Gemilut Hasadim

"Our masters taught: Loving-kindness is greater than charity in three ways. Charity is done with one's money, while loving-kindness may be done with one's money or with one's person. Charity is given only to the poor, while loving-kindness may be given both to the poor and to the rich. Charity is given only to the living, while lovingkindness may be shown to both the living and the dead."  (B. Suk 49b)

The Northern Hills Synagogue Gemilut Hasadim/Social Action Committee actively reaches out to congregants in need by providing transportation for those who members who don't drive; contacting shut-ins on a regular basis; providing meals, companionship, and assistance to those who are ill; and inviting members for Shabbat and holiday meals.

Currently, we have a large database of volunteers, making quite an impressive list for a congregation of around two hundred families! This kind of volunteerism and willingness to help one another characterizes the Northern Hills Synagogue Family.

If you would like to add your name to the volunteer database, or if you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact Holly Robinson at (513) 761-1465. Gemilut Hasadim is Social Action within our own community!

Social Action

As part of its commitment to Jewish values, Northern Hills Synagogue encourages its members to engage in acts of Tzedakah and Gemilut Hasadim. Social Action is Gemilut Hasadim within the wider Jewish and general community. The Cincinnati Hunger Assistance Initiative (“CHAI”) is a project of Northern Hills Synagogue and Congregation Ohav Shalom to promote community support for the expanded food pantry. The expanded Jewish Family Service Food Pantry is now located in the Barbash Family Vital Support Center on the HUC Campus, located at 3113 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220. For more information, contact Sandee Golden at 513-766-3352 or sgolden@jfscinti.org. JFS Food Pantry Drive: In addition to study of food insecurity in America and our community, and Jewish responses to it, NHS will devote the month of JANUARY 2014 to support the food pantry by collecting food, delivering it to the food pantry, and stocking the shelves.	NHS Volunteers at Over the Rhine Soup Kitchen
To volunteer, contact Elaine Hordes at 513-351-5477 or email enhordes@aol.com. Other current Social Action projects of the congregation are:
Mazon The synagogue recommends that families use bar/bat mitzvahs or other simhas as an opportunity to contribute to Mazon, a Jewish response to hunger. Men’s Club Food Barrel Men's Club has a barrel in the vestibule at the entrance for nonperishable foods and donations. Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen Members of the synagogue share with the members of other Cincinnati synagogues the task of serving the Sunday noon meal at the Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen, 1620 Vine Street, Cincinnati OH 45210, (513) 241-5121. www.overtherhinekitchen.org. Shared Harvest Food Bank We keep a collection bin for the Shared Harvest Food Bank which serves Butler and Warren Counties. Mary Magdalen House The synagogue, via Rabbi Barnard, collects personal care items for Mary Magdalen House, 1221-23 Main Street, Cincinnati OH 45202, (513) 721-4811, e-mail: magdalenhouse@queencity.com. The Mary Magdalen House at Old St. Mary's Roman Catholic Parish is a place where the homeless can go to shower, shave, use the telephone, get clean clothing, and have their laundry done. Operation Isaiah Our USY chapter takes part in this USCJ project, asking members to bring non-perishable food items to Kol Nidre services. The food collected is donated to the Freestore Foodbank in Hamilton County. Tzedakah Boxes We donate money collected at our morning minyanim to a wide variety of Jewish, community-wide and worldwide charitable organizations including the International Darfur Rescue Committee, American Jewish World Service, and Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano. Gift of Sight Via Lenscrafters and Lions Club, we donate used eyeglasses to Gift of Sight for use by the poor. Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) Volunteers help host families in need at Adath Israel Synagogue. Dress for Success Clothing left over from our Rummage Sale is donated to Dress for Success, to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. Ronald McDonald House We collect pull-tabs from cans for the Ronald McDonald House at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.