Orthodox Jewish International volunteer organizations
This article is about the volunteer organizations. For the practice of partnered Talmudic study, see
Chavruta.
Chaverim (
Hebrew: חברים, literally, "companions"), also spelled Chaveirim, is an umbrella name for
OrthodoxJewish volunteer organizations with locations all over the world; they provide
roadside assistance and other non-medical emergency help at home or on the road. All services are free. The organizations are supported by local donations.[1][2]
History
Chaverim was started in
Monsey, New York by Rabbi Shaya Zev Erps in July 1999. The grassroots organization opened a
hotline to assist stranded motorists and elderly and handicapped individuals. Since its founding, the
Boro Park Chaverim has logged over 100,000 calls, with hundreds of calls received daily.[3][4]
Activities
Chaverim volunteers respond to calls at any hour[5] and perform the following duties, including, but not limited to:
Assist people locked out of their home or vehicle[5][6]
Chaverim of Boro Park provides free 10-minute safety inspections of vehicles prior to the August summer vacation period to draw drivers' attention to safety issues with their cars.[12] Free inspections of tire pressure, blinkers, fluids, spare tire, and other car needs are also offered before the summer vacation by the
Lakewood Chaverim.[13]
Holiday assistance
In 2010 Chaverim of
Queens initiated a "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign on
Purim which provided drivers to take home inebriated residents.[14]
Awards
In July 2008 the
Lakewood Chaveirim were the recipients of a state
resolution presented by
New Jersey SenatorRobert Singer.[15] In July 2011 the same group was given a special award for community service by the Lakewood Police Department. Police Chief Rob Lawson cited the group's help during a
blackout when members volunteered to direct traffic at intersections, as well as their assistance to people locked out of their cars or homes.[16]
Collaborative efforts
Chaverim volunteers often work together with those of the
Shomrim, Shmira and
Hatzalah organizations to assist residents during crippling weather events,[17][18] and
missing persons searches.[5][19][20]
In 2011, Brooklyn City Councilman
David Greenfield announced a partnership with Boro Park Chaverim to identify
potholes in Flatbush and
Midwood after severe winter weather in 2010.[21]
Many Chaverim volunteers are professional tradesmen who donate their professional skills to provide emergency assistance.[citation needed]
Yedidim, an independent offshoot of New York's Chaverim, operates in
Israel since 2006 with 18,000 volunteers. This volunteer group responds to calls to jumpstart cars, change flat tires, fix home plumbing and electrical problems, and any other non-medical request. The founder of the organization is Meir Wiener. The organization is headed by Israel Almasi and Lazzy Stern.[11][50]
^Tannenbaum, Rabbi Gershon (20 July 2011).
"Leiby Kletzky (2002–2011)". The Jewish Press. Archived from
the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
Orthodox Jewish International volunteer organizations
This article is about the volunteer organizations. For the practice of partnered Talmudic study, see
Chavruta.
Chaverim (
Hebrew: חברים, literally, "companions"), also spelled Chaveirim, is an umbrella name for
OrthodoxJewish volunteer organizations with locations all over the world; they provide
roadside assistance and other non-medical emergency help at home or on the road. All services are free. The organizations are supported by local donations.[1][2]
History
Chaverim was started in
Monsey, New York by Rabbi Shaya Zev Erps in July 1999. The grassroots organization opened a
hotline to assist stranded motorists and elderly and handicapped individuals. Since its founding, the
Boro Park Chaverim has logged over 100,000 calls, with hundreds of calls received daily.[3][4]
Activities
Chaverim volunteers respond to calls at any hour[5] and perform the following duties, including, but not limited to:
Assist people locked out of their home or vehicle[5][6]
Chaverim of Boro Park provides free 10-minute safety inspections of vehicles prior to the August summer vacation period to draw drivers' attention to safety issues with their cars.[12] Free inspections of tire pressure, blinkers, fluids, spare tire, and other car needs are also offered before the summer vacation by the
Lakewood Chaverim.[13]
Holiday assistance
In 2010 Chaverim of
Queens initiated a "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign on
Purim which provided drivers to take home inebriated residents.[14]
Awards
In July 2008 the
Lakewood Chaveirim were the recipients of a state
resolution presented by
New Jersey SenatorRobert Singer.[15] In July 2011 the same group was given a special award for community service by the Lakewood Police Department. Police Chief Rob Lawson cited the group's help during a
blackout when members volunteered to direct traffic at intersections, as well as their assistance to people locked out of their cars or homes.[16]
Collaborative efforts
Chaverim volunteers often work together with those of the
Shomrim, Shmira and
Hatzalah organizations to assist residents during crippling weather events,[17][18] and
missing persons searches.[5][19][20]
In 2011, Brooklyn City Councilman
David Greenfield announced a partnership with Boro Park Chaverim to identify
potholes in Flatbush and
Midwood after severe winter weather in 2010.[21]
Many Chaverim volunteers are professional tradesmen who donate their professional skills to provide emergency assistance.[citation needed]
Yedidim, an independent offshoot of New York's Chaverim, operates in
Israel since 2006 with 18,000 volunteers. This volunteer group responds to calls to jumpstart cars, change flat tires, fix home plumbing and electrical problems, and any other non-medical request. The founder of the organization is Meir Wiener. The organization is headed by Israel Almasi and Lazzy Stern.[11][50]
^Tannenbaum, Rabbi Gershon (20 July 2011).
"Leiby Kletzky (2002–2011)". The Jewish Press. Archived from
the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.