Calvary Hospital Collaborates with Plaza Jewish Community Chapel
On May 9th, Calvary Hospital participated in a lecture series sponsored by Plaza Jewish Community Chapel on “Basic Things You Should Know about Jewish End of Life Choices, Funeral & Burial: Halachic and Practical Implications for You.” Part One of this series took place at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The objective was to educate people about their options for end-of-life care from a Jewish perspective.
KJ’s Rabbi Elie Weinstock moderated the event. Speakers included Mitch Kronish, LFD, Plaza Funeral Director, Christopher P. Comfort, MD, Medical Director, Calvary and Rabbi Rachmiel Rothberger, BCC, Jewish Community Liaison, Calvary.
“Our collaboration with Calvary allows us to fulfill a need for accurate information about a subject that many people want to learn about but often don’t know where to begin,” said Stephanie Garry, Chief Administrative Officer for Plaza Jewish Community Chapel. “Calvary and Plaza are both committed to serving the entire Jewish community, whatever their level of observance.”
“Since the Hospital was founded in 1899, Calvary has been committed to serving people of all religious and faith backgrounds,” reported Rabbi Rothberger. “Our comprehensive program of care for Jewish patients and families includes Glatt Kosher and cholov yisrael food upon request, a daily visit from a rabbi, food from an expanded Kosher Hospitality Suite, dedicated Shabbos Lounge, Kabbalat Shabbat service, and celebrations of all major holidays.”
Three rabbis at Calvary care for hundreds of Jewish inpatients and home hospice patients each year. People may receive CalvaryCare® at the Hospital’s facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens and in private homes and select nursing facilities where they reside.
In November 2016, on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, Calvary Hospital completed the restoration of a 135-year-old Torah scroll, itself a Holocaust survivor. This Torah scroll — dating from 1880 — is originally from the town of Taus-Domazlice, in what is now The Czech Republic. Since 1988, it has been on permanent loan to Calvary from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London.
Calvary’s award-wining outreach to the Jewish community has been spearheaded by Dr. Michael J. Brescia, Executive Medical Director.
To learn more about CalvaryCare®, please visit: www.calvaryhospital.org.
Plaza is the first and only not-for-profit Jewish funeral chapel in New York City that is owned and operated by the Jewish community. Plaza takes pride in giving back to the community and the families it serves by putting its values into action with ongoing community-minded campaigns. These include: educational programs for seniors, students, and end-of-life caregivers; being a drop-off site for gently used medical supplies for the Afya Foundation; providing proper burial of Sheimos collections and assisting the community in a variety of ways which includes grants, sponsorships, and a fellowship program to train Jewish funeral directors. Plaza is honored to have sponsored or co-sponsored over 20 bereavement conferences and offers free Yahrzeit candles to synagogues, organizations and families throughout the year. Also, Plaza created a free Yahrzeit Memorial App to help keep track of important memorial dates of family members and friends that includes Jewish prayers, meditations, and customs.