2007 Kalsman Institute Partner Gathering
(By Invitation for Kalsman Partners Only)

Partner Gathering starts Noon, 1/28, Optional Shabbaton starts 3:00 pm, 1/26
Brandeis Bardin Institute

Tom Cole, M.D., Director of the McGovern Center for Health, Humanities, and the Human Spirit at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston will be our Keynote Speaker. He will speak on new questions that arise from aging and cognitive loss within our culture. Another highlight of this fourth biennial Partner Gathering will be bestowing HUC's Sherut L'Am award on Rabbi Richard Address, Director of the URJ's Department of Jewish Family Concerns, for his contributions to the Jewish healing community. We will share more details on the weekend in the coming months. A committee to shape the Shabbaton is forming, please call or email if you are interested in working with us.

Click here for the registration form (Word format)

The Academic Coalition for Jewish Bioethics

Creation, Procreation, and the New Genetics September 10th and 11, 2006 at Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, New York

September 10th

A conference open to the public focusing on the ethical issues raised by the rapidly changing field of genetics.

September 11th

Paper presentations and a methodological discussion aimed at academics and scholars of Jewish Ethics as it applies to genetics, embryology, stem cell research, cloning, genetic screening, and the use of genetic data.

The Academic Coalition for Jewish Bioethics announced a call for papers to be presented at the conference on the above topic. Submissions will be accepted in Jewish studies and medicine, bioethics, and relevant areas in the humanities, as well as papers from practitioners reflecting on practice.

Click here for brochure and registration form (PDF format)

www.society.bioethics.net/acjb

“Jewish Clinical Pastoral Education for Rabbinical Students”

Rabbinical students from HUC-JIR and the University of Judaism participate in an accredited program of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and hospital chaplaincy training at the UCLA Medical Center. HUC-JIR and UJ faculty join with the UCLA Department of Spiritual Care to teach on ethics, health-related texts, prayer, death and mourning, and congregational and community support. Students spend 400 hours in clinical settings, learning environments, interfaith dialogue and supervision, earning one unit of CPE for their work. For more information on CPE, please visit the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education

Summer, 2001 and ongoing, Los Angeles

Physician's Initiative Project

The Kalsman Institute has been working intimately with partner Dr. Howard Silverman of Phoenix's Temple Chai Shalom Center, to create and foster a program of Jewish learning for Jewish doctors and other healthcare professionals. While still in the early stages of development, Dr. Silverman has for the past number of years been working with other doctors on studying and discussing seminal Jewish texts dealing with the work of doctors and others who provide healing. The program's objective is to assist Jewish clinicians of all denominations to integrate their clinical work and their Jewish and spiritual practice. The proposed format is an innovative integrated retreat and online distance education program which will provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) units.

Ongoing

The Los Angeles Bikkur Cholim Project

Following on the success of last year's conference, "Hope Abandoned, Hope Redeemed," the Kalsman Institute once again partners with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles to continue the training and development of Caring Community programs within local synagogues. This year, three one-day events focus on specific aspects of Bikkur Cholim work, called Crossroads: At the Intersection of Jewish Spirituality and Health.

SACRED AGING AND THE FAMILY CAREGIVER
March 9, 2006
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas Campus

The complex issues of being a family caregiver for an aging parent was 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 our own Rabbi William Cutter, Ph.D..

PARENTING A JEWISH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD
Sunday, April 2, 9:00 am
New JCC at Milken

Whether a Jewish family has a child who has been recently diagnosed, or is entering a new phase of parenting, this Sunday, April 2 workshop is devoted to families with a Jewish special needs child. The keynote address from Marty Omoto, Director of the California Disability Community Action Network, will help parents understand recent changes in special education law and how to successfully advocate for their child. Rabbi Shawn Fields-Meyer will provide an opening inspirational D'var Torah.

Workshops will address a variety of issues, including social skills, Jewish learning opportunities, planning for the future and how to best help siblings. Confirmed presenters to date are: 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 will include both social service agencies and carefully selected for-profit vendors offering useful products and services.

This program will be held on Sunday, April 2 at the New JCC at Milken from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The cost for the day is $10 per family, if received by March 28 or $15 per family at the door and includes breakfast. Lunch is available for purchase.

This event is planned in cooperation with the Federation's HaMercaz Special Needs Project with Jewish Family Service, Bureau of Jewish Education, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Etta Israel Center, The New JCC at Milken and Vista Del Mar-Julia Ann Singer Center.

JEWISH WOMEN AND HEALTH
May, 2006
Location TBD

Women of Jewish Ashkenazi backgrounds have higher risk factors associated with breast and ovarian cancer due to genetic factors, yet few Jewish women are aware of this information. Heart disease is the largest killer of all women, yet few are attuned to the warning signs that are different than for men. We will be focusing on groundbreaking medical research in the area of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations as well as the spiritual and emotional dimensions of these diseases. This seminar will be presented in May, in cooperation with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as the Israel and Overseas LA/Tel Aviv Partnership program, which is working on women's health issues in Israel.

For details about any of these seminars, or other Jewish Healing projects, please contact Lori Marx-Rubiner at jewishhealing@earthlink.net. Pre-registration for these events may be sent to: David Leonard, The Jewish Federation, 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Kalsman Lecture Series

During the course of each academic year at HUC, the Kalsman Institute sponsors a number of "Lunch and Learn" programs for all HUC-LA students. An annual informational session is about Clinical Pastoral Education for interested Rabbinic students. Other 2005-2006 academic year sessions address working with couples in a Jewish setting, the problem of destructive behaviors in the Jewish community and how to address them, and the specter of domestic violence in the Jewish world. Additional topics will include Jewish Bioethics and a Sex Education Curriculum - "Forgotten Treasures: Discovering Lost Traditions of Jewish Sexuality."

Ongoing

“Kalsman/Mayer Chaplaincy Internships”

HUC-JIR Rabbinic students are placed in hospital, congregational and agency settings, under the supervision of both on-site chaplains and rabbis and Rabbi William Cutter. Placements include UCLA Medical Center Department of Spiritual Care, San Francisco Jewish Home for the Aging, and with Rabbi Janet Offel, Community Rabbi in the San Fernando Valley, CA. Made possible through the generosity of Herbert Mayer.

Ongoing throughout the summers and academic years.

“SeraF”

Through a generous two-year grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and in partnership with the Kalsman Institute, the National Center for Jewish Healing brings together a select group of people to create SeraF - a "senior faculty" for the Jewish Healing Movement. This movement has grown enormously over these last 10 years. Our understanding and use of Jewish healing resources has deepened and our work has contributed to and informed other efforts and institutions in the Jewish community (spirituality, health and well-being, synagogues, Jewish Family Services, JCCs, academic institutions, etc.). The growing collaborative nature of this work has impacted the medical and mental health communities as well. SeraF brings together leaders of the Jewish Healing Movement to integrate, collaborate, define, and expand -- to teach one another, sharing skills and resources. And to look for the ways in which our experience and expertise can be shared with local healing centers and with the community at large.
Two-year project, beginning January, 2003

"In the Spirit of Hope: An Inter-seminary Oncology Institute"

Six Southern California seminaries, including HUC-JIR, participate in this summer training program to provide seminary students and community clergy with professional insights into spiritual care within a healthcare setting. The City of Hope Medical Center campus, a comprehensive cancer center and innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution, provides the training ground for this two-week program.
June 15-24, 2004, City of Hope, Duarte, CA