Adding the Jewish Component to Hospice Care
Testimonials & Hospice Experiences
Hospice Experiences
Rabbi Harold Loss
At Temple Israel, we see every aspect of our congregants' lives as our priority. We try to be a resource for each and every Temple member for all things Jewish, and even matters that go beyond the Jewish sphere. We are just as concerned about the 10th grader who we no longer see at Hebrew High School as we are about the mom or dad who lost their job and has fallen on hard times. Our main concern, though, and the one from which all others stem, is for the health and well being of our congregants. Without that, without their physical and spiritual strength supporting them and nourishing them, everything else becomes secondary. Thus, pastoral care has always been, and will always be, a main focus for the rabbis, cantors, and staff of Temple Israel.
Recently, our community has been using hospice for end of life care in greater numbers than ever. We have found that hospice has been a tremendous support to our families when it comes to the most basic physical needs, and the emotional bolstering so desperately needed by families. As Rabbis we are there to give religious guidance and be an open ear and a helping hand, and mostly, an assurance that they are not alone as someone they love goes through the dying process. Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network is a tremendous asset to us and to our families. They are always there to provide us with the connections necessary to sign someone onto a hospice program, and to assure that everything goes smoothly when someone transitions onto hospice. They know the people who work in the local medical hospices, are familiar with the intricacies of the hospice world, and know the medical terminology. Their advice and guidance to the community rabbis on how best to use hospice has been indispensable to us.
Here at Temple Israel, we are lucky to have our colleague, Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny, working with JHCN. She is our 'in house' hospice resource, and we go to her often when we have a family that is ready for the transition. By having her on our team, as well as the team at JHCN, we are caring for our Temple family better than ever before.
We care about Jewish patients and their families.
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