Caringfi.
IT e
JEWISHOSPICL
& CHAPLAINCY NETWORK'
Community
Adding the Jewish Component
to Hospice Care.
SPRING 2004
the
A PUBLICATION OF THE JEWISH HOSPICE & CHAPLAINCY NE
D TO ENSURING THAT NO JEW IS EVER ALONE..
A RABBI'S NOTES
We rabbis need the Network
The Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network helps us respond to congregants' needs
■
"The Jewish
Hospice and
Chaplaincy Network is
the link that enables us
to find and reach out to
Jewish patients who
otherwise might not
have been offered the
support of their
tradition during this
difficult and
vulnerable time.
— Rabbi Harold S. Loss
Inside This Edition
• EXTRAORDINARY CAREGIVER:
NATHAN SHIOVITZ
• OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE THERE FOR YOU
• LIFELINKS — MAKING THE CONNECTION
• LOVE LETTERS: THE KATZ FAMILY
• RABBIS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SKILLS
• NANCY GROSFELD EDUCATION FUND
• EDUCATING RABBIS: END-OF-LIFE
CARE
• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: THE VISION
CONTINUES
• JHCN RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATION
• PHILANTHROPY: HOW YOU CAN HELP
6 • ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF
MICHIGAN: NEW PARTNERSHIP
• LIGHTHOUSE HOSPICE: PARTNERS
COUNT ON JHCN
• AMERICAN HOUSE: HEALTHCARE
PARTNERS ARE ESSENTIAL
• ISRAEL HOSPICE
8 • FULFILLING OUR MISSION: SERVING
MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY
Rabbi Harold S. Loss
Temple Israel
Dear Friends:
A
s the Rabbi of Temple Israel for more
than 30 years, I recognize the amaz-
ing transformation that has taken place
in our community regarding end-of-life
issues. Our congregation is one of the
two largest Reform Congregations in the
nation. We serve more than ten thousand
members of the metropolitan Detroit
Jewish community. I have witnessed
many changes during my career, and
none has been more important than the
introduction of hospice care.
For many years I would watch or hear
about dying family members who were
poked, prodded, or awakened in the mid-
dle of the night to have their temperature
taken. The philosophy of hospice care
has dramatically changed the standard of
care in the broader community. What has
enabled the Jewish community to partici-
pate fully in this transformation is the
Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network.
This organization, which was the dream-
child of Rabbi Bunny Freedman, has
evolved into a wonderful support system
not only for hospice patients and their
families, but also for the wider Jewish
community.
The Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy
Network is the link that enables us to find
and reach out to Jewish patients who oth-
erwise might not have been offered the
support of their tradition during this diffi-
cult and vulnerable time. This is the group
in our community that has the knowledge
Ensuring no Jew is ever alone —
Rabbi E.B. Freedman encourages a patient
and expertise to guide families through all
aspects of a terminal illness. JHCN is the
organization that provides us, and the
congregational rabbis, with assistance as
we help people deal with end-of-life
issues. Clergy, families, and those facing
imminent death count on the quality of
care, knowledge and compassion provided
by this organization. We are blessed that
the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy
Network is a part of our community.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Harold S. Loss
Who is eligible for
JHCN services?
Anyone facing serious or terminal ill-
ness who identifies as a Jew is eligible
for services. Any individual can call
JHCN for information, education, and
access to community resources,
referral, or direct assistance.