Next meetings
- January, 21, 2012 Conference Room Special Shabbat lunch after the minyans, followed by a workshop with Irene Smith a specialist in the use of touch in caregiving. This is a dynamic workshop that covers the taboos and necessities of touch. Suggested donation $10 to help cover the honorarium. Please send the check to Beth Am with "Yad l'Yad speaker" in the memo line or on the envelope. Signup form here
What is Yad l'Yad?
Yad l'Yad (hand in hand) is congregational project to increase our sacred and practical knowledge of visiting the sick and bring the spirit of the Beth Am community to those who can no longer participate in many synagogue events for health reasons or because they no longer drive.
We meet five to six times per year to learn from the Program Team and from fellow congregants who are in a caregiving profession and to discuss questions about visiting the sick, extending this knowledge to our particular focus group.
- The goal of these visiting assignments is to maintain a synagogue connection to the visitee.
- A long term relationship built by checking in monthly at least by phone and when possible by visiting
- Visits could take the form of bringing a challah (dropping off a holiday-related item)
Participation recommended for those who are amenable to making a regular visiting commitment, possess knowledge to share or wish they knew more, who visit ailing friends, family, or neighbors and would