In 1991, a group of people who are involved in grief, some through personal experience, some in professional capacities, were invited by Susan Rosenblatt and Joanne Cappe-Gunsberger to join forces to meet the needs of the bereaved in Sydney's Jewish Community. The organization they formed is called CHESSED Jewish Bereavement Counselling Services, Sydney.

In Hebrew, CHESSED (pronounced he'-sed) is the word used for Compassion and Loving-Kindness. Through CHESSED, those in the Community who have been through the grief of bereavement, and those who have experience in guiding people through it, can share their knowledge and expertise with those currently undergoing the pain and confusion associated with a sudden death or terminal illness.

CHESSED is a non-profit, charitable organization whose members come from all segments of the Jewish Community and tries to meet the needs of the various Jewish affiliations. There are similar organizations in Melbourne, Perth and South Africa.

CHESSED Volunteers are all responsible Jewish men and women who have experienced a personal loss. They have been carefully chosen and have undergone extensive training in counselling and bereavement. All information told to them is strictly confidential. Although our Jewish Community is a small one, you can rest assured that privacy, above all, will be respected. The volunteers take part in on-going education in issues related to death and dying and they receive supervision from professional Social Workers and Psychologists. They, like all the people involved in CHESSED, are volunteering their time and energies to offer guidance, reassurance and support to those needing assistance during difficult times.

The way it has been working in Sydney is as follows: a person wanting assistance for themselves, or for someone they are concerned about, can phone CHESSED and leave a brief message on the answering machine. A CHESSED Coordinator will attempt to phone back within 24 hours. The Coordinator finds out exactly what the client's needs are and matches them with a CHESSED Volunteer Counsellor. The Volunteer then contacts the client directly to arrange a meeting in the privacy of the client's home.

CHESSED is now in the process of expanding its services. As well as providing community education in Loss, Grief and other relevant issues, we are offering a specifically designed service to meet the needs of families whose relative has died whilst residing at Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Homes and are looking to incorporate a support group for bereaved spouses in the New Year.

There are no charges involved for CHESSED's service to members of the Jewish Community.