(Courtesy of TEAM Shabbos) In just one week, shuls and communities across the county will join together for the annual National Association of Chevra Kadisha TEAM Shabbos. Following last year’s tremendous success, the fourth annual Traditional End-of-Life Awareness Movement (TEAM) Shabbos returns this Shabbat, Parshat Vayechi, December 22.
A project of the National Association of Chevra Kadisha (NASCK), TEAM Shabbos addresses end-of-life concerns that affect the Jewish community. The mission of TEAM Shabbos — to generate awareness, education and direction regarding the value of life and critical end-of-life decisions — is resonating strongly in communities throughout the US and Canada. The momentum is growing as shuls and communities nationwide enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to bring the topic of end-of-life, a subject which is too often avoided, out into the open in an informative, inspiring and positive way.
There are several ways shuls can participate in TEAM Shabbos. Utilize the week leading up to Parshat Vayechi to open the conversation about relevant issues through the Shabbat drasha, shiurim, newsletters and divrei Torah.
But TEAM Shabbos is not just about a shul drasha. TEAM Shabbos is encouraging community members to get involved and take action! Communities can also use this opportunity to collaborate with NASCK in planning programs that delve into a vast array of end-of-life related topics. Individuals can be encouraged to purchase life-insurance, fill out a halachic living will, begin the process of writing a will in accordance with halacha, reach out to family members who may be considering choices other than a traditional burial for a loved-one, or open an end-of-life conversation with their parents.
From New York to Toronto to Tennessee, the TEAM Shabbos initiative is creating a dramatic shift in the perspective about end-of-life care and preparation. Subjects that were once taboo and questions that have gone unanswered can now be addressed in a constructive way. By taking advantage of the teachable moment that TEAM Shabbos offers and with the commitment of rabbis, shulsand active community members around the country, we can continue spreading our message about the importance of properly preparing ourselves and others for illness and end-of-life decisions.
Has your shul joined the TEAM? Encourage your rav and shul to sign up today, and join hundreds of shuls across the nation to generate awareness about the Torah perspective on the value of life, here and hereafter.
To sign up or learn more, call 718-847-6280, email [email protected] or visit teamshabbos.org/register.
