Support for The Jewish Chaplaincy Program has also been given by
The Maurice Amado Foundation.
Being in a hospital is often an isolating and difficult experience. Jewish Family Service brings the Jewish community to patients in hospitals of the Texas Medical Center and surrounding areas.
Services for Patients and Families
Whether from Houston or out of town, the JFS chaplain will visit patients to offer support to them or their families. Using pastoral counseling, the chaplain is available for guidance, prayer or simply as a resource. If the patient has a local congregational rabbi, the chaplain can contact the congregation and request a visit.
Trained Volunteers Also Visit
Every Friday one of the chaplaincy volunteers, Dan Trachtenberg, takes the day off from his busy law practice to deliver Shabbat bags to each patient. Inside the bag are a variety of items including challah rolls donated by Three Brothers Bakery; Kedem grape juice provided at a discount by Belden's Grocery Store; and other items to make Shabbat a little more meaningful while staying in the hospital. Often, combined with the special visits, Dan spends six hours in this meaningful work each day.
Holiday and Shabbat Celebrations
JFS offers patients many opportunities to stay connected with Judaism through various programs that include:
- Distributing candles for Shabbat and special foods for Jewish holidays
- Conducting a Hanukkah service at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Community Information/Referral
While in the hospital, individuals are given a Jewish Community Resource Directory and a copy of the weekly Jewish Herald Voice. Also, the JFS Chaplain can offer referrals for any spiritual or emotional need.
Shabbat Boxes
Shabbat Box Program. Decorating boxes and filling them with Shabbat prayers, JFS brochures, donated grape juice and mints. Completed boxes are returned to JFS; challah rolls donated by Three Brothers Bakery are added and adult Chaplaincy volunteers deliver them to the hospitals every Friday for Jewish patients.
 Click here to download our brochure.
For More Information:
For an appointment call:
(713) 667-9336
For additional information, please contact Hope Lipnick, MA, LPC, Director of Houston Jewish Chaplaincy Program via email at hlipnick@mail.mdanderson.org.
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