ASSAF: Judaism, Health and Healing for Clinicians Ongoing The Kalsman Institute and partner Howard Silverman, M.D. have developed a course of Jewish learning for Jewish clinicians designed to help these healthcare professionals integrate their clinical and spiritual lives.
Partner:
Howard Silverman, M.D. and Temple Chai's Shalom Center, Phoenix, AZ
Title: ASSAF: Judaism, Health and Healing for Clinicians
Date: Ongoing
Location: Online and at various retreat centers
Description:
The Kalsman Institute and partner Howard Silverman, M.D. have developed a course of Jewish learning for Jewish clinicians designed to help these healthcare professionals integrate their clinical and spiritual lives. The format is an innovative, integrated retreat and online distance education program.
The program includes:
Opening Shabbaton retreat
Ten weeks of interactive online learning
Closing Retreat
Two ten-week pilots in 2008 and 2010, in Scottsdale, Arizona, brought together the clinical experience and theory of leading practitioners with the rich resources of the Jewish tradition. Participants experienced reduced stress, an increased sense of community, and heightened knowledge of Jewish sources on Judaism and health.
Read feedback from some of our first participants:
"Allowed me to combine the two major forces of my life - Judaism and medicine!"
"Opened my mind and quieted my stress"
"Quenched my thirst for Jewish related learning while allowing me to feast at an unexpected party of new professional friends. A table I hope to revisit often for a celebration of the rest of my professional and personal life!"
Dr. Silverman has for the past number of years been working with other doctors on studying and discussing secular sources and seminal Jewish texts dealing with the work of doctors and others who provide healing. Silverman is currently faculty at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Arizona State University. Partners of Michele Prince of the Kalsman Institute in developing this program include Sharona Silverman and Rabbi Mari Chernow of Temple Chai?s Deutsch Family Shalom Center, in Phoenix, Arizona, Rabbi William Cutter and Rabbi Ellie Steinman from Kalsman, Rabbi Simkha Weintraub of the National Center for Jewish Healing, Elizabeth Feldman, M.D., and Chaplain Bruce Feldstein, M.D. For more details, email Kalsman@huc.edu.
Regional Yom Iyun November 16, 2010 The Kalsman Institute, the NAJC, the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles invite you to a Regional Yom Iyun. Presenter, Rabbi Shira Stern, will speak on the topic: "Issues at the End of Life - Calm in the Face of Chaos," Providing a Therapeutic Presence in the Midst of Anticipatory Grieving.
Midrash and Medicine Conference May 11-13, 2009 Midrash and Medicine: Imagining Wholeness brought a diverse collection of professionals merging interpretive arts, Judaism and medicine at an interactive conference. Spiritual, behavioral, and healthcare professionals, scholars, artists and lay-leader colleagues learned together, exchanged best practices, and found a much needed respite from their worries in a world filled with personal and professional challenges due to the economic times. Conference Highlights www.midrashandmedicine.com
Midwest Jewish Chaplains' Group Day of Learning About the Book of Job June 2009
Rabbi Julie Pelc taught a Yom Iyun (daylong learning), "Looking Again at the Book of Job" for the Midwest Jewish Chaplains' Group in Milwaukee. Session #1 was called "The Suffering and the Servant: Who is Job?" and Session #2 was "On Sitting With Suffering: Who are Job's Friends?
PDF - The Suffering and the Servant - Who is Job PDF - On Sitting With Suffering - Who Are Job's Friends
SeRaF 2001-2007 Through a generous grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and in partnership with the Kalsman Institute, the National Center for Jewish Healing brought together a select group to create SeraF - a "senior faculty" for the Jewish Healing Movement.
Parenting a Jewish Special Needs Child Conference and Resource Fair
Sunday, April 2, 2006 Whether a Jewish family had a child recently diagnosed, or entering a new phase of parenting, this workshop was devoted to families with a Jewish special needs child. The Kalsman Institute co-sponsored this conference which was planned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles' HaMercaz Special Needs Project.
Organization: Kalsman Institute/Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Title: Parenting a Jewish Special Needs Child Conference and Resource Fair
Date: Sunday, April 2, 2006
Location: New JCC at Milken
Description:
Whether a Jewish family had a child recently diagnosed, or entering a new phase of parenting, this Sunday, April 2 workshop was devoted to families with a Jewish special needs child. The keynote address from Marty Omoto, Director of the California Disability Community Action Network, was "Advocating without Borders: Empower yourself to Help your Child." to help parents understand recent changes in special education law and how to successfully advocate for their child. Rabbi Shawn Fields-Meyer, founder of Ozreinu, provided an opening inspirational D'var Torah.
