Bay Area Jewish Healing Center to shut down after 31 years J. – The Jewish News of Northern California
Posted By admin on June 4, 2022
After three decades of providing spiritual care to the sick, dying and bereaved, the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center has been forced to fold due to insurmountable financial difficulties. The S.F.-based nonprofit will close its doors June 30.
Its a loss the centers leadership believes will be keenly felt across the region.
It is truly devastating, said Rabbi Eric Weiss, the centers longtime CEO. Thats the response weve gotten from past clients and participants in our program. The [BAJHC] was an agency that had the benefit of specialization, so our absence will create gaps in terms of spiritual care.
Dr. Mary De May, the current board chair, echoed that sentiment, saying, The expertise of the [BAJHC] rabbis is just not something that is easily found or replicated, especially this group of rabbis who have worked together for so long under Rabbi Weisss leadership.
Weiss has been at the center for 27 years. His colleague, Rabbi Natan Fenner, has worked there for 22 years, making them, they believe, the longest serving rabbinic team in the Bay Area. Rabbi Jon Sommer, a certified chaplain, rounds out the centers rabbinic team.
In that time, they partnered with hospitals, physicians, rabbis and Jewish institutions such as the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (formerly the Jewish Home). They instituted bereavement groups, chaplaincy services, professional development programs and innovations such as the Kol Haneshama End-of-Life volunteer program (hospice care) and the Grief & Growing program (healing weekends for individuals and families).
Most importantly, the centers three-rabbi staff, its employees and its volunteers provided one-on-one spiritual counseling to thousands of people at the most difficult moment of their lives.
It is truly devastating. Thats the response weve gotten from past clients and participants in our program.
What they and the board could not do was keep the center afloat financially. No stone was left unturned in an effort to stay in the black, De May said.
The healing center has struggled financially for many years, she noted. There is nothing new here in that regard. The decision to close was one that we made over a years time, with an extraordinary amount of heart and soul and head involved. It has been absolutely excruciating.
Founded in 1991, the center has been lean its whole existence, Weiss said, though it fought valiantly to remain self-sustaining and in recent years hired consultants to provide fiscal guidance.
We did everything the consultants suggested, he said. We hired a development professional, we expanded our individual donor base. All these were suggestions that we took to heart and followed, and the economic reality still did not yield what would be a budget that could be maintained.
With the end of the center now in sight, Weiss looked back on a gratifying career of service.
We were able to create a vocabulary that did not previously exist around the language of spiritual care, he said. Nobody gets sick outside of a system. People get sick in community, and therefore we wanted to model programs that were cooperative.
The first Northern California institution of its kind, the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center has provided Jewish spiritual care to those living with illness, those who care for them, and to the bereaved through direct service, education and training, according to its website.
It was established at a time when no other such agency existed, Weiss said. The center always functioned on this notion of direct service, but also on the level of what it means to frame ones Jewish identity development along the path of spiritually caring for people.
One approach he and his colleagues took in helping the dying and the bereaved was to address the spiritual yearning they have when they come to the universal experience of grief.
A natural part of any spiritual experience is curiosity, Weiss said. It helps us take a leap of faith. If we want to be a whole human being, we dont just pay attention to our past and what we want now. We pay attention to what we want our future to be. That leap is a spiritual endeavor.
While mourning the loss of the BAJHC, De May hopes the community will find a way to compensate.
I hope that some of the connections and collaborations weve made over the past decades will result in some people trying to step up, but we dont now have a plan for how to do that, said De May, the Hellman Master Clinician and the Hellman Family Distinguished Professor of Neurology at UCSFs Weill Institute for Neurosciences. We know this is going to create stress in the system.
Weiss does not know whats next for him, but he expects to continue making his rabbinate about service and spiritual care. Even though he worked with people at the saddest times of their lives, he said he never lost his enthusiasm for the mission of the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center.
I am endlessly fascinated by peoples spiritual experience in the world and what they do with it, he said, and I am endlessly honored by the spiritual intimacy to which I am invited in. I feel just as fresh as I ever did, and in some ways more confident. I have been moved and changed and nourished by the work.
