact, he
has been in a wheelchair scooter for four years now, and
can only use wheelchair-accessible transportation
services. So when the wedding plans for Don’s greatnephew were announced, he was determined to make
special transportation arrangements in order to be able to
attend.
One day, a stroke of good fortune had Don sitting
outside his residence when one of the CMC’s medicar
vans pulled up on the block in order to pick someone up
for a scheduled ride. From the details emblazoned on the
side of the van Don made a note of the CMC’s phone
number, and in no time at all he had a ride scheduled to
attend his great-nephew’s wedding in downtown
Chicago.
“I can’t emphasize enough how convenient and
user-friendly the transportation service is,” Don
declared. My entire family and I are extremely grateful
to the CMC for enabling me to attend our family
celebration. It was an amazing gift to be able to
participate in the immense joy and happiness that we
felt at the wedding. Without the CMC’s medicar van I
don’t know how I would have been able to make it to
the hotel in downtown Chicago.”
Mr. Don Kirshner in his wheelchair, celebrating on
the dance floor at his great-nephew’s wedding
Chanukah Celebrations
Chanukah is around the corner! With less than a
month to go until the “festival of lights” begins, the
CMC is in full preparation mode for its annual
Chanukah volunteer project. As it does every year, the
CMC is organizing volunteers to run menorah lightings
and holiday programs at scores of retirement homes,
nursing facilities, and private residences.
and distribute Chanukah packages. Other fun Chanukah
activities to share with the residents include spinning the
dreidle, relating stories and singing songs. And the
residents always love interacting with children, so don’t
forget to bring them along!
The CMC highly encourages everyone to go out
and share the Chanukah holiday spirit of light and joy
with those individuals who would otherwise lack this
opportunity. To participate in this volunteer effort, call
the CMC office at 1866-MY RABBI
The volunteers and their families visit with the
Jewish residents at these locations, light the menorah
We wish a speedy recovery and good health to:
Shoshana bas Sara
Refoel ben Yehudis
Rivka bas Leba
Leah bas Chana
Rivka bas Sara
Faiga bas Tzila
Gittel bas Kreindel
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Yehudit bas Sara
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Chava Ronya bas Chadvera
Yehuda Dovid ben Rochel
Sima
Refoel Yakov ben Gitel
Yitzchok ben Sara
Mordechai ben Rachel
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Baruch Berl ben Liba Leah
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Aviva bas Sara
Yisrael Mazal ben Raizel
Miriam
Devasha Golda bas Chanah
Chana bas Yulia
Sheina bas Madeline
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Tzivia Leeba bas Hoshe
Yehudit Rachil bas Hinda
Shlomo Zundel ben Chinkel
Aidel bas Faige
Dov ben Rus
Pesa Leah bas Rivka
Aharon HaLevi ben Gittel
Prayer is Healing
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Bring “light” to seniors...
On Sunday, December 25th and Monday, December 26th,
the CMC will be sending volunteers to dozens of nursing homes
and other residences to celebrate Chanukah with senior citizens.
Volunteer one hour and be part of this great mitzvah!
For more information and to sign up, please call
1-866-MY RABBI (1-866-697-2224)
v Light the menorah
v D
istribute CMC’s special
gift packages
v Sing Chanukah songs
v Spin the dreidel
v Bring along the children
v Rejoice!
THE MITZVAH GRAM
Monthly Publication of The Chicago Mitzvah Campaign
6241 North Sacramento Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659
1-866-MY-RABBI
www.ChicagoMitzvahCampaign.com
This newsletter is dedicated in memory of: Benzion ben Yaakov Roshass, Sara bas
Yaakov Sommer, Leeba bas Avrohom Heiferman and Binyomin ben Michoel Jacobs.