Community Partners: Temple Chai

This is the first in a series of stories about SJN’s Community Partners. These are the individuals and organizations enabling our work.

The Start of a Meaningful Relationship

SJN has hosted its regular meetings and some special events at Temple Chai in North Phoenix since early 2007. Our connection to the temple originated through the efforts of SJN Alum Marcia Finberg, a Temple Chai congregant, who now co-leads the Tempe Career Network.

After meeting at Mountain Valley Church in North Scottsdale for a year, the church could no longer accommodate SJN’s schedule and we began looking for a new home. Because Temple Chai had previously sponsored an employment support program, Marcia thought that they might want to know about SJN’s need for regular meeting space.

Marcia and I met with Sharona Silverman, Director of the Deutsch Family Shalom Center at Temple Chai, on Dec. 26, 2006. We had a warm, friendly conversation, and Sharona was enthusiastic about welcoming SJN to Temple Chai. She viewed the connection as a way to continue the work the temple had offered through its earlier program, Job Transitions and Education for the Changing Workplace. I believed that SJN had found a sponsor who appreciated our mission and was eager to support it. I knew that the collaboration would provide SJN with a haven where our program could thrive.

A Valued Community Partnership

Since that day in December 2006, I have been overwhelmed and touched by how open and easy the Temple Chai community has made it to bring SJN to their campus. Their goodwill and empathy for our cause have enabled our program to prosper. SJN’s earliest meetings, held in the temple’s library, had an average attendance of 30. After two years, we have seen up to 200+ per event, and Temple Chai has adapted, making an adjoining room available.

In addition to SJN’s bi-monthly meetings, we have held workshops like an all-day “Exploring Your Passion and Putting it to Work” where SJN participants could be seen working in pairs in the courtyard. We’ve offered evening events and curriculum workshops, and even a photo shoot. When necessary, we have been able to linger after regular meetings, and the staff has helped with issues around the A/V equipment we own and use there. Other behind-the-scenes gatherings, like SJN planning sessions and volunteer group meetings, have been held at the temple as well.

We are fortunate to work with Temple Chai’s supportive staff including Sheana Abrams, facilities coordinator, who reserves space for our events; Jose Sanchez, maintenance worker, who sets up the double room to meet our requirements; and Marci Beliak, assistant to Sharona Silverman, a valuable resource and contact to others at the temple. Joe Miller joined the temple staff as Executive Director about a year ago and has been a pleasure to know. He has gone out of his way to ensure that SJN has access to double space to accommodate our growing numbers.

The Cost of Operating

The temple has donated meeting space to SJN for three years. In 2009, thanks to member and meeting sponsor donations, we were able to reimburse the temple for some operational expenses.

SJN is grateful to Temple Chai and our friends in the Jewish community for their passionate support of our members and neighbors in career transition. God bless your work as well!

(See the link to all SJN’s Community Partners on our website.)

Christine Vicari-SJN
Founder-Executive Director