Page 96 - issue
P. 96
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MarFgired A NEW JEWISH
PenWsaekiss HOSPICE PROGRAM
T he first time I heard of the word AT GILCHRIST SERVICES
“hospice” was in 1980, just six
years after Connecticut Hospice, importance of this work. “If you are inpatient hospice experience for Jewish
the first hospice in the there for a person in his final hours of patients and their families, this area is
U.S., opened in Branford, his final days,” Rabbi Shmuel Silber, open to all regardless of their spiritual
Rav of Suburban Orthodox Toras beliefs, explains Mrs. Lasson. “The
Chaim emphasized, “you have an addition is magnificent, and we invite
Connecticut. It was there that incredible opportunity to give a person the community to see it.”
my mother, a”h, spent the last chizuk, strength, and unconditional Along with the new space, Gilchrist’s
days of her life when it became love to help him focus on the things he priority, Mrs. Lasson emphasizes, is to
too difficult for my father to care for did accomplish. Those moments of make sure that Jewish patients feel
her. happiness, tranquility, and belonging respected in their beliefs. She has
◆◆◆ that you can give someone as his soul already trained 250 staff and volun-
In August I sat in on a training pro- transitions from this world to the next, teers, along with Jewish Community
gram for volunteers at Gilchrist I would suggest, is chesed shel emes, Services, about Jewish values, customs,
Hospice Care, Maryland’s largest hos- the ultimate act of chesed, because you rituals, and beliefs – including being
pice organization. It gave me a fascinat- are allowing a person to close out the sensitive to the Shabbos practices of
ing glimpse into both the world of hos- journey of life and feel confident and Torah-observant patients.
pice care and Gilchrist’s new Jewish comfortable beginning the next.” “I want the frum community to know
outreach initiative. Mrs. Chaya Lasson, ◆◆◆ that halacha is critical to every decision
recently hired as Jewish Hospice Gilchrist has served 5,700 patients, we make,” says Mrs. Lasson. “The most
Program Manager, arranged the train- including Jewish patients, for more important thing in making halachic
ing, and approached Jewish Caring than two decades. Its new Jewish out- decision is details; if the details get lost
Network and Bikur Cholim of reach initiative was spearheaded by in the shuffle, the whole decision is
Baltimore to cosponsor it. well-known philanthropist Steven made differently. We respect that, and
“We thought we’d have 15 or 20 par- Fader, CEO, Atlantic Automotive, Gilchrist is reaching out to patients’
ticipants at the volunteer training whose late father received hospice care rabbis to become more involved in
event,” says Mrs. Lasson. “In fact, we at Gilchrist’s Towson facility prior to his health care issues of congregants who
had 65 and had to close our registra- death four years ago. are in hospice care so that the patient’s
tion!” She is grateful for the partnership The Jewish initiative consists of a rav, physician, and family are acting as
with Bikur Cholim and the JCN and major physical enhancement as well as one team.” Mrs. Lasson says she had
hopes this will be the beginning of new attitudes and policies. The recent the great zechus of speaking to the
many more such collaborations. 2,400-square-foot expansion of Vaad Harabonnim, who are aware of
“Volunteers are vital and essential for Gilchrist’s 34-bed Towson campus this program and the initiative to edu-
the peace of mind of patients’ family includes a new Jewish chapel, family cate the Jewish community.
members. We hope that this initial area, and courtyard. “For the first time, Dr. Julian (Yoel) Jakobovits, a mem-
training program will encourage the Jewish patients will feel more at home,” ber of Jewish Hospice Program’s
participants to join the Gilchrist volun- says Mrs. Lasson. “There are mezuzahs Advisory Board, says, “Gilchrist is an
teer team.” on the doors and our own tranquil organization of highly professional and
At the two training lectures, the chapel with a wall constructed of dedicated personnel with whom I have
would-be volunteers heard from doc- Jerusalem stone, falling water, and a worked to the great advantage of our
tors, nurses, social workers, and rab- continuously-burning ner tamid.” patients and their families. Their sensi-
banim, who inspired them with the Although designed to complement the tivity to strict Jewish values goes a long
92 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
MarFgired A NEW JEWISH
PenWsaekiss HOSPICE PROGRAM
T he first time I heard of the word AT GILCHRIST SERVICES
“hospice” was in 1980, just six
years after Connecticut Hospice, importance of this work. “If you are inpatient hospice experience for Jewish
the first hospice in the there for a person in his final hours of patients and their families, this area is
U.S., opened in Branford, his final days,” Rabbi Shmuel Silber, open to all regardless of their spiritual
Rav of Suburban Orthodox Toras beliefs, explains Mrs. Lasson. “The
Chaim emphasized, “you have an addition is magnificent, and we invite
Connecticut. It was there that incredible opportunity to give a person the community to see it.”
