Welfare
A New BHC Welfare Initiative
A very successful luncheon was held at the Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation on Shabbat, 22nd June.
Chair of New Members Committee and member of the Welfare Committee, Valerie Millin, was delighted and stated "This lunch is the first of many new initiatives being offered to members of our Congregation. It’s part of a new "Outreach" programme, which will see luncheons being held every six weeks, inviting people in the Congregation who would, invariably, be going home on their own on a Shabbat. These are often people who used to be active members in the Shul but now do not attend so frequently and who, possibly, feel isolated and overlooked. We want to show them they are NOT forgotten!”
The lunches are being held for no more than 20-25 congregants at a time, in a friendly, informal and welcoming atmosphere, giving congregants the chance to talk to Rabbi Adrian and Rebbitzen Pamela Jesner, Barry Sklan the Assistant Minister and his wife Angela, together with key members of the Welfare Committee - Jane Victor, Thelma Cowan and Valerie Millin - in a relaxed environment, together with their fellow congregants. Any members invited who have mobility issues will have a chance to discuss any ‘logistical’ problems with Jane Victor so that they, too, will have the chance to come along.
We have a long list of congregants who we would like to invite so please don’t feel you have been left out if you hear about the lunches and you have not yet been invited!
Very shortly, we will be announcing another new initiative to run alongside the Luncheons: Birthday Teas - watch this space!
On a more serious level, we are also going to be offering a confidential listening service for anyone who may be lonely, isolated, recently bereaved, who has become a carer and is feeling stressed and doesn't know who to go to for advice, or for anyone who would just like to speak to someone on a confidential basis. Again, watch this space for more details.....
We truly care about our congregants and even though sometimes people may feel that they are being ignored or forgotten, unless the Shul knows how you feel, or what issues you are coping with, neither the Rabbi, the Executive or Committee members cannot help unless they KNOW! If you know of anyone or any couple or group of people who you feel could also do with help, ask them if they would like us to contact them..... We will be contacting you all soon...
If any congregants would like to get involved with helping us in our "outreach" work, please feel free to phone Val Millin or email her. We can all do this together and the more people who become "volunteers", the more lonely and vulnerable people we can help!
If you would like to get in touch with the Welfare Committee, please contact the synagogue office in the first instance.
