MICHAEL SIEFF
No matter how sophisticated our technology, how advanced our science or how brilliant our philosophers, human beings remain vulnerable, sensitive and complex.
Watching families struggle with the pain of admitting ageing parents into care facilities – or moving them from residential sections into specialised dementia units – is just one of the many ways we are witness to the suffering and fragile nature of the human condition.
Now in my sixth year as CEO of the Chevrah Kadisha Group, I found time over December, when things were quieter, to reflect on the obvious changes that have taken place here since I arrived.
We are a tighter, more efficient machine with a well-defined understanding of our obligations and a clearer vision of our objectives. We have established an efficient Exco team with distinct areas of responsibility and a method of working consultatively when those areas overlap.
We have consolidated services and even physical infrastructures to conserve community resources and offer greater capacity. We no longer approach social services and counselling reactively, but proactively too, and have launched a donor-based solution for the maintenance and repair of our buildings, many of which are old.
Importantly, we have done that without taking anything away from the essential funds required for welfare and the care of aged, sick and helpless people.
A lot of good work has been achieved by the Chev’s dedicated teams and a lot of positive changes made.
But, in essence, and where it really counts, the Chev hasn’t changed at all.
Founded on the principles of integrity, humility, compassion and kindness 126 years ago, we are still the one address to which our community can turn when there is nowhere else to go. We are still the heart of Jewish welfare. Those values still define us and provide our reason for being (or raison d’être if we’re sticking to French!)
We are here to serve our community, as we always were. And we know we can rely on your support, as we always have.
May our partnership continue to thrive!
