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Chesed at Kesher

Throughout the year, Kesher partners with local and national organizations to provide support to those in our community, both Jewish and not. Please join us for one of our upcoming or ongoing programs, or reach out to one of our partner organizations for ways you can give back!

For more information about any of our programs, please email chesed@kesher.org.

Upcoming and Ongoing Programs

Chanukah Gift Drive with imadi
Sunday, December 3 through Sunday, December 10, 2023

Kesher will be collecting gifts for imadi families to provide sick children and their siblings with gifts this Chanukah! A donation box will be available in the shul foyer from Sunday, December 3rd through Sunday, December 10th, and an Amazon Wish List can be found here.

Volunteer for Kesher Cemetery Clean Up Team
Ongoing

Help maintain Kesher's cemetery on Southern Ave - we're looking for teams to visit the cemetery periodically to remove leaves, trash, etc. and to ensure it is clean, tidy, and the dignity of the space is preserved. If you're interested in joining this team, please email Miriam Cleeman at chesed@kesher.org

Bikur Cholim
Ongoing

Bikur Cholim of Greater Washington occasionally needs volunteers to pick up and deliver food to patients at local hospitals. If you would like to be added to the volunteer listserv to be notified when there is a need, please email Miriam Cleeman at chesed@kesher.org.

Past Events

High Holiday Food Drive with Capital Kosher Pantry
Sunday, September 3 - Sunday, September 10, 2023

Kesher will be partnering with Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington and the Capital Kosher Pantry to help stock their shelves before the chaggim. From Sunday, September 3rd through Sunday, September 10th, a box will be available in the shul lobby to drop off donations. Please email Miriam Cleeman at chesed@kesher.org with any questions.

Pre-Pesach Food Drive with Capital Kosher Pantry
Sunday, March 12 - Sunday, March 19, 2023

Kesher will be running a Pre-Pesach Food Drive for Capital Kosher Pantry, the area's only Kosher food pantry. As you clean out your chametz and shop for Pesach, consider donating either Kosher for Pesach or chametz items. A box will be available for donations in the shul lobby from Sunday, March 12th through Sunday, March 19th.

Ukrainian Refugee Shabbat
Friday, February 3 - Shabbos, February 4, 2023

Join us February 3rd - 4th for Ukrainian Refugee Shabbat, an opportunity to both hear firsthand about the dire situation in Ukraine and come together to sponsor a generator for those without power since the Russian invasion began. Please join us at Seudat Shlishit to hear from Kateryna Odarchenko, founder of the Ukrainian NGO "Institute for Democracy and Development PolitA", and over the course of the weekend, consider contributing to the fundraiser for this necessary equipment, supplied by Israeli NGO Lev Echad. For more information about the weekend, Kateryna, or the fundraiser, please click here

Georgetown Ministry Center Winter Shelter Meals
Monday, January 16 - Thursday, January 19, 2023

Kesher volunteers will again have the opportunity to prepare and/or serve dinner for GMC Winter Shelter guests who are experiencing homelessness from Monday, January 16th through Thursday, January 19th. To register, please click here.

Fisher House Dinner Sponsorship
Sunday, December 25, 2022

Kesher will again be sponsoring dinner on December 25 at the Fisher House located at the VA Hospital. Fisher House provides housing for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. 

Chanukah Gift Drive with imadi
Sunday, December 4 through Sunday, December 11, 2022

Kesher will be collecting gifts for imadi families to provide sick children and their siblings with gifts this Chanukah! A donation box will be available in the shul foyer from Sunday, December 4th through Sunday, December 11th, and an Amazon Wish List can be found here.

Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registration Event
Sunday, October 30, 2022

Kesher, Rosh Pina, and DC Minyan will bring Inova Blood Donor Services and Gift of Life to the community on Sunday, October 30, from 12 - 4 pm. Click here to register for a time slot to donate blood. There is no need to sign up for bone marrow registration.

High Holiday Food Drive with Capital Kosher Pantry
Sunday, September 11 - Sunday, September 18, 2022

Kesher will be partnering with Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington and the Capital Kosher Pantry to help stock their shelves before the chaggim. From Sunday, September 11th through Sunday, September 18th, a box will be available in the shul lobby to drop off donations. 

Chanukah Toy Drive with Chai Lifeline
Through Friday, December 4, 2020

Again this year, Kesher members will have the opportunity to be matched with Chai Lifeline families to provide sick children and their siblings with gifts this Chanukah! Participants will be given the information of a Chai Lifeline family and will purchase and wrap personalized gifts to be dropped off in Foggy Bottom by Friday, December 4. 

Sharsheret Pink Shabbat
Thursday, January 30 - Shabbos, February 1, 2020

We will be hosting a Sharsheret Pink Shabbat on January 31 - February 1, a great opportunity to learn about the increased risk of breast cancer among Ashkenazi Jews, how to determine your risk, be proactive about your health, and how we can support community members facing difficult circumstances.

Please join us for a Challah Bake on Thursday night to hear from a member of our community about her experience, and then on Shabbos, join us for a kiddush following main minyan where you can learn more about all that Sharsheret does, and how you can protect yourself from this disease. 

Partner Organizations and Resources

Local Jewish Partner Organizations

Sharsheret
A national organization whose mission is to educate and support the Jewish community regarding breast cancer among Ashkenazi Jews

imadi
imadi supports families in the Greater Washington area who have a child diagnosed with a chronic illness or a genetic condition.

Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington
Dedicated to providing a financial safety net to those in need in the Greater Washington Jewish community

 

 

 

Charitable Organizations and Community Resources

  • Donations to those experiencing Homelessness: Georgetown Ministry Center - as a member congregation of GMC, Kesher organizes meal donations for shelter guests, but consider donating meals on your own or gently used clothing

  • Professional Clothing Donation: Suited for Change (Women), Dress for Success (Women),  MenzFit (Men)

  • Blood Donation: Inova Blood Donor Services

  • Food Donation: Capital Kosher Pantry - with opportunities to donate unopened, nonperishable items at local dropoffs or through one of their online wishlists, Capital Kosher Pantry is the region's only of Kosher hunger relief program 

  • Furniture Donation: A Wider Circle

 

Thu, April 25 2024 17 Nisan 5784