Gemilut Hasadim/Social Action

Gemilut Hasadim / Social Action

Gemilut Hasadim

"Our masters taught: Loving-kindness is greater than charity in three ways. Charity is done with one's money, while loving-kindness may be done with one's money or with one's person. Charity is given only to the poor, while loving-kindness may be given both to the poor and to the rich. Charity is given only to the living, while lovingkindness may be shown to both the living and the dead." (B. Suk 49b)

The Northern Hills Synagogue Gemilut Hasadim/Social Action Committee actively reaches out to congregants in need by providing transportation for those who members who don't drive; contacting shut-ins on a regular basis; providing meals, companionship, and assistance to those who are ill; and inviting members for Shabbat and holiday meals.

Currently, we have a large database of volunteers, making quite an impressive list for a congregation of around two hundred families! This kind of volunteerism and willingness to help one another characterizes the Northern Hills Synagogue Family.

If you would like to add your name to the database, or if you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact Co-Chairs Holly Robinson, (513) 761-1465, or Steve Karmel, (513) 521-0878. For transportation needs, contact Transportation Chair Sonja Rethy at 631-7660.

Remember, Gemilut Hasadim is Social Action within our own community!

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Social Action

As part of its commitment to Jewish values, Northern Hills Synagogue encourages its members to engage in acts of Tzedakah and Gemilut hasadim.

Remember, Social Action is Gemilut Hasadim within the wider Jewish and general community!

Current Social Action projects of the congregation are:

	Mazon	The synagogue recommends that families use bar/bat mitzvahs or other simhas as an opportunity to contribute to Mazon, a Jewish response to hunger.
	Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen	Members of the synagogue share with the members of other Cincinnati synagogues the task of serving the Sunday noon meal at the Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen, 1620 Vine Street, Cincinnati OH 45210, (513) 241-5121.
	Shared Harvest Food Bank	We keep a collection bin for the Shared Harvest Food Bank which serves Butler and Warren Counties.
	Mary Magdalen House	The synagogue, via Rabbi Barnard, collects personal care items for Mary Magdalen House, 1221-23 Main Street, Cincinnati OH 45202, (513) 721-4811, e-mail: magdalenhouse@queencity.com. The Mary Magdalen House at Old St. Mary's Roman Catholic Parish is a place where the homeless can go to shower, shave, use the telephone, get clean clothing, and have their laundry done.
	Operation Isaiah	Our USY chapter takes part in this USCJ project, asking members to bring non-perishable food items to Kol Nidre services. The food collected is donated to the Shared Harvest Food Bank which serves Butler and Warren Counties.
	Caracole	We donate various items to Caracole, 1821 Summit Road, Suite 001 Cincinnati, OH 45237 (513) 761-1480. Caracole provides affordable housing and supportive services for persons living with HIV/AIDS and technology solutions for non-profit organizations.
	Tzedakah Boxes	We donate money collected at our morning minyanim to a wide variety of Jewish, community-wide and worldwide charitable organizations including the International Darfur Rescue Committee, American Jewish World Service, and Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano.
	Gift of Sight	Via Lenscrafters and Lions Club, we donate used eyeglasses to Gift of Sight for use by the poor.
	Ronald McDonald House	We collect pull-tabs from cans for the Ronald McDonald House at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.