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188 North Prospect Street
Burlington, Vermont 05401
P: (802) 864-0218 | F: (802) 864-0219

G’maCh Caring Committee

avot hillel im ayn ani li

What We Do

G’maCh (short for gemilut chesedim or acts of loving-kindness) is Ohavi Zedek’s caring committee. The volunteers of G’maCh support members of the Ohavi Zedek Community who are isolated due to mobility issues or illness or who need help during challenging times, whatever the need may be.

The committee currently offers the following services, if you need a little help or know someone else who might benefit from one or all of the services or if you want to volunteer please be in touch with Rabbi Amy.

  • Home visits from other members of the community
  • Delivering holiday care baskets or meals to both elders and families with young babies in our community
  • Delivering frozen meals prepared at OZ or by families in our community to member families in need (whether due to an illness, the birth of a new baby, the loss of a close loved one or just to help out)

Preparing Meals for the G’maCh Freezer

One of the most important interpersonal commandments that we have is the mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim, visiting the sick. We are commanded to visit anyone who is ill in order to show them that they are loved, to revive their spirit, to show them that they are not alone, to keep them company, and to pray on their behalf.

If you can’t pay a visit, you can still show that you care by providing a meal. The same goes for someone who has had a death in the family, or has a new baby. Over the years, we’ve had many occasions where congregants were in need of meals for various reasons. Members of the G’mach Caring Committee and other congregants have met these needs as best they could. However, all too often, when the need arises, the time to cook is non-existent.

To help assure an adequate supply, the Interfaith and Social Action Committee has purchased a freezer to bank prepared meals at OZ. If you cook a little extra when you’re having guests or just make an extra meal at your convenience, bring it to OZ to help members in need! This will allow others to supplement the frozen foods with fresh salads and veggies.

The freezer is located at OZ inside the closet outside the new kitchen. All meals must be dairy or pareve (no meat, fish or poultry) to accommodate the varying dietary needs and customs within the OZ community.

Please pack up meals securely in freezer safe packaging and label them with your name, what kind of food it is and and the date it was prepared along with reheating instructions (if any). Bring it to OZ and leave it with a member of the OZ staff or place directly in the freezer. Thanks for your support!