Workshops addressed a variety of issues, including social skills, Jewish learning opportunities, planning for the future and how to best help siblings. Presenters included: Terry Magady (special needs lawyer), Fran Goldfarb with Children's Hospital, Cantor Steve Puzane, Susan North Gilboa, Amy Bryman, Lisa Brauer, Vicki Rothman, Rabbi Kalman Winnick and Drs. Sheri Pollack and Diane Danis. Finally, an extensive Resource Fair included both social service agencies and carefully selected for-profit vendors offering useful products and services.
This event was planned in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles' HaMercaz Special Needs Project with Jewish Family Service, Bureau of Jewish Education, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Etta Israel Center, Jewish Free Loan Association, The New JCC at Milken and Vista Del Mar-Julia Ann Singer Center. Ha-Mercaz is the central resource for Jewish children with special needs and the families who love them.
Sacred Aging and the Family Caregiver: A Panel Discussion and Caregiver Resource Fair Thursday, March 9, 2006 The Kalsman Institute co-sponsored this panel discussion which was a Jewish
Health and Healing Project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. The complex issues of
being a family caregiver for an aging parent were addressed.
Organization: Kalsman Institute/Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Title: Sacred Aging and the Family Caregiver: A Panel Discussion and Caregiver Resource Fair
Date: Thursday, March 9, 2006
Location: Audrey & Sydney Irmas Campus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Description:
On Thursday evening, March 9, the complex issues of being a family caregiver for an aging parent were addressed. Jewish tradition teaches the value of honoring and caring for our elders, but actually providing that care can be a complicated and daunting responsibility. In the midst of decisions about advance directives, physician instructions and professional care providers, adult children must determine what "is best" for their parents while keeping their own families functioning and find time for themselves.
Keynote speakers were Dr. Amy Gross of Jewish Family Service and Rabbi Kalman Winnick of Vitas Hospice Care, moderated by Rabbi William Cutter, Ph.D., Kalsman Institute. The seminar was held at the Audrey & Sydney Irmas Campus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The program began at 7:00 PM and the cost for the evening was $5 by March 2, or $8 at the door. This event was planned in cooperation with Alzheimer's Association, Klein Chaplaincy of the South Bay, Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles and Jewish Hospice Project|Los Angeles.
Shleimut: Towards a Program of Congregational Nursing 2001 - 2004 Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin convened nurses, rabbis, social workers and healthcare advocates as part of the STAR grant awarded to the Baltimore Jewish Healing Center.
Title: Shleimut: Towards a Program of Congregational Nursing
Date: 2001 - 2004
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, California
Description: With The Kalsman Institute's partnership, Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin convened nurses, rabbis, social workers and healthcare advocates as part of the STAR grant awarded to the Baltimore Jewish Healing Center. This planning group's goal was to introduce, and demonstrate the benefits of, community-based nursing programs in a select number of Jewish communities. This initiative included symposia of individuals committed to developing a philosophy of and training curriculum for congregational nursing.
Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis, RN, congregational rabbi in Flower Mound, Texas, and Karen Frank, RN, congregational nurse in New Jersey, present on the successes and challenges of congregational nursing programs, at the Baltimore Shleimut Gathering, April 2002
(l to r)Susie Kessler, National Center for Jewish Healing, Rabbi Richard Address, URJ Department of Jewish Family Concerns, and Rabbi Nina Cardin, JCC of Greater Baltimore, enjoy some sunshine at the Baltimore Shleimut gathering, April 2002.
Models of Cooperation: Reflections on the Jewish Healing Movement December 14-16, 2003 Along with the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, the Kalsman Institute presented a conference for the leadership of the Jewish healing movement.
Organization: Kalsman Institute, Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. and National Center for Jewish Healing
Title: Models of Cooperation: Reflections on the Jewish Healing Movement
Date: December 14-16, 2003
Location: Mercy Center, Burlingame, California
Description:
Celebrating the 13th year of the Jewish Healing movement, the conference presented models for
creating interdisciplinary teams within communities to do health-related work, and explored a vision
for the future of the Jewish healing world. Guest honorees included Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Rabbi Rachel
Cowan and Rabbi Nancy Flam, three of the founders of the Jewish healing movement.
View conference brochure (PDF format) View conference information and video clips
Death, Dying and End of Life Issues November 6, 13, 20, 2003 An on-line interactive scholarly discourse on end-of-life issues, co-presented with the Joint Commission on Sustaining Rabbinic Education of the CCAR and HUC-JIR.
