Six weeks into lockdown it is a sobering reality that life as we knew it will not be returning for a long time, if ever.
The good news is that the CJSA team is not taking this news lying down and we have been working at full tilt throughout this period to ensure that all our members remain part of our community in every way possible.
Members receive regular phone calls from their social workers and this interaction has been much appreciated. Every one of our members who have internet access receives daily news items, exercise rituals, virtual tours of art galleries and cities and a host of excellent talks, videos and shows. Telephonic counselling has been ongoing to our vulnerable members and we know that this lifeline of being able to speak to a social worker at any time, is greatly appreciated.
We are trying to upskill our members and enhancing their lives as our most vulnerable members of the community remain indoors. Especially with the cold weather just around the corner, it is important that those who are infirm or have pre-existing medical conditions stay safe and indoors and we are planning a variety of programmes to assist is alleviating boredom and isolation. We have already started zoom exercise classes and will shortly begin our weekly Pop In sessions via zoom. We are assisting members to become proficient in using the internet and zoom and although it is time consuming, many of our members are managing fantastically.
We managed to deliver over 200 special Seder Meals to our CJSA members and also have been reaching out to the community by partnering with Berkies and Merle Rubin to provide weekly Shabbat meals to our members. These meals have been so appreciated and, thanks to our great team of volunteers, we have reached members from Tableview to Muizenberg and every suburb in between. Berkies have truly gone the extra mile and it has been a pleasure to deal with them. Thanks to our ever-willing Malcolm and Emmanuel who are assisting members with shopping, and Emmanuel is also driving the Glendale carers to and from work on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, our calendar of events, the centrefold of the Chronicle, will be paused during this lockdown period as none of the events are possible. We hope to reintroduce this as soon as possible.
Our Social and Personal Column is much shortened at this time but we share in the joy of those who have had any celebratory occasions and feel the pain of our members who have endured losses.
Sincerely
Diana Sochen, Executive Director CJSA
Social and Personal
Birth: Edie Busch 6th great-grandchild
Special Birthday: Lilian Sheldon 90
Welcome to new members: Abe Casper, Denise Frank, Hillel Goodman, Mel and Val Goot, Pat Josephson and Shelley Trope Friedman
Condolences: Maureen Sacher on the passing of her husband Jackie
Rita Wagenheim on the passing of her grandson Jaron
Family of our member Doreen Kantor
Take a trip down memory lane — pictures of events that took place before lockdown
Southern Suburbs members receiving roses on Valentine’s Day 
Members enjoying Goudini Spa 
Milnerton Members enjoy an outing to Little Stream 
Marge Lee, Anna Glass, Freda Farkis, Cecily Kaplan, June Benjamin and Pearl Selikowitz enjoying a morning at Chart Farm
Cape Jewish Seniors Association
Director: Diana Sochen, 021 434 9691, director@cjsa.org.za
Admin: Amanda, 021 434 9691, admin@cjsa.org.za
CJSA on Facebook
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