The CJP Metrowest Grant Committee met early this summer to review a record number of applications for this year’s Metrowest Community Grants. With a total of $50,000, the Fund seeks to enhance programs and initiatives in the region that support collaborative partnerships, foster community, and promote welcoming environments for affiliated and unaffiliated families and individuals ranging from children to seniors.

“Our committee is very invested in the grantmaking process and works hard to select innovative projects that will have a great impact on the Metrowest community,” said Metrowest Grants Committee co-chair Jamie Gossels. “We were extremely impressed with the ideas presented in the proposals we received this year and we can’t wait to see the awarded projects implemented.”

The programs serve the following communities: Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, and Wayland.

The Grantees and Programs

  • Boston Jewish Film Festival – Visiting Artist at Metrowest Screening
    The Boston Jewish Film Festival will bring a visiting filmmaker to the Metrowest BJFF screening at AMC Theatres in Framingham this fall for the 28th annual Festival on November 9-21.
  • Boston Jewish Music Festival – Music in Metrowest
    In partnership with: Natick Center for the Arts, Jewish Arts Collaborative
    This project will culminate in a major music festival event at a central Metrowest location. 
  • Chabad Center, Milford – Teen & Senior Mega Challah Bake
    In partnership with Temple Beth Torah, Temple Eitz Chaim, Cornerstone Assisted Living (Milford), Golden Pond Assisted Living (Hopkinton), Whitcomb House Assisted Living (Milford), Medway Country Manor (Medway)
    This project will bring teens and seniors from across the Metrowest region to make and bake challah together.
  • Close to Evil Film and Panel Discussion
    A grant to fund the screening of the film, Close to Evil, along with a panel discussion with subjects of the film and the filmmaker.  The documentary tells the story of a survivor from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, who explores reconciliation and forgiveness as he meets a former jailer and embarks on a quest to investigate her claims.
  • Gateways: Access to Jewish Education – Social Skills Metrowest
    Gateways will bring their Social Thinking through a Jewish lens curriculum to preschools and congregational schools of the Metrowest region via professional development workshops for educational staff. This program will address social-emotional challenges evidenced by difficult student behavior, lack of classroom readiness, and deficits in social skills.
  • JCAM Charitable Foundation – Cemeteries are for the Living Educational Tours
    This program provides tours for pre-bar/bat mitzvah children, their parents, and adult education groups to deepen their understanding of Jewish traditions, headstone iconography, and the historical significance of Jewish cemeteries to the community.
  • JCC of Greater Boston – Next Step Engagement Shabbat!
    In partnership with Jewish Family Service of Metrowest
    A one-night Family Camp Shabbaton that will target affiliated, interfaith, and unaffiliated families with children ages 6-10 years old, who are looking to connect to the Jewish community.
  • Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly – Rabbi Brunch Series
    The Jewish Brunch Series at Shillman House, JCHE’s Framingham housing community, will feature three area rabbis who will facilitate 10 lively learning sessions for residents and other seniors from the Greater Metrowest region next year.
  • Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly – Shillman House Generations Together
    In partnership with Metrowest Jewish Day School
    This intergenerational program will bring together residents at JCHE’s Shillman House, students from the Metrowest Jewish Day School and youth groups from Temple Israel and Temple Beth Shalom in Natick. The program provides mentoring and tutoring opportunities for approximately 300 older adults, and engages approximately 600 children, teens, and young adults.
  • Jewish Family Service of Metrowest – Kesher 13
    In partnership with Temple Israel of Natick, Temple Beth Torah of Holliston, Temple Beth Am of Framingham, Temple Sha-arei Shalom of Ashland
    This intergenerational community service program for synagogue youth who have not yet celebrated their bar or bat mitzvah will connect Jewish families to Jewish elders living in assisted living facilities in the Metrowest region.
  • Ma’yan Tikvah – Weaving Connections: Jewish Celebrations and Learning in a Multifaith Setting
    In partnership with Open Spirit – A Place of Hope, Health, and Harmony
    This project will provide Jewish educational and holiday programming in a multifaith setting, making events accessible to unaffiliated Jews and to non-Jews interested in learning about and experiencing Judaism.  
  • Metrowest Jewish Day School – Connect the Tots: A Playgroup and Activities for Jewish Families with Young Children
    In partnership with Temple Beth Sholom
    This three-part program for families with young children includes a bi-weekly playgroup, an informational fair to showcase local available programs and agency resources, and programs centered around Jewish holidays.
  • Sudbury Valley Special Education Initiative – Teaching Hebrew Using Mnemonics with a Multi-Sensory Approach
    In partnership with: Temple Shir Tikva, Congregation Beth El, Congregation Or Atid, Congregation B’Nai Torah, Kerem Sholom, Temple Beth Elohim
    This program will bring a new, mnemonics/multi-sensory Hebrew reading program to each of the six participating congregations. The program will enhance the ability of the schools to teach Hebrew reading, for children with and without special needs.
  • Temple Beth Torah, Holliston – Tikkun Olam-Social Action
    This grant will support two initiatives – 1. To provide and serve a hot meal once per month to needy residents in Milford. 2. To support Metrowest Family Promise in helping to feed and shelter homeless families.
  • Temple Beth Torah and Temple Etz Chaim – Shabbat and Purim Community Celebration
    This collaborative, intergenerational program for Shabbat and Purim includes a Kabbalat Shabbat service with a joint choir and band, Shabbat dinner, and Purim celebration including a Havdalah service, Purim Shpiel, costume competition, and hamentashen bake-off.

This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishBoston assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here. MORE