For almost a quarter-century, about 20 Jews in Tidewater have engaged in a beloved Christmas tradition: serving Christmas dinner at a homeless shelter in Norfolk.
For at least 20 years, they ensured that residents of the Dwelling Place, an emergency shelter that has since closed, enjoyed a hearty Christmas meal. The recent Christmas was the fourth at which the group served dinner at Haven House, a facility operated by ForKids.
The volunteers were: David Banyai and Jody Mazur; Wendy Brodsky; Barry and Lois Einhorn; Jane Popkin; Betsy and Madelyn Resnick; Dana and Adam Rosen; Nancy Tucker and Brandon Metheny; and Mary Ann, Phil, Jacob and Benjamin Walzer. Nancy Bangel and Beth Gross, as usual, contributed the desserts.
The group served a bountiful meal to 13 adults and children at Haven House. The menu included turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing and sweet potatoes, and plenty of after-dinner goodies.
“Project Ahavah began many years ago as a project of the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater,” Barry and Lois Einhorn say. “At that time, we served Christmas dinners at churches as well as shelters.
“Since then, Temple Israel’s social action committee adopted first The Dwelling Place and now ForKids. Serving families who have become homeless has made us aware of how fortunate we are. Our most fervent wish is that in the near future, there will be no need for our services.”