June 2010

SynGrow Aids Jobless Congregants

By Lorraine Thomas Sherman

Providing assistance to those needing support during the economic downturn, SynGrow (Synagogues Networking Groups of Lower Westchester), currently involves six Westchester temples: Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle, Larchmont Temple, Westchester Jewish Center, Mamaroneck, Westchester Reform Temple - Scarsdale, Young Israel of New Rochelle, and Young Israel of Scarsdale.

An offshoot of UJA Federation of New York’s Connect to Care, SynGrow, explained Anita Greenwald, Program Coordinator, was created to respond to crises in the Jewish community. Bringing synagogues together and working closely with Connect to Care, SynGrow “gives people tools to be able to get jobs...everything is free.” Tools include a psychiatric social worker, legal, financial, spiritual and individual career counseling, and an advisor re establishing a business.

Connect to Care reaches out to all synagogues; each sends a delegate to events. These SynGrow representatives invite congregants who may be unemployed to attend. Programming is developed with SynGrow as partner and adviser.

When the economic crisis hit, Amy Sommer, Larchmont Temple, a human resource person who “wanted to give back to the community,” recruited others. Jack Blumenfrucht is the SynGrow representative. Sommer surveyed congregants “to find who needed help, who could provide help, what kind of help--creating programming to meet those needs. People were interested in learning how to network; job skills, starting an entrepreneurial business.”

Monthly evening events are held on: networking, using LinkIn (social networking tool), and marketing skills effectively. Observing efforts at other synagogues, they began working with Connect to Care. “We realized lots of us were doing similar things and there would be terrific benefit to align ourselves.” Sommer added, “People have been very generous with their time. It is a wonderful thing to be involved.”

At Westchester Reform Temple, Gil Fishman explained “SynGrow was the culmination of many, many months of networking with people who did not have jobs.

WRT perceived the economic downturn’s affect on synagogues in the area, and wanted to revitalize our congregation with a career networking group.”

Monthly meetings feature guest speakers for 30 minutes and networking 30-40 minutes to help those without jobs and those who want to make a change.

“It is important for people to share that they need help. Resources are available. We tell people ‘Connect to Care can help you’. My thought was to get together with all these temples, pool our minds and get the biggest bang for the buck. We have Connect to Care meetings every three months, using their resources. Synagogue group leaders communicate often--events are rotated--a different temple does the event each month. Most importantly, we are giving people hope, confidence, faith, tools to work with...so they wake up in the morning and can make it through the day. Sometimes I meet with them and listen. I try to make them feel good about themselves.”

Special SynGrow Networking event July 21 -7:00-9:15 pm, Westchester Reform Temple.

 

© Shoreline Publishing 2010
629 Fifth Avenue, Suite 213, Pelham, NY 10803
Phone: 914-738-7869 Fax 914-738-7876
http://www.shorelinepub.com
prod@shorelinepub.com