14 | OCTOBER 31 • 2024 J
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O

n Nov. 13, Temple Kol Ami will host the 
second of a two-part event called “End 
of Life Choices: The Jewish Perspective.”
It’s a difficult subject, but one event organizer 
Lee Schottenfels, a congregation and board 
member at Temple Kol Ami, says is important for 
the entire community.
Temple Kol Ami’s Rabbi Natalie Shribman 
and Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of Jewish Hospice 
& Chaplaincy Network will share the history 
of decision-making at the end of one’s life and 
where Judaism currently stands on the subject.
Shribman, who now serves as senior rabbi at 
Temple Kol Ami, previously worked as a hospital 
chaplain for the Marshfield Clinic Health System 
in Wisconsin on the oncology floor and intensive 
care units. With her extensive background in 
end-of-life care, the event promises to be highly 
educational, personal and informative for the 
greater Metro Detroit Jewish community.
At the first event in September, a group 
called Compassion and Choices — which 
initially inspired Schottenfels to organize the 
two-part Temple Kol Ami event — presented 
plans and how to implement them for end-of-
life care, including choices a family can expect 
to make.
Schottenfels, who attended a meeting at 
which Compassion and Choices presented, 
felt compelled to enlist the nonprofit group to 
speak at Temple Kol Ami. “It motivated me to 
want them to present to our temple family and 

stimulate a discussion about this issue,” he says.
The upcoming November event, however, will 
specifically shine a light on hospice care. “We’re 
focusing on how hospice connects to Jewish 
values,” Shribman explains.
In Judaism, it’s essential to preserve life, she 
continues, yet living a compromised existence 
isn’t the same as living a full life. “Hospice helps 
people have that transition in a peaceful and non-
intense way,” Shribman says.
Between the COVID-19 pandemic, aging 
synagogue populations and unexpected losses 
within the Jewish community, Shribman believes 
gaining knowledge on hospice care is important 
for all, even if these difficult situations haven’t 
personally been experienced.
However, there isn’t one exact end-of-life 
approach for everyone, which is why the event 

focuses on options and choices people can expect 
to encounter along the way.
“There’s not necessarily a Jewish way of dying,” 
Shribman says, “but there are certain rituals one 
can do toward the end of their life when they 
realize that maybe they’re sick or maybe they’ve 
decided to stop various treatments that are 
keeping them alive.”
It’s extraordinarily challenging to witness a 
loved one at the end of their life, but Shribman 
says hospice aims to offer some relief. “When 
you go into hospice, you’re no longer physically 
suffering,” she explains. “You can live peacefully 
those last days or weeks. It doesn’t necessarily 
usher you into death, but it helps you have a 
fuller time during that time in-between.”
Temple Kol Ami’s end-of-life event will also 
discuss power of attorney and advance directives, 
which help ensure your personal wishes 
surrounding medical and mental care will be 
honored if you’re not able to communicate 
them.
The event will include a Q&A session and 
will also be available online to join through 
Zoom.
“We’re going to have those important 
conversations about making sure you sit 
down with your loved ones and outlining 
your preferences if you get to be in a difficult 
situation,” Shribman says. “That way, your 
loved ones aren’t unsure of what you want for 
yourself and can respect your wishes.” 

OUR COMMUNITY

Hospice and Judaism

Free Temple Kol Ami event will highlight end-of-care options in Judaism.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DETAILS
“End of Life Choices: 
The Jewish Perspective.”
Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Temple Kol Ami
5085 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield
Free to members and 
non-members.
More information at 
templekolami.org.

Rabbi Natalie 
Shribman

REDPIXEL.COM