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Sharon Daniels is the head of the chesed and volunteering department at the United Synagogue. She is based in Borehamwood, tutors at the Open University, and has previously worked with the organisation RSY-Netzer, the Reform Jewish youth movement.
In recent years, the US has introduced a slew of successful Chesed (meaning “loving kindness”) projects, including a purpose-built “Chesed Hub” to provide weekly food parcels and Singing for Memory, a music programme oriented towards people with dementia and their families. In the run-up to Pesach, the organisation is running the Chief Rabbi’s Chesed Appeal between March 15 and 17.
What led you to the chesed and volunteering department at the US?
I have always volunteered and worked in the community, through my teenage years and onwards. I love the work and the impact it has on people, and what I get out of it. This was an opportunity to shape care and welfare across the communities of the United Synagogue.
Have there been any projects led by the chesed and volunteering department that you’ve been particularly proud of?
I think each of them is very special in their own way. Each reaches different people. In the last year, for example, we’ve set up three Singing for Memory groups in three different boroughs, with volunteers from a range of shuls. That’s helped a different group of people we haven’t really reached before. It’s a real privilege to lead this project and work with so many amazing people. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers and donors.
I should also mention social responsibility. We have a project called Dorot, which focuses on environmentalism. We have a toy drive and stationery drive every year, which distributes to both Jewish and non-Jewish causes. We run a monthly drop-in centre for asylum-seekers. Part of chesed is the outward-facing work we do. We can have an impact beyond the US and the Jewish community.
What were the origins of the Chesed Hub?
The food bank was set up at the beginning of Covid under my predecessor as a short-term response for the initial six-to-twelve-week lockdown period. It quickly became clear it was not necessarily a Covid-need, but a long-term need that had been exacerbated by Covid. As people returned, using the office space was no longer viable, so we moved to a site in Bushey. It’s provided a lovely, healthier, safer environment for our volunteers and staff to work in, and for us to be able to increase what we’re doing in terms of the number and range of projects we’re running.
What is your response to last year’s Chesed Appeal raising over £500,000?
It was really amazing, and thanks to our fantastic fundraising team for achieving that target. We’re looking to achieve a similar amount this year. Obviously, it becomes increasingly difficult with the cost-of-living crisis and the way the world is, but we really appreciate every donation. We are now asking everyone to give as much as they can to their champions who are going around asking for donations. Anything people can give is useful.
How has chesed changed at the US in the last few years?
The foodbank is one of the biggest projects that we’ve taken on. It’s been a great opportunity to provide very practical support for people. We’ve also made sure we are building on those relationships we have with the foodbank recipients to ensure they get wider support. We know that providing people with food week on week is not resolving the underlying difficulties that have gotten them into that situation.
We’ve also increased the number of shuls that are offering bereavement support groups. People’s needs are increasing, more people are receiving care within the community rather than in social care provisions like nursing homes; people are getting older in the communities and young people’s needs are being recognised as well.
We work very hard to ensure that we understand these needs and can offer support or connect them with other organisations. We’re very privileged in the Jewish community to work with social care organisations.
Looking to the future, what goals are there for chesed and volunteering?
I think to continue to work in partnership with our communities and to develop projects that meet their needs. The rabbis, rebbetzins and care coordinators understand what these needs are. So, for example, Singing for Memory came from conversations with communities that knew they had members with dementia and wanted to offer something to them. We also try and work in different areas geographically, bringing communities together to think of what we can achieve and working with that wider system of social care providers.
We try and cover the ground that we can, but we recognise that we aren’t social care providers. People feel connected to their community and trust the local care. We build on that and make sure they can then access the support we offer or that might be available elsewhere.
The Chief Rabbi’s Chesed Appeal runs from March 15 to 17. For more information, click here or go to: charityextra.com/uschesed/united
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