"Caring Community" is the umbrella term we use for the many aspects of congregational life that involve being present for each other through our lives. In times of joy and celebration, and in times of sadness, illness or mourning, Temple strives to be present. And by "Temple," we mean "our members." While our Rabbi and professional staff are key to much of our Caring Community programs, as providers and facilitators, the very best expression of Caring Community is when members are present for other members.

Babies:
Vestibulum commodo, velit ac malesuada porttitor, nulla purus molestie neque, quis fringilla nibh elit sed justo. Integer auctor semper nulla. Maecenas ut ligula. Donec et pede eget risus malesuada ultrices. Nullam dolor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam accumsan magna pretium diam. Nulla vitae turpis. Etiam elit. Fusce sed mauris. Donec accumsan, erat molestie suscipit tristique, mauris orci porta ante, vel sagittis neque ante quis libero. Nulla facilisi. Nam porttitor. Donec eget elit.

Hospitality:
Vestibulum commodo, velit ac malesuada porttitor, nulla purus molestie neque, quis fringilla nibh elit sed justo. Integer auctor semper nulla. Maecenas ut ligula. Donec et pede eget risus malesuada ultrices. Nullam dolor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam accumsan magna pretium diam. Nulla vitae turpis. Etiam elit. Fusce sed mauris. Donec accumsan, erat molestie suscipit tristique, mauris orci porta ante, vel sagittis neque ante quis libero. Nulla facilisi. Nam porttitor. Donec eget elit.

Care Partners:
Vestibulum commodo, velit ac malesuada porttitor, nulla purus molestie neque, quis fringilla nibh elit sed justo. Integer auctor semper nulla. Maecenas ut ligula. Donec et pede eget risus malesuada ultrices. Nullam dolor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam accumsan magna pretium diam. Nulla vitae turpis. Etiam elit. Fusce sed mauris. Donec accumsan, erat molestie suscipit tristique, mauris orci porta ante, vel sagittis neque ante quis libero. Nulla facilisi. Nam porttitor. Donec eget elit.

Chevrah Kadishah:
R. Simlai expounded: Torah—there is a deed of loving-kindness at its beginning and a deed of loving-kindness at its end. Loving-kindness at its beginning: "the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skins and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21). Loving-kindness at its end: "and He buried [Moses] in the valley" (Deut. 34:6).

From this midrashic passage, we learn that caring for the dead is not just a good thing...it's a Godly thing, an expression of imitatio dei. In Rabbi Simlai's imaginative lesson, God's love is expressed through concrete acts of caring, which we call g'milut chasadim. And high on the list of these acts is the one called the chesed shel emet, the truest expression of kindness: tending to the burial of one's fellow.

A "Jewish" burial includes many elements, but one stands out in the minds of many Jews: Chevrah Kadishah. The "sacred society" which washes the body and then lovingly pours water from head to toe before dressing in shrouds has been a mainstay of Jewish life for hundreds of years. The Chevrahalso performs sh'mirah ("guarding"), sitting vigil with the body until the funeral.

Temple's Chevrah Kadishah blends a deep respect for tradition with an understanding that each person, each family, is unique. We never, ever, compromise when it comes to the essential, namelyk'vod hamet, the honor due the bodily vessel which just hours earlier held a loved one.

Weddings:
Vestibulum commodo, velit ac malesuada porttitor, nulla purus molestie neque, quis fringilla nibh elit sed justo. Integer auctor semper nulla. Maecenas ut ligula. Donec et pede eget risus malesuada ultrices. Nullam dolor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam accumsan magna pretium diam. Nulla vitae turpis. Etiam elit. Fusce sed mauris. Donec accumsan, erat molestie suscipit tristique, mauris orci porta ante, vel sagittis neque ante quis libero. Nulla facilisi. Nam porttitor. Donec eget elit.

Grief Support: 
Vestibulum commodo, velit ac malesuada porttitor, nulla purus molestie neque, quis fringilla nibh elit sed justo. Integer auctor semper nulla. Maecenas ut ligula. Donec et pede eget risus malesuada ultrices. Nullam dolor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam accumsan magna pretium diam. Nulla vitae turpis. Etiam elit. Fusce sed mauris. Donec accumsan, erat molestie suscipit tristique, mauris orci porta ante, vel sagittis neque ante quis libero. Nulla facilisi. Nam porttitor. Donec eget elit.

New Homes:
Vestibulum commodo, velit ac malesuada porttitor, nulla purus molestie neque, quis fringilla nibh elit sed justo. Integer auctor semper nulla. Maecenas ut ligula. Donec et pede eget risus malesuada ultrices. Nullam dolor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam accumsan magna pretium diam. Nulla vitae turpis. Etiam elit. Fusce sed mauris. Donec accumsan, erat molestie suscipit tristique, mauris orci porta ante, vel sagittis neque ante quis libero. Nulla facilisi. Nam porttitor. Donec eget elit