This year, Rosh Hashanah– the Jewish High Holidays or the Jewish New Year– will fall on September 16. For this time frame, I was hired to re-write a fundraiser letter for a Jewish Community Center in London. As I looked into it, I was a nudged from my comfortable spot of complacency. I learned something about another faith I didn’t even know I was interested in. I am generally disengaged, absorbed in my own struggle, raising a family on my own so I never heard of this thing. While of course I am aware generally that most places connected to faith help others, I default to the American version with microphones, donation baskets and bake/rummage sales on a dime and just assume that most places of faith have the money of the faithful spilling out of their coffers for any given need. In honor of the spirit of renewal associated with Rosh Hashanah, I share what was for me a newly discovered, beautiful concept upon which people of every faith or frame of mind can contemplate and reflect.
Quietly in your neighborhood, and probably in mine and in places populated and rare all over the world, is something called Chabad. It is a center for Jewish community with the only requirement for membership is being Jewish and showing up. Without bells or whistles or financial support from its members, Chabad rolls up its proverbial sleeves and ministers to the poor, holds up the stressed and weary, addresses the physical, spiritual and often financial needs of its members, proliferating a mission of friendship and love in the Torrah-true spirit of Judaism. So friendly. So passive. So peaceful. So cool. Whether we agree or not with Obamacare, its passage along with many other social/political current debates signify that the majority of us, if not all of us, wants to help others as well. Whether we need or can give, the Chabad mission of ‘people helping people’ is something we can all relate to. Unlike political debate, Chabad does not argue. It accepts with unconditional love. What a great concept. What a great message.
Freedom of religion, school of culture or teaching of faith for some has been a greater struggle historically than others. But all of faith can identify with that struggle and if given a moment, can begin to imagine what it would be like if the most precious social component – community – -were deprived us. It was from such a time of struggle that came a great gift. A notion arose of Chabad that the faith of a people made each a part of the other; a necessary and valued contribution to a community. Chabad does not recognize a stratified faith. With a peaceful pronouncement, Chabad believes that every Jew however expressive of his/her faith and culture, stands upon the same plane of light. No matter where we come from, we are worthy.
More like a spiritual teaching hospital than a church or a temple, Chabad holds classes of all aspects of Judaism, holds services, helps those in need in all ways. Its perpetual message delivered through friendship is that its members are worth respect and decent living. Chabad tirelessly performs and supports community good works wherever they are located around the world. They make sure soup kitchens are supported, stocked if needed. They put food on the table and the utilities running for families in need. For the grieving and despondent, they offer friendship, counseling and spiritual guidance. Friendship Circle is a program for special needs children within the Jewish community. In any capacity that a loving family would, Chabad is there for its members.
As Chabad serves those in need, its members are almost always of extremely modest means. Since Chabad charge no membership fees, all of them are completely supported by donations. Funding their annual budget is extremely burdensome because they operate on a skeleton crew divided between ministering to their often financially destitute membership and being able to raise the money they need to keep their members fed, in their homes or their medication paid for.
I know most of us have centers of faith that do good work. Some of us are humanitarian but exercise no faith. I fall into the stuck category where I have helped others directly, I need a lot of help but do it all myself and so my existence is less community and more tunnel vision. But I was moved by Chabad’s hands-on engagement, reminded of how much people need lifting up not by a sermon but by unconditional act of kindness. Chabad offers this kindness. If you are moved with this reminder of love and peace in the waning summer to help the effort of human kindness, be kind yourself.
Any center for human service could use financial assistance. To make a donation to Chabad go to www.chabad-uk.com and scroll down to the “Donate” button. Or you can mail a contribution to:
A Project of Chabad of UK
Beis Menachem – Beis Moshiach Chabad Community Centers
53-55 Oldhill Street, London N16 6LU
Who knew you would be asked to make a donation to Chabad in London, but you will probably be glad you did. So will Chabad and the people they help.
– Elizabeth Crist Hoberg is a single mother of three living in the DC area. She is a gym rat and a budding Romance novelist.
