Chesed | Congregation Darchei Noam

Darchei Noam is a caring community that supports members who are confronting illness, loss, and other life challenges through acts of chesed (loving-kindness).  We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who deliver workshops, run discussion groups and provide personal support in a variety of ways:

Bikur Cholim

Congregation Darchei Noam volunteers, in addition to our Rabbi, arrange visits to members of the community who are struggling with or recovering from illnesses. Our Chesed Committee also coordinates cook-a-thons in the synagogue kitchen to prepare delicious, nourishing meals, which are delivered to members who need extra sustenance. We arrange rides to appointments, treatments and shul services and programs for those who require them.

Bereavement Support

Our community supports our members who have lost a loved one from the shivah through the bereavement process. We provide leaders for home shivah services, and reach out to families in mourning to offer support and caring during this time of loss.

Community Programs

Congregation Darchei Noam arranges and participates in chesed programs that impact the community at large, including our Out of the Cold program and local women’s shelters. Programs include:

• Food drives
• Clothing drives
• Toy drives
• School supply drives

H.O.P.E.: Honouring Our Parents Effectively

The synagogue offers a monthly support meeting for members who are caring for aging parents. H.O.P.E. participants meet regularly in a safe and caring atmosphere to share and work through ways of honouring the older generation and coping with the challenges of caregiving. Guest speakers help to teach strategies for providing care and caring for ourselves effectively at this challenging time of life

Organ Donation

At Congregation Darchei Noam, we believe that organ donation is a mitzvah and have organized programming and events to educate community members and highlight its importance. 

Organ donation is an issue that unites faith communities, and together with the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims, we have hosted an interfaith learning session, led by Imams and Rabbis, focused on Muslim and Jewish perspectives on organ donation.

Congregation Darchei Noam participates in the Gift of 8 Movement. Visit our page on beadonor.ca for a special message from Rabbi Tina Grimberg, and to register today as an organ donor.