Community Outreach: A Personal Reflection

by Robyn Teplitzky

Senior Development Consultant, Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven

Over the past several weeks, as our world continues to unravel, volunteers and professionals of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven have been calling over 10,000 households in our database to ensure their well-being.

For many years, I have made solicitation calls to raise the necessary funding our community needs on behalf of the Federation Annual Campaign. I was more than happy to make check-in calls to ensure connection and concern at this time of crisis. One conversation in particular gave me pause and reminded me of the fundamental Jewish value of gemilut hasadim, of loving kindness and the act of caring for others.

I connected with a local woman who lives alone. She told me she was fine and had enough food but has no family and was concerned about someone knowing if she had to go to the hospital. I assured her that the community was here for her and that I would be her contact. We exchanged phone numbers and she expressed her gratitude by telling me she had been praying for something like this to happen. I assured her I would check in frequently.

I called again a few days later and became concerned when there was no answer over a 24-hour period so I called the local police to ask for a well visit. Within minutes, I received a call from my outreach and started to cry. I was so happy to learn she was okay. When I inquired about the calls and messages I left, she told me she didn’t recognize my number and thought someone was calling to solicit her for money. I asked her if she was okay with me sharing her name with Jewish Family Service, and that the Jewish Federation and community are here to ensure her safety and to provide a lifeline.

Every day, our Jewish Federation strives to meet the needs of our entire community. Often, we all get complacent and don’t appreciate all the positive things our thoughtful and caring community members and professionals do; but we know that in a crisis, we are strong. The Greater New Haven Jewish community has sustained nursing home strikes, hurricanes, fires and now COVID-19. We will emerge united and continue to ensure that we are one. Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la-zeh; all Jews are responsible for one another.

When we say a misheberach, a healing prayer for one who is suffering or ill, we think of those who are terminal. Today, we are all in crisis. I pray that this virus passes soon and that we all stay healthy and strong so that when we are physically reunited, together we will say, “Am Yisrael chai, the Jewish community lives!”