Be a Shamash: Light the Way
This December, you can do something that makes a long-term difference in our community. You can be a shamash and light the way for others. When you give and encourage others to give through social media and email, you help us raise critically needed funds to ensure Beit Olamin, our Madison Jewish cemetery, can meet the needs of the Madison Jewish community into the future.
At the Jewish Burial Association of Madison, we believe community is important. Community is about coming together in times of celebration and in times of mourning. Our Jewish cemetery, a place to connect to the souls of those we knew and loved by revisiting past relationships, is an important part of our Madison Jewish community. When you invest in Beit Olamin, you invest in our community.
Our campaign launches on #GivingTuesday, an international social media driven event that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (December 3rd this year) to raise money to support our local communities. Follow along with us here and on Facebook throughout the month of December. With each $1000 we raise, we will light a candle. Our goal is to raise $8000 to light all the candles.
12/3 update: We've raised $2625 toward our goal of $8000. That means we've lit our first two candles. And we have an exciting announcement! A generous donor has offered to match up to $2500 for donations that come in today. Give now and double your impact!
12/5: We have another update! We have now reached $3000 which means we can light our third candle. Don't forget we still have matching funds. A generous donor will match the next $2300 that comes in toward this campaign. Give now and double your impact.
12/12: With help of some matching funds, we have now reached $4000. That means we have four candles lit and that we are halfway to our goal to raise $8000. We still have $1800 in matching funds available. Let's raise the funds to unlock the match and light the other four candles.
12/22: Happy Hanukkah! We are lighting our sixth candle tonight in honor of Hanukkah. We're making progress. Thank you for your help so far! Be a shamash by helping us light our remaining candles: https://www.jbamadison.org/payment.php
CREATING A FOREVER COMMUNITY: JIM'S STORY
Seeing his wife’s stone sitting alone used to make Jim feel sad. Now he takes some comfort in seeing her among friends and family at Beit Olamim, in a community she loved and looks over today.
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WHY WE'VE CHOSEN BEIT OLAMIM: SHERIE AND PAUL'S STORY
When Sherie’s father began thinking about his final resting place, there were no remaining plots in the Jewish cemetery in Forest Hill. Beit Olamim provided the solution.
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A DIGNIFIED RESTING PLACE FOR ALL: EVE'S STORY
When Eve’s sister died suddenly, her family’s grief was compounded by not being able to find a cemetery to accept her ashes. Today Beit Olamim strives to ensure all Jewish families can bury their loved ones with dignity.
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WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE: BRIAN'S STORY
Brian has seen the importance of tradition as he volunteers with his congregation’s Chevra Kadisha, a group that helps prepare Jewish bodies for burial. Part of that tradition is being buried in places like Beit Olamim.
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A PLACE OF GRIEF AND COMFORT: RABBI LAURIE'S STORY
Performing the rituals around death and burial can be painful, but these rituals help us confront loss and find support in grief. Beit Olamim is a place that offers comfort at the most challenging times of life.
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