Tifereth Israel Congregation

A Caring Community

TI members care. In times of need we provide meals, and for the injured or elderly we provide help getting to appointments and doing errands. We support each other through life events - parenting, caring for aging parents, losing a loved one.

Helping Hands: TI members stand ready to provide meals, rides, and assistance with errands on a short-term basis for those in need because of new babies, illness or injury.

In addition to "Helping Hands" in times of need - TI offers an "Elderly Support Group" for those caring for the elderly as well as the elderly themselves; a "Parenting Issues Book Group"; and a Funeral Practices Committee.

The TI Environmental Committee is focused on "greening" TI's infrastructure and membership. It hosts the following programs:

Chaverim of the TI Funeral Practices Committee are on call to provide counsel and services to synagogue members and their dependents. Prior to contacting any funeral home, please contact one of the Chaverim: Shelly Heller, Jeff Davidson, Marcia Goldberg, or David and Judy Cohen; or contact Rabbi Seidel, Rabbi Abramowitz, or the TI Office at (202) 882-1605.

One of TI's long-term volunteer projects is our pioneering program to help members cope with the emotional and financial burdens resulting from the death of a loved one. Working with a local funeral home, our Rabbi and the Funeral Practices Committee have developed modest, traditional funerals for our members and their dependents. Congregational volunteers assist the bereaved by making funeral arrangements, planning meals, and arranging minyanim during the week of mourning. The congregation pays funeral costs, asking the family to make a contribution to enable this invaluable service to continue.

The Israel Activities Committee has a lot to offer, including Israeli films, and a monthly "Dovrei Ivrit" (speak Hebrew) table at our kiddush luncheons. There was a congregational trip to Israel in the Summer of 2007.

The Kitchen Renovation Committee is working towards a renovation of the TI kitchen facilities in the 2008-2009 time frame.

TI publishes a monthly newsletter for the membership (also known as the bulletin). The Menorah contains columns by the Rabbi, the Director of Lifelong Learning; the President, plus many of the Committees, such as Social Action and Kol Nashim. Current and back Menorah newsletter issues are available and searchable. If you would like to author an article; create line drawing artwork (a great chance for a talented and enterprising teenager); or have an interesting Judaic interpretation you want to share - let us know.

Social Action has a primary and central place in the hearts of Jews all over the world - see what TI is doing to further tikun olam (repair of the world) in our corner of the universe.