Go here to see the original:
- I had sex with a rabbi. There were big red flags. - Los Angeles Times - July 31st, 2022
- Married Rabbis Take Over the Pulpit at Tamaracs Temple Beth Torah Shaaray Tzedek Tamarac Talk - Tamarac Talk - July 31st, 2022
- Rangers new boy Rabbi Matondo: The rapid winger ready to ignite World Cup dream - The Athletic - July 31st, 2022
- Two rabbis, from two different denominations, get a second chance at love J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - July 28th, 2022
- As an Orthodox Rabbi, I Believe In Making Sacrifices When It Comes to Jewish Celebrations - Kveller.com - July 28th, 2022
- Synagogue service times: Week of July 29 | Synagogues - Cleveland Jewish News - July 28th, 2022
- The New Proliferation of Female Pseudo-Orthodox "Rabbis" and More - Yated.com - July 28th, 2022
- Milwaukees Highland Park rabbi reflects on tragedy - The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle - July 28th, 2022
- John Hartson in Rangers transfer confession as he raves about Rabbi Matondo and admits Tom Lawrence surprise - Daily Record - July 28th, 2022
- Nice Jewish kids struggle with addiction, too. Its past time for a Jewish solution - Forward - July 28th, 2022
- Next Dor: Jews, Brews and BBQs Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - July 28th, 2022
- The 9th Of Av: Divided, The Jewish People Stands OpEd - Eurasia Review - July 28th, 2022
- When a Student must Teach the Teacher - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - July 28th, 2022
- Kids Roll Up Their Sleeves and Learn Judaism at New JCrafts Center - Lubavitch.com - July 28th, 2022
- Welcoming Shabbat with unhoused San Franciscans J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - July 28th, 2022
- Lamentations Or Self Evaluations On The 9th Of Av OpEd - Eurasia Review - July 28th, 2022
- All Daf celebrates siyumim in the UK, drawing hundreds to London and Manchester - JNS.org - July 28th, 2022
- How abusive rabbis prey on their own congregants: No one is safe - New York Post - July 25th, 2022
- US rabbi reviving Jewish roots in her family's Italian town - Religion News Service - July 25th, 2022
- Chabad asked the new rabbi in Poway to resign. He said no. - Forward - July 25th, 2022
- The 9th Of Av: On Failures Of Political And Religious Leadership OpEd - Eurasia Review - July 25th, 2022
- View: Rangers have a real talent on their hands with Rabbi Matondo - Ibrox News - July 25th, 2022
- UK Rabbis: this week's heatwave offers nightmarish glimpse of future - Jewish News - July 25th, 2022
- Rabbi Matondo exhilarates as West Ham win shows Rangers in fine fettle on and off the park - The Scotsman - July 25th, 2022
- Israel's new policy on 'kosher cellphones' is an abomination for Haredi rabbis - Religion News Service - July 14th, 2022
- Hiring Reputation Management Co. Made Rabbi Limited Public Figure, Making It Harder for Him to Win Libel Case - Reason - July 14th, 2022
- Opinion | July 13: Thanks, Rabbi Baskin, stop Hwy. 413, use the schools and other letters - Hamilton Spectator - July 14th, 2022
- Leadership behind bars, Lev Tahor cult now seeking to move to Morocco, opponents say - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2022
- Rabbi Weiss pleads not guilty; lawyer hopes to avoid trial - Cleveland Jewish News - July 10th, 2022
- Rabbi Englander honored for 23 years of service at Bnai Torah ... - June 28th, 2022
- Rachel Timoner, 51, rabbi helping to amplify the voices of liberal Jews - Cleveland Jewish News - June 28th, 2022
- Why Rabbi Matondo was at Cardiff City's training base today - Wales Online - June 28th, 2022
- 'Attacks the integrity of the Jewish family:' Congregation fights against SCOTUS abortion ruling - WPBF West Palm Beach - June 28th, 2022
- 20 years on, don't forget Andreas the rabbi who just wanted to help - Camden New Journal - June 28th, 2022
- Shabbats on the Beach & Open Houses - framinghamsource.com - June 28th, 2022
- Double standards for rabbis and politics | Elchanan Poupko | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - June 28th, 2022
- These Clergy Are Bridging the Gap Between Religion and Climate - InsideClimate News - June 28th, 2022
- Those Messiah Is Here! signs popping up in New York? Heres whos behind them. - Forward - June 28th, 2022
- An Evening of Inspiration | JewishBoston - jewishboston.com - June 28th, 2022
- SJN: Rabbi Freundlich is donating a kidney in the memory of a special two year old girl - The Suburban Newspaper - June 26th, 2022
- Two New Campus Couples Selected for Beren Campus, Set to Replace the Bernsteins - The Commentator - June 26th, 2022
- Celtic can land the next Patrick Roberts by signing Rabbi Matondo - FootballFanCast.com - June 26th, 2022
