Services
Jewish Healing Program
There are many unwanted challenges in our lives: illness, loss, isolation, spiritual crisis and grief to mention just a few. The Jewish Healing Program offers comfort and strength to individuals, caregivers and families facing a variety of challenges.
Renew Your Spirit
Healing is the renewal and strengthening of the spirit and mind - all JFCS Jewish Healing programs offer trained staff and volunteers to help you and your family through the process of healing.
Funded in part by the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, JFCS offers the following programs to meet the needs of the community as people move through life transitions:
- Religious services
- Hospital, home and nursing home visitation
- Companions for serious illness and end of life
- Coping with the loss of a loved one
- Prison ministry
- Lending library and annual lecture
- Educating the community
- Resource and referral services
The Jewish Healing Program is affiliated with The Doula to Accompany and Comfort Program, JBFCS and the National Center for Jewish Healing, JFVCS.
To find out more about each program component, call the Jewish Healing Program Director at 941-366-2224.
Community Religious Outreach: JFCS provides religious services to residents at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This outreach allows these Jewish residents, most of them unaffiliated, to maintain their spiritual connection and celebrate Shabbat, the Jewish High Holy Days and Festivals.
Bikkur Cholim: Trained volunteers offer support in the Jewish tradition of visiting the ill, providing companionship to alleviate isolation and loneliness. The volunteers address both the spiritual and emotional needs of the person, providing comfort and hope.
Prison Ministry: JFCS offers Torah studies, group discussions, Shabbat Services and spiritual support to inmates in both the local and state correctional facilities.
Doula Services for End of Life Transition: Specially trained volunteers establish a one-on-one relationship with care recipients and their families in need of comfort, companionship, support and a spiritual connection as they approach the end of their lives. The volunteer stays with the person regardless of length of time of the transition, offering assistance and advocacy during this time of need.
Bereavement Services: JFCS offers several programs to assist in the emotional healing after the loss of a loved one. Experienced counselors help people cope in the event of a loss of a child, parent, grandparent, spouse or other family member. The depth of emotion experienced during the grieving process can be overwhelming. Having the support of others is essential to begin the healing process. Individual and group sessions are both available.
Community Education Outreach: Education programs on cultural sensitivity of Jewish traditions are available to all areas of the community. In our diverse culture, it's important that businesses, community organizations, hospitals and senior residences understand specific needs of Jewish employees, customers or residents.
Grace Rosen Magill Jewish Healing Resource & Lending Library: The library offers many resources for inspiration, support and training. Inspirational speakers are annually featured through the Grace Rosen Magill Memorial Lecture Series. Past lecturers have included Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Irwin Kula and Rabbi Rami Shapiro.
