L'Chaim



Jewish World Review Dec. 28, 1998 / 9 Teves, 5759

Volunteers feed those
in need on Xmas day


By Michael S. Wald

(JWR) ---- (http://www.jewishworldreview.com) BOSTON — This year, as in years past, Christian volunteers and staff involved in feeding the disadvantaged were able to celebrate Christmas with family and friends because of projects run by Jewish communities around the nation.

Embarking on its thirteenth year, one group, Project Ezra, is an outreach volunteer program of the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts.

Each year Jewish volunteers come together to assist in local feeding programs and a variety of shelters, hospital and nursing homes. They also help with music, arts and crafts and recreational activities for patients throughout the day. By doing so it enables Christian staff members and volunteers to spend the holiday with their families.

“Ezra,” taken from the Hebrew word ozer — to help, — is one of the Synagogue Council’s major efforts, with more than 1500 Conservative, Orthodox, Reform and Reconstructionist Jewish volunteers from all over Massachusetts participating in a mitzvah on Christmas Day.

Most of the volunteers are members of area synagogues who are participating through their congregations’ social action committees. The teams of synagogue volunteers have been matched to a variety of volunteer sites by Toby Gutwill, the program’s director.

“This year we have 63 synagogue groups statewide to help staff the 84 volunteer sites,” Gutwill told the Boston Jewish Advocate.

Project Ezra volunteers work in a variety of capacities, sometimes not knowing where they will be need until Christmas morning. Some of the volunteers prepare and serve holiday meals at local shelters, spending additional time socializing with guests to brighten their holiday.

Other volunteers make home visits to people who are house-bound by old age or poor health, delivering Christmas dinner, gifts and good cheer.

“It’s something the Jewish community can do to give back to the entire community, and a great way for families to be together throughout the day,” said Mel Wartell, who has coordinated volunteers from Newton’s Temple Reyim for the past nine years.

Joan Katz, who has coordinated volunteers from Temple Emanuel in Newton for the past four years, emphasized that the day offers a great way to give back to the community. “It’s an opportunity for the children to experience tzedakah and also to learn and help those people who are less fortunate,” Katz told the Advocate. Community service volunteers will deliver thousands of baskets to those who are in need. All volunteers must register in advance with the agency and sign a confidentiality agreement to deliver the baskets.

The volunteers receive minimal information, such as an address and a last name, about the clients who will receive the gifts. In past cases, the volunteers have handed the presents to the client’s caretaker.

“The requirement on our part is so minimal and the appreciation is absolutely the maximum,” Gutwill said.

“It was a wonderful way to mark the year,” she added.


Michael S. Wald is a staff reporter for Boston's Jewish Advocate.

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