T4G

alto
ego

physical and emotional suffering.
"Rabbi Weintraub speaks very
openly of his own cancer, of which is
he now cured," Rabbi Yoskowitz says.
"It helps him to deal with fragility, to
make him feel that he is us. And that's
a aift."
The workshop offered a variety of
insights into assessing patients, includ-
ing eliciting more beneficial, in-depth
responses through Rabbi Weintraub's
list of "Seven Ways of Asking How
Are You?"

C) 2000 TAG Heue r U SA

Clergy Interaction

Suggestions emerged on how to reflect
optimism toward those who are termi-
nally ill, including focusing on other
concerns in a person's life rather than on
the illness.
Midway through the discussion on
hopefulness, sounds permeated the wall
separating the workshop from a musical
concert in the next room. The group
laughed at the irony of the first per-
former singing the words to the old
tune about losing fear and worry "On
the Sunny Side of the Street."
The group discussed how to respond
to resentment and the issue of why
patients feel they were targeted for ill-
ness. "For some it's not a question of
`Why me?' as much as 'What did I do
to deserve this?'" said Rabbi Herschel
Klainberg of Jewish Hospice and
Chaplaincy Network.
The group talked about what to say
when there is no hope. "Just about
everyone I see is going to die," said
Rabbi Freedman, who typically serves
patients in hospice care. "I may just
offer the hope that God keeps them
comfortable and free of pain."
A significant shared point was the
need to know when it is most beneficial
to remain silent. "Sometimes they are
not looking for prayers or blessings,"
said Pamela Barr, clinical pastoral educa-
tion student at William Beaumont
Hospital in Royal Oak and rabbinic stu-
dent at the Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion in
Cincinnati. "You may just be needed to
sit and hear about their experiences."
For a group that spends a significant
amount of time being sought out by
those lost or in physical or emotional
suffering, they showed this is clearly
their chosen life's work.
With all the other areas of involve-
ment of a pulpit rabbi, Rabbi Yoskowitz
said he's discovered that "working with
people in a time of need is probably the
most important thing I do.'

Mother-Of-Pear
with Diamonds

JEWELERS

32940 Middlebelt at 14 Mile Road • Farmington Hills, ME_
248.855.1730 • toll free 888.844.3916

www.greis.corn

An authorized TAG Heuer dealer.

7/6
2001

49

