Chesed - Chesed Institutions

Chesed Institutions

Across all streams of Judaism, many communal institutions dedicated to chesed are common. Sometimes these institutions are created by synagogues, local Jewish councils, or individual rabbinic or lay leaders. Oftentimes, an individual starts the initiative without prior community or leadership support. Many chesed organizations are very large, while many others may be a small as a one man shop. Common institutions include:

• Bikur cholim organizations – organizations dedicated to visiting and caring for the sick and their relatives
• Gemach – an institution dedicated to gemilut chasadim (providing kindness), often with free loan funds or by lending or giving away particular types of items (toys, clothes, medical equipment, etc.). Such organizations are often named with an acronym of Gemilas chasadim such as Gemach or GM"CH. A community may have dozens of unique (and sometimes overlapping) Gemach organizations
• Kiruv organizations – organizations designed to increase Jewish awareness among unaffiliated Jews, which is considered a form of kindness
• Hatzolah – organizations by this name typically provider free services for emergency medical dispatch and ambulance transport (EMTs and Paramedics)
• Chevra kadisha – organizations that perform religious care for the deceased, and often provide logistical help to their families relating to autopsies, transport of the body, emergency family travel, burial, running a Shiva home, and caring for mourners
• Chaverim (literally "friends") – organizations going by this name typically provide free roadside assistance and emergency help with mechanical or structural problems in private homes
• Shomrim (guardians) groups – community watch groups