- Texas rabbi who founded underwear nonprofit named CNN Hero - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - June 26th, 2022
- Ukraine's only mohel returns to warzone on a Jewish mission - Ynetnews - June 26th, 2022
- This rabbi made the religious case for abortion 30 years ago it didnt go well. - Forward - June 25th, 2022
- This weeks Torah portion is all about the importance of independent journalism - Forward - June 25th, 2022
- What do Jews say about abortion? Your primer as Roe is overturned J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 25th, 2022
- Lifecycles announcements for the week of June 24, 2022 J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 25th, 2022
- Ascending The Ladder - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - June 25th, 2022
- Leeds United can land the next Raphinha in Rabbi Matondo - FootballFanCast.com - June 25th, 2022
- Former rabbinical student recalls the moment his belief in the Lubavitcher Rebbe vanished - Forward - June 14th, 2022
- Two locals are back on their bar mitzvah bimahs as clergy interns J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 14th, 2022
- Federation honors Heller, Chelm at 118th annual meeting - Cleveland Jewish News - June 14th, 2022
- Congregation T'chiyah Has Tripled in Size in Seven Years Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - June 14th, 2022
- Poland Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich to speak at Federation annual meeting June 9 - Cleveland Jewish News - June 6th, 2022
- The ordination of the first female rabbi 50 years ago has brought many changes and some challenges - Religion News Service - June 6th, 2022
- Rhythm of an ominous beat: Rabbi Shergill on what ails Punjabi music - The Tribune India - June 6th, 2022
- A Lancaster County rabbi addresses the antisemitic and racist 'great replacement theory' [column] - LNP | LancasterOnline - June 6th, 2022
- Today is a Jewish holiday, the festival of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks - The State Journal-Register - June 6th, 2022
- Does God Have Regrets? OpEd Eurasia Review - Eurasia Review - June 6th, 2022
- Queen Elizabeth II and the Jews - aish.com - Aish - June 6th, 2022
- As a young rabbi, he helped women obtain illegal abortions. At age 90, he's fighting for them once again The Forward - Forward - June 4th, 2022
- A Tearful Reunion in Ukraine For an Elderly Congregant and His Rabbi - Homebound through pandemic and war, Jewish man has been cared for from afar -... - June 4th, 2022
- Dr. Edward Reichman Appointed as the Rabbi Isaac and Bella Tendler Chair in Medical Ethics - Yeshiva University News - Yu News - June 2nd, 2022
- Chicago Pastor Chris Harris and Skokie Rabbi Ari Hart team up to erase $1.9 million in medical debt - FOX 32 Chicago - June 2nd, 2022
- There are days when we just have to put one foot in front of another until it's over, says Rabbi Steve Leder on the loss of a child. - KCRW - June 2nd, 2022
- Our outrage must evolve into the will to stop gun madness - The Dallas Morning News - June 2nd, 2022
- Will We Bring Bikkurim During Shemittah? - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - June 2nd, 2022
- Ealing rabbi and campaigning survivor among those honoured by Queen - Jewish News - June 2nd, 2022
- The Detroit church founded by antisemite Father Coughlin hosts an event on Jewish-Catholic relations - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - June 2nd, 2022
- Rabbi Blau headed to Poland on RCA mission - Cleveland Jewish News - May 14th, 2022
- Rabbi: Jewish Law Provides Room For Debate To Protect Life In The Womb And The Mothers Health - CBS Miami - May 14th, 2022
- Some Conservative rabbis are flouting the intermarriage ban J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 14th, 2022
- The Out-of-Town In-Towner: Rabbi David Bashevkin and Authentic Religious Experience - The Commentator - The Commentator - May 14th, 2022
- 'Survivor' Torah scroll will journey from Palo Alto to Israel this summer J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 14th, 2022
- Rabbi Chaim Ingram From London To Sydney And Music To The Rabbinate - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 14th, 2022
- Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley: May 20-26 - Sedona.Biz - The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley - Sedona.biz - May 14th, 2022
- EMOR: We cannot teach Torah by avoiding portions we don't like J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 14th, 2022
- No, Rabbi Boteach, the death penalty is barbarian, and hate is idolatry and dumb - The Times of Israel - May 14th, 2022
- How the Munich Massacre relates to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Online Athens - May 14th, 2022
Comments