December 16, 2008

Dear Volunteers:

What a difference a week makes.

Sometimes, I think things stay pretty well the same. For instance our dinners are always delicious! Last night, it was delicious plus much more! Vegetable soup, cornflake chicken, pasta with zesty tomato sauce, tossed salad with mandarins and then sides of coleslaw, rice, kugal, tuna, egg salad and cakes which all came from Gloria Silverman's shiva house. Yes, this week was different than all others. At prayer with our guests, we talked about Gloria, the ultimate master of "hachnassat orchim", which means “to welcome guests/strangers.” Many of our guests responded in agreement and, later, shared very fond stories of her.

"A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death than the day of one's birth." (Ecclesiastes 7:1) "The meaning is, a good  name acquired by good qualities is better than good oil, for a good name is heard much farther away than extends the odor of good oil ... The day of death, when a man has attained his complete knowledge, is better than the day of his birth." Michael J. Alter

Each year, Gloria would celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, at OOTC dinners teaching tolerance of religions other than one’s own and forming friendships between people in this community. Chanukah arrives at the darkest time of the year and brings with it light and renewed hope. It is a reminder that after the military battles and the destruction of the Temple, our ancestors celebrated their religious freedom by rededicating both the Temple and themselves to God and Judaism.

Although I will be away celebrating "Feliz Hanukkah" in Mexico next Tuesday, Barry Bender will make sure there is a kosher lighting of the Chanukkiah.

Thanks to Miriam, Marcia, Patricia and Louise for making 300 latkes (and for breaking a few for Lowell and Marcia's Bill to consume.) Thank you also to Deanne Day and her family who kindly purchased and gift wrapped presents for our homeless guests to receive on Christmas eve morn.

Starting last week, many of our guests were asking if we knew the specifics for Christmas dinners offered by Salvation Army, Good Shepherd and how one would get a ticket or sign up for them. Last night, a homeless man asked me if he could sign up for a lunch for today.  What is the world coming to? How can our society manage the business of helping the poor while still maintaining their dignity?

Last week, Lisa, pregnant and due to deliver a baby in three weeks, was sleeping on the floor of a church. This week she has an apartment and hope for the future.

Last week, we allowed Sandra to come in from the rain. She was tired and upset, so she slept in the shower all day, coming out only for soup, but today she was well dressed, well rested and actually having a pillow fight with our security man.

We are about to experience the shortest day of the year, which coincides with the first night of Chanukah and just days later, there will be Christmas.  Although the economy appears bleak at the moment, there are always ways to shine a light in the darkness. When we focus on building community and bringing people together to learn and share, we rededicate ourselves to finding support and hope from our traditions.

Let's all work to make next week different from this week.  Let's continue to make it better!
Happy Holidays!

Cindy

P.S. This week, Santa is still busy at the North Pole; next week he'll deliver gifts to our guests Jean, Jayson and Nicholas and bring smiles and memories they will keep for years!  See picture.


Responses:

Cindy:  Your message brought tears to my eyes.  You are the guiding light behind this amazing program at James Street Baptist.  St. Lawrence Church, which is just a block from our home, is now doing an evening.  I had thought of volunteering there but I am afraid I will be disappointed in the way the guests are treated.  Perhaps I am being too idealistic but you truly make a difference.
Enjoy your well deserved vacation. Morley and I will be there next Tuesday.  As I tell the people who are canceling appointments due to the anticipated storm tomorrow, we are city folk, have a heavy Saturn!!! Vue with snow tires.  We can be there.

Regards
Joan