Organization: HUC-JIR and The Joint Commission on Sustaining Rabbinic Education
Title: Death, Dying and End of Life Issues
Date: November 6, 13, 20, 2003
Location: On-Line
Description:
An on-line interactive scholarly discourse on end-of-life issues, co-presented with the Joint Commission on Sustaining Rabbinic Education of the CCAR and HUC-JIR. This three-part mini-course is available to all CCAR members, and features
sessions on literature, ethics, and congregational scholarship. Originally the HUC-JIR Department o
Distance Education made this course accessible to colleagues around the globe through web-based
educational materials and real-time call-in courses. The material is now available through the
commission's archives.
Prayers for Healing from the Jewish Mystical Tradition November 11, 2003 Dr. Eitan Fishbane, Assistant Professor of Jewish Religious Thought at HUC-JIR Los Angeles, presented textual models of prayer for the healing of the body and the spirit inspired by the language and imagination of Kabbalah and Hasidism.
Title: Prayers for Healing from the Jewish Mystical Tradition
Date: November 11, 2003
Location: HUC-JIR, Los Angeles, California
Description:
Dr. Eitan Fishbane, Assistant Professor of Jewish Religious Thought at HUC-JIR Los Angeles, presented textual models of prayer for the healing of the body and the spirit inspired by the language and imagination of Kabbalah and Hasidism. This "Lunch and Learn" for the HUC-JIR community provided students, faculty and staff an opportunity to learn together.
Mining the Jewish Tradition for its Healing Wisdom
May 15-18, 2003 This major conference explored undiscovered, lost, and new texts to enhance and support healing practices.
Organization: Kalsman Institute, Temple Chai of Phoenix: Deutsch Family Shalom Center, and The Union for Reform Judaism
Title: Mining the Jewish Tradition for its Healing Wisdom
Date: May 15-18, 2003
Location: The Chaparral Suites Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona
Description:
The Jewish healing movement is at a crossroads. Many congregations and communities are beginning to provide healing efforts, and are sensing that there are more resources out there yet untapped. Those who have been enfranchised are eager to dig deeper. Familiar sources have been drawn upon for years; this conference explored undiscovered, lost, and new texts to enhance and support healing practices.
A special Thursday evening program highlights art as text in the language of healing. Keynote speakers include Arthur Green, Elliot Dorff, Tamara Eskenazi, and Arnold Eisen.
To view the conference program and faculty bios, click here. (pdf) View video of conference program
Roundtable on Spirituality
March 19, 2003
HUC-JIR and the University of Judaism convened a day-long workshop on spiritual matters in the curriculum for training of rabbinical students.
Organization: HUC-JIR and The Joint University of Judaism
Title: Roundtable on Spirituality
Date: March 19, 2003
Location: University of Judaism, Los Angeles, California
Description:
HUC-JIR and the University of Judaism convened a day-long workshop on spiritual matters in the
curriculum for training of rabbinical students. Guest participants included Rabbi Amy Eilberg,
Linda Thal, the staff of Gateways Beit T'shuvah, and others.
The Healing Power of Poetry October 27, 2002 The National Association for Poetry Therapy presented The Art Lerner Poetry Therapy Day with John Fox, noted poetry therapist, international lecturer and teacher, and remarks from Rabbi William Cutter
Organization: The National Association for Poetry Therapy
Title: The Healing Power of Poetry
Date: October 27, 2002
Location: HUC-JIR, Los Angeles, California
Description: The National Association for
Poetry Therapy presented The Art Lerner Poetry Therapy Day with John Fox, noted poetry therapist,
international lecturer and teacher, and remarks from Rabbi William Cutter. The National Association
for Poetry Therapy, a community of healers and lovers of words and languages, embraces
psychotherapists, physicians, health professionals, poets, educators, librarians, counselors,
clergy, storytellers, as well as other healing art forms and professionals of all ethnicity. For
more information please contact robertcarroll@worldnet.att.net.
Jewish Healing Center Forum March 18, 2002
Jewish Healing Center professionals shared knowledge, skills, ideas, materials, experience and challenges with one another.
Organization: Kalsman Institute and Jewish Healing Centers of San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Bay Area, National/NY
Title: Jewish Healing Center Forum
Date: March 18, 2002
Location: La Jolla, California
Description:
Jewish Healing Center professionals shared knowledge, skills, ideas, materials, experience and
challenges with one another. Rabbi William Cutter was the keynote speaker for the Forum, which
included workshops presented by participants on several of the following topics: Bikkur Holim,
funding issues, development of programs and services, co-facilitation of groups and issues for both
professionals, bereavement groups, healing Services and materials, recruitment of volunteers,
public relations and outreach, healing creative arts.
Healing and the Arts November 27, 2001
Painters, writers, sculptors, and artists of many media joined a roundtable discussion on the interconnectedness of creativity, illness and healing.
Description:
Painters, writers, sculptors, and artists of many media joined a roundtable discussion on the
interconnectedness of creativity, illness, and healing. Moderated by Jeanie Rosensaft.
