Grand-Friends/Grand-Families Program
One of the new programs that I'm starting this year -- and the one that makes me the absolute proudest is the brand-new Grand Friends/Grand Families Program.
Grandparent. סָבָּא. Saba (m). סָבתָא. Safta (f).
Many of the families in the Greater DC are transient, which means our children's grandparents live elsewhere. Moreover, many of the grandparents who live in DC also have grandchildren who live elsewhere. For both my husband and myself, all our family is either living in another state or sadly passed away. Our geographically closest family member is my husband's cousin living near Frederick, Maryland and my cousin living in Baltimore, Maryland. While, it is nice to see them, our visits average to only a couple times a year.
“Grandchildren give us a second chance to do things better because they bring out the best in us.” – Unknown
It'd be wonderful to have a close-by family member for our children's sake. So, we are adopting a grand-friend and a Machar grand-friend is adopting us. Not only is our grand-friend a wonderful Machar member, who we can see more often and can see our children more often, she shares our family values of Jewish Humanism and therefore fundamentally believes in protecting the human dignity of every human being. (Needless to say, this means that I can know she stands against any sexism, homophobia, or emotional/physical harm against another human being.) She's like the icing on the cake without the calories.
"Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children." – Alex Haley
This year is the first year we are implementing the Grand-Friends Program, but we have already had almost a dozen grand-friends sign up, and about the same number of families sign up to be matched to a Grand-Friend. Grand-families will invite a Grand-Friend to at least one family Shabbat in the year, the class Shabbat, the class Spring playdate, and the family High Holiday services. By building this bridge slowly, I hope that we will experience an even more connected community at Machar.
To sign up for the grand-friends program, to adopt a grand-friend, or to learn more about this wonderful program, please contact us at: http://www.machar.org/contact-us/.
One of the new programs that I'm starting this year -- and the one that makes me the absolute proudest is the brand-new Grand Friends/Grand Families Program.
Grandparent. סָבָּא. Saba (m). סָבתָא. Safta (f).
Many of the families in the Greater DC are transient, which means our children's grandparents live elsewhere. Moreover, many of the grandparents who live in DC also have grandchildren who live elsewhere. For both my husband and myself, all our family is either living in another state or sadly passed away. Our geographically closest family member is my husband's cousin living near Frederick, Maryland and my cousin living in Baltimore, Maryland. While, it is nice to see them, our visits average to only a couple times a year.
“Grandchildren give us a second chance to do things better because they bring out the best in us.” – Unknown
It'd be wonderful to have a close-by family member for our children's sake. So, we are adopting a grand-friend and a Machar grand-friend is adopting us. Not only is our grand-friend a wonderful Machar member, who we can see more often and can see our children more often, she shares our family values of Jewish Humanism and therefore fundamentally believes in protecting the human dignity of every human being. (Needless to say, this means that I can know she stands against any sexism, homophobia, or emotional/physical harm against another human being.) She's like the icing on the cake without the calories.
"Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children." – Alex Haley
This year is the first year we are implementing the Grand-Friends Program, but we have already had almost a dozen grand-friends sign up, and about the same number of families sign up to be matched to a Grand-Friend. Grand-families will invite a Grand-Friend to at least one family Shabbat in the year, the class Shabbat, the class Spring playdate, and the family High Holiday services. By building this bridge slowly, I hope that we will experience an even more connected community at Machar.
To sign up for the grand-friends program, to adopt a grand-friend, or to learn more about this wonderful program, please contact us at: http://www.machar.org/contact-us/.
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