my mother, a”h, spent the last chizuk, strength, and unconditional Along with the new space, Gilchrist’s
days of her life when it became love to help him focus on the things he priority, Mrs. Lasson emphasizes, is to
too difficult for my father to care for did accomplish. Those moments of make sure that Jewish patients feel
her. happiness, tranquility, and belonging respected in their beliefs. She has
◆◆◆ that you can give someone as his soul already trained 250 staff and volun-
In August I sat in on a training pro- transitions from this world to the next, teers, along with Jewish Community
gram for volunteers at Gilchrist I would suggest, is chesed shel emes, Services, about Jewish values, customs,
Hospice Care, Maryland’s largest hos- the ultimate act of chesed, because you rituals, and beliefs – including being
pice organization. It gave me a fascinat- are allowing a person to close out the sensitive to the Shabbos practices of
ing glimpse into both the world of hos- journey of life and feel confident and Torah-observant patients.
pice care and Gilchrist’s new Jewish comfortable beginning the next.” “I want the frum community to know
outreach initiative. Mrs. Chaya Lasson, ◆◆◆ that halacha is critical to every decision
recently hired as Jewish Hospice Gilchrist has served 5,700 patients, we make,” says Mrs. Lasson. “The most
Program Manager, arranged the train- including Jewish patients, for more important thing in making halachic
ing, and approached Jewish Caring than two decades. Its new Jewish out- decision is details; if the details get lost
Network and Bikur Cholim of reach initiative was spearheaded by in the shuffle, the whole decision is
Baltimore to cosponsor it. well-known philanthropist Steven made differently. We respect that, and
“We thought we’d have 15 or 20 par- Fader, CEO, Atlantic Automotive, Gilchrist is reaching out to patients’
ticipants at the volunteer training whose late father received hospice care rabbis to become more involved in
event,” says Mrs. Lasson. “In fact, we at Gilchrist’s Towson facility prior to his health care issues of congregants who
had 65 and had to close our registra- death four years ago. are in hospice care so that the patient’s
tion!” She is grateful for the partnership The Jewish initiative consists of a rav, physician, and family are acting as
with Bikur Cholim and the JCN and major physical enhancement as well as one team.” Mrs. Lasson says she had
hopes this will be the beginning of new attitudes and policies. The recent the great zechus of speaking to the
many more such collaborations. 2,400-square-foot expansion of Vaad Harabonnim, who are aware of
“Volunteers are vital and essential for Gilchrist’s 34-bed Towson campus this program and the initiative to edu-
the peace of mind of patients’ family includes a new Jewish chapel, family cate the Jewish community.
members. We hope that this initial area, and courtyard. “For the first time, Dr. Julian (Yoel) Jakobovits, a mem-
training program will encourage the Jewish patients will feel more at home,” ber of Jewish Hospice Program’s
participants to join the Gilchrist volun- says Mrs. Lasson. “There are mezuzahs Advisory Board, says, “Gilchrist is an
teer team.” on the doors and our own tranquil organization of highly professional and
At the two training lectures, the chapel with a wall constructed of dedicated personnel with whom I have
would-be volunteers heard from doc- Jerusalem stone, falling water, and a worked to the great advantage of our
tors, nurses, social workers, and rab- continuously-burning ner tamid.” patients and their families. Their sensi-
banim, who inspired them with the Although designed to complement the tivity to strict Jewish values goes a long
92 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
