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Six degrees of separation
If you are familiar with the concept of six degrees of separation, you will know it embraces the theory that everyone is six or fewer steps away, by means of introduction, from any other person in the world.
MICHAEL SIEFF
The chain of “a friend of a friend” can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps.
It’s a fascinating theory that has provided endless entertainment and been tested in research and multiple games and experiments. It got me thinking about the Chev’s links to people and families which are a whole lot closer than six degrees.
Of course, you’re probably thinking, we’re a small, Jewish community in which everyone knows everyone and what they had for breakfast. What I mean is that the real, tangible connectedness between people in our community provides us with an amazing opportunity to offer services where they are most needed – and to access resources wherever we face challenges.
In our interaction with someone, we might discover a child with a disability who would benefit from our day programme, a relative with addiction challenges who could be assisted through our outpatients programme, a daughter going through a divorce in need of therapeutic support or legal advice, or a potential donor, happy to offer support.
One member of a family can provide a window into what the rest of the family might need and how we can help. We have, for example, a resident at Sandringham Gardens who has two sons in Selwyn Segal and those young men work in our World of Work protected employment programme.
We care for each person as an individual, but seeing the family unit as a whole is an added, and valuable, perspective.
Our broad network of well-connected people – board members, donors, volunteers, staff and community – provide us with invaluable introductions to professionals and businesspeople at every level.
As the world continues to shrink and modern networks of communication link us to one another in both meaningful, and frivolous ways, the ever-increasing connectedness between human beings provides a beacon of hope.
Jewish geography is popular all over the world but I would suggest that at the Chev, we are truly “linked-in” experts at the game. And that, ultimately, is to everyone’s advantage.
May our partnership continue to thrive.