Chaplaincy Stories
February 22, 2021
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Purim 2021 – Even Now We Can Be Joyful
Rabbi Beiner wishes everyone a Happy Purim despite the challenges of this past year. Read More
January 27, 2021
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New Year of the Trees
Rabbi Beiner offers words of contemplation about Tu B'shevat. Read More
January 14, 2021
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Prayer for Our Country
Rabbi Beiner shared a prayer for our country in advance of the upcoming Inauguration. Read More
December 07, 2020
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Finding Appreciation for This Year's Hanukkah
None of us could have imagined the past year and how our Jewish (and secular/everyday) activities would be so different. For many of us, we did not know how much we would miss going to synagogue, attending simchas and community events, and even… Read More
November 25, 2020
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Hanukkah Torah Teaching with Rabbi Judith Beiner
These months of the pandemic have presented the Jewish (and other faith) communities with stark challenges to our usual ways of gathering. It is very hard to feel a sense of spirituality and connection without being physically present with others. Read More
November 24, 2020
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Thoughts and Prayers for Thanksgiving
"The Jewish world accommodates a pretty big tent: We pray, study, and celebrate within a framework of established denominations; and our community reflects a wide diversity of beliefs, philosophies and backgrounds. I’m thinking about this as we head… Read More
September 22, 2020
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Living Our Joys: A Reflection on the Fall Holidays
Rabbi Judith Beiner, JF&CS Community Chaplain, reflects on the fall cycle of Jewish holidays. Read More
September 15, 2020
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Letting Go with Tashlich
Rabbi Judith Beiner, JF&CS Community Chaplain, shares her thoughts on the ceremony of Tashlich. Read More
September 08, 2020
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High Holy Days: Finding Community During a Time of Isolation
Rabbi Judith Beiner, JF&CS Community Chaplain, provides thoughts on celebrating the High Holy Days during the pandemic. Read More
September 03, 2020
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Chaplain Extends Jewish Touch
August 14, 2020 - AJTFlora Rosefsky writes how JF&CS Chaplaincy program offers connection and compassion during COVID-19. Read More
July 30, 2020
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Tisha B’Av is an uncomfortable reminder of the destructive power of hatred
Tisha B’Av is an uncomfortable reminder of the destructive power of hatred and how in this time in history, we are in need of acts of love. Read More
July 22, 2020
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Chaplaincy Program Stays In Touch with Our Jewish Seniors
Our Bikkur Cholim Volunteers have become even more crucial in providing reassurance and hope that at some future time we will gather together in person! Read More
July 03, 2020
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The Statue of Liberty & The Ideal of Welcoming The Stranger
May our Independence Day celebrations inspire us to learn and to act, and work towards the day when all Americans prosper with the promise of freedom. Read More
May 27, 2020
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Shavuot: Let kindness be our guide
The highest ideals of the Torah are played out in the book of Ruth, when the characters fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Torah law by caring for the needy in the community, seen in the established practice of gleaning whereby the poor… Read More
April 23, 2020
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Counting Up
The period between Passover and Shavuot is called the Sefira. It refers to the practice of counting the Omer, an ancient Hebrew measure of grain, that was once offered up in the Temple. Read More
April 05, 2020
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A Passage to Strengthen the Spirit
We know for certain that we are in a marathon, and not a sprint, and that taking care of both our bodies and souls is vital for us all. Read More
February 26, 2020
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Chaplaincy Volunteer Spotlight: Barry Starr
Barry Starr has been volunteering with Bikkur Cholim for five years. Read More
February 10, 2020
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Tu B’Shvat: Something for Everyone
If you are into history and ritual, Tu B’Shvat is for you. If are a passionate Zionist or environmentalist, Tu B’Shvat is for you as well. Read More
June 21, 2019
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Providing for the Burial Needs for All of Our Community
In our Jewish tradition, the mitzvah of burying the dead is a great act of loving kindness, and a shared responsibility of the entire community. Read More