(lubavitch.com) When patients are hospitalized their greatest comfort is often the presence of a family member at their bedside. That’s why Broward Health Broward General Medical Center (BGMC) and Chabad Lubavitch of Fort Lauderdale have partnered to open a Jewish Hospitality Suite. The suite is designed to accommodate patients and families during their stay at BGMC.
“When a Jewish person visits a hospitalized loved one, he or she may face two additional challenges in their time of crisis: provisions for kosher food and accommodations for the Sabbath and Jewish holidays,” said Rabbi Moishe Meir Lipszyc, executive director of Chabad of Fort Lauderdale.
The Jewish Hospitality Suite, with a kosher kitchen, food, general supplies, a telephone, a computer with Internet access, prayer books and Jewish reading material, is available to Jewish patients and their families free of charge.
“This helps make a stressful situation more bearable for the family and friends by allowing them to focus their attention on their loved one,” said Rabbi Bentzion Singer, Chabad’s representative. Rabbi Singer, Chaplain for BGMC, will supervise the Jewish Hospitality Suite. “It is a place where one can rest, relax, pray and read while visiting the hospital.”
In addition to the accommodations in the Jewish Hospitality Suite, volunteers from Chabad are available to provide a sensitive and professional “listening ear and caring heart” to hospital bound individuals. “A warm smile and concerned, friendly face are the hallmarks of our Rabbis when visiting patients,” Singer said.
“We are delighted to be a part of this partnership,” said James Thaw, CEO of BGMC. “Broward General has always been committed to providing the people of Broward County with the best possible medical care, but that care goes far beyond the walls of the medical center. This is a representation of that commitment.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, August 27. Kosher refreshments will be provided by Café Emunah.
The hosting committee for the event includes Paul M. Sallarulo, Don Taft, Karen Dresbach, Ari Roloff, Mayor Jack Seiler, Ralph Marrinson, Bruce Roberts, James Thaw, Rabbi Moishe Meir Lipszyc and Rabbi Bentzion Singer.
Related Articles
Be the first to write a comment.