Community Generosity Shines

$6K Goal Reached, Celebrating Jewish Holidays and Medicare Updates

Baruch Hashem! Thanks to all our generous donors, we hit our $6K goal! A big THANK YOU to everyone who generously donated to our JFS Virtual Food Pantry Rosh Hashanah Appeal. The warmth and caring of this community always shine through. Our clients and I deeply appreciate your generosity.

The month of October is full of the Jewish holidays. Four out of the six Biblical holidays are celebrated this month. We start with Rosh Hashanah, acknowledging Hashem as our Monarch, then onto Yom Kippur, when we are likened to celestial beings praising Hashem. Then immediately, into Sukkot, when we leave our warm homes and enter our sukkah, showing that what we proclaimed on the High Holidays, namely that Hashem is our King and provides us with everything, was not just lip service, but rather a true feeling which we are acting upon. Finally, we enter Simchat Torah and celebrate another completed cycle through the entire Torah and immediately begin the Torah anew as we chant, “In the beginning” with excitement for another year. Then, it’s back to our regular routine. The main difference is that we are re-starting our year with renewed energy!

The same cycle and renewed vigor are also true for Jewish Family Services. Now that the appeal for the Virtual Pantry has successfully ended and is fully “stocked” for the next 4–5 months, we move on to the next important project, namely informing people of the upcoming changes in Medicare. One piece of exciting news is that the government has closed the “donut hole.” There is now a cap on what the patient must pay for prescriptions!

In order to keep you in the loop as to other Medicare changes that will take place in 2025 and how it may affect you, we are partnering with Oak St. Health, a partial sponsor of the Michiana Jewish Film Festival, who will present a class entitled “Medicare 101.” Oak St. Health is a healthcare facility in South Bend that prides itself in getting to know their patients and helping them get the most of their Medicare. Their website states:

“At Oak Street Health, our doctors and physicians take the time to get to know you and your needs. We can help you get the most out of your Medicare coverage, set up mail-order prescriptions, and coordinate healthcare services such as specialist appointments and social services. Our care teams develop personalized preventive care plans to help you achieve your physical and mental health goals.”

The class is planned for November 7, 2024, at 12 PM. G-d willing, Brand “Ess” Pizza will be served. Please register online at TheJewishFed.org/Medicare, so that we may plan accordingly. Looking forward to seeing and learning with you.

Rabbi Fred Nebel
Director of Jewish Family Services, Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley
(574) 233-1164 x1806
RabbiNebel@TheJewishFed.org