Mitzvah and Social Action
Multifaith Housing Initiative
Multi Faith Housing Initiative: Micah Garten, Dara Lithwick and Fran Klodawsky wish to invite interested members of Temple Israel to attend an event co-sponsored by Multifaith Housing Initiative together with the Alliance to End Homelessness in honour of National Housing Day. On Sunday November 27th, there will be an interfaith service (5 to 6 pm) with dinner to follow at 6:30 p.m. People may attend either or both as they wish. The goal of this event is to raise awareness about housing issues facing many Ottawa residents (and beyond) and to introduce attendees to the work of the Alliance and MHI. The event will take place at Ottawa's City Hall, on the main level.
Tickets for dinner are $25. This price is being kept to a minimum in order to make it affordable but also cover the costs. The meal will be Indian, including a vegetarian option. At this time there will be an opportunity to make a donation to MHI to support their work to develop more affordable housing in Ottawa. A silent auction will also be part of this event.
If you are interested in attending the dinner portion of the evening, please contact Micah Garten, Dara Lithwick or Fran Klodawsky.
Centre 454
Centre 454 has had an ongoing relationship with Temple for more than 15 years. It's been beneficial for both sides in all kinds of ways. Temple Israel congregation gets exposure in the larger community by introducing different shelters, under the auspices of the Anglican Social Services, to the generosity of Temple Israel members, and by extension the work that the larger Jewish community does in Ottawa. The centre is a drop-in spot, 5 days a week in summer and 7 days a week in winter, for the homeless, for shelter residents and for the disadvantaged, as well as those with mental illnesses. They are provided counseling, showers, washers and dryers, coffee and company in a safe and secure environment. Without the many toiletries donated every High Holiday season, a drive run by FROSTY, they would run out of supplies very quickly. Thanks to one and all for your continued support, from the Centre's staff.
Joan Schrier collects socks, toiletries and other items continuously and delivers same to the centres. Congregants can help any time by dropping off such items in the Temple lobby, labelled for Centre 454 and Joan will distribute. If anyone would like to join Joan in this quest please contact her through Temple.
Ottawa Therapy Dogs Event
Mazel tov to Margot Montgomery organized a successful Ottawa Therapy Dogs event. In picture Dee Brasseur (1st female fighter pilot and OTD member, keynote speaker), Carole Eldridge Chair, OTD, Kari Dee's Afghan hound, Heather Cohen, Margot Montgomery and Lisa Hans.
Social Action - The Baby-Quilt-to-Israel Project
Thank you from Kfar Yeladim, November 22, 2011
Dear Merle and friends - those that came to 'kfar yeladim' and those that stayed home.
Your visit at our day care center has filled our hearts with warmth, and that's why I want to thank you today.
You were here, and we were so excited, you were here and we felt that you are with us. You brought amazing quilts in beautiful patterns. You worked on each one of them with all your hearts.
We were so moved to see you giving to our kids, wrapping them with love.
It's not a miracle but this is a wonder, to see people like you! People who give from their heart and soul. People who give without measure!
Our kids will enjoy the special quilts you have brought and will get warmed with them in the cold winter of Jerusalem. The unique patterns and the individual work of each one of you express your thinking and love towards our kids.
There are miracles in the world and there are wonders as well, when you put many efforts you also see outcomes, you have what to be proud of!
Our heart is full of thanks and honest blessing.
Sincerely yours,
Chavi Levi/Director Day Care
www.kfaryeladim.org
News Flash! Nov. 10, 2011 - 16 of our quilts were delivered today to a children's centre in Jerusalem, called Kfar Yeladim.
21 quilts were delivered to the Terry Schwartzfeld Daycare Centre in Acco by Jane and Martin Gordon yesterday.
This brings our total to over 350 baby quilts taken and distributed in Israel.
New pictures!
Merle Haltrecht-Matte's and Patsy Royer's baby quilt making project is featured in the Reform Judaism Spring 2011 edition, published by the Union for Reform Judaism. Read it here.
From the original goal two years ago of sending 60 baby quilts by travelers to Israel to be distributed in Sderot and Ashkelon and Ashdod during the onslaught of bombs being hurled from Gaza, we have now sent over 222 baby quilts to all parts of Israel: North, South and Central. We have now branched out to twin with Hadassah WIZO/Amit Ottawa to provide the Terry Schwartzfeld Day Care Centre in Akko with 60 baby quilts; twenty-four have already been made and delivered.
The Bayit is open on Friday mornings to work (in the sweat shop!), but if you are unable at that time to help, but are interested in providing some time to the project, you can also work at home. Just call or email either Merle or Patsy Royer. You can cut out pieces of fabric, you can design a quilt top, you can sew together pieces to make a top, you can wash and iron fabrics, you can hand sew bindings on. ANY one can help. We are always on the lookout for battings for the inside of the quilts; it seems to be the one thing that no one thinks of donating!
