The Bay Area Jewish Healing Center often shared Jewish holiday packets and additional spiritual reflections with hospitals. They didn’t always know what happens once they made the materials available. In one hospital, in the room of a 92-year-old man, listed at Jewish in the census, they found out. This update comes from a local hospital coordinator.
“His eyes were a bit skeptical when I showed him the Passover packet and explained where it had come from. I asked him if he’d like to open it with me. His entire face just lit up as he pulled out one item after another. He kept saying how nice it is that the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center provides this. He had me lay out the dark blue napkin and place everything on it, on his tray table, so that he could look at it.
This patient told me about a painful history with his father who he described as a “fanatic Jew.” He told me he left Judaism as a young man, because of his father. But the packet on that day “makes me feel like my Bar Mitzvah all over again.” We were both a bit teary eyed.”
This legacy resource of the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center (BAJHC) is used by the Northern California Board of Rabbis with permission of BAJHC.
Should you be a patient in a San Francisco hospital during Passover or another Jewish holiday (or know of someone who is), please make sure that you are listed as Jewish on your hospital form and/or reach out to the Northern California Board of Rabbis Jewish Chaplaincy Program if you would like a visit from our Chaplain.