IVolunteer Hosts First Annual Purim Party

NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — iVolunteer hosted its first annual Purim Party on this year. The party was held at the 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Ave). The directors, Tzvi and Sheva Tauby welcomed 60 volunteers and friends to join together for an evening of merriment and fun in honor of the holiday of Purim.

More in the Extended Article!

Jackie Mason’s impersonator humored us with his jokes and some friends from Julliard school of music played live Jewish music for the crowd. We had great raffles including gift certificates to top hair salons in NYC and sterling silver mezuzah cases with authentic mezuzahs. The happy crowd broke out in joyous dancing and were given purim baskets to give out to their friends in honor of the holiday.

iVolunteer began in September of 2007. iVolunteer has a dynamic visiting team of over 35 volunteers who visit with Holocaust survivors in their homes throughout the Manhattan.
The program’s name, iVolunteer, illustrates the goal of this unique friendly visiting program, which brings caring neighborhood volunteers into the apartments of Holocaust Survivors. During their visits, volunteers may read to survivors, escort them to doctors’ appointments, and assist with shopping and light household tasks. These weekly visits help to enrich the lives of survivors and volunteers alike, and guarantee that the experience of the Holocaust will not be forgotten. iVolunteer creates a sense of community by providing both our survivors and volunteers with social events and special programs. These programs include monthly Friday night dinners for our volunteers and luncheons for our survivors.

iVolunteer volunteers come from all walks of life. Many of them are professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. Others are local high school and college students, who are excited by the chance to reach across the generations and establish a friendship with a senior who has a uniquely individual experience. All iVolunteer volunteers are screened and trained prior to beginning their home visits. In particular, the volunteers are trained to identify the Holocaust Survivor’s other social service needs, so that iVolunter can bring in an outreach caseworker to help the senior access additional benefits and services when necessary. Volunteers communicate regularly with the iVolunteer Directors, Tzvi and Elisheva Tauby, who work to ensure that every senior, and every volunteer, is satisfied with and gaining from the relationship. Mrs. Tauby also makes an initial assessment visit to each senior’s home in order to assess the senior’s needs and concerns. “When I visit with a survivor, I feel so privileged to be able to get to know such unbelievable people and hope to assist them in any way I can,” Mrs. Tauby explains. “When I speak with volunteers they often say that they got a lot more than they gave.”

If you know of a Holocaust Survivor who would like to be a part of this program, or if you would like to participate in an iVolunteer initiative, please contact Tzvi or Elisheva Tauby at (646) 461.7748, sheva@ivolunteerny.com. iVolunteer is a project of Chabad of the Upper East Side of Manhattan.