The Many Faiths at Wingate

By Joan Borowitz, a resident at Wingate at Needham

I am a practicing Quaker, also known as the Religious Society of Friends. Many are confused about what Quakerism is and, here at Wingate at Needham, I am always happy to let my experience help inform them. We are often confused with the Amish or Mennonites. While Quakerism has complexities like any other religion, the six “testimonies” create our cornerstones: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship. One Friend (as Quakers are called) comes to visit me weekly and has become known as a kind presence at our community.

Wingate at Needham is unusual because, unlike other independent and assisted livings communities I’ve previously lived in, it offers more faiths beyond Catholic mass (although that is included and very popular) and a wide variety of other faith services.

We have Protestant and Baptist services, a Gospel choir and even a friendly popular rabbi name Moshe. He is beloved by everyone for his jolly demeanor and gives candy bars to Jews and non-Jews, as well as teaches Jewish prayers to anyone who wants to pray with him. The beautiful gospel choir makes joy ring through the hallways. I haven’t personally attended mass or communion, but my friends of the Catholic faith are very appreciative of it. When residents can’t get out to church or temple, Wingate brings our faiths to us, making it all-inclusive.

About the Author:

Joan Borowitz is a resident at Wingate at Needham and a freelance writer. For two years, she had a column in the Hopkinton Crier entitled “Sentimental Journeys.” Joan was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and left home at age 17 to live and study in a tiny Quaker boarding school in Barnesville, Ohio. After graduation, she moved to Boston and attended Simmons College. She graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in communications. In addition to professional writing and hospital administration, she had a successful five-year stint as Boston’s only female Jewish standup comedian. She formed a comedy group in Boston called “Class Acts,” which performed in many local comedy clubs. Currently, she is a resident at Wingate at Needham, where you can find her writing and playing piano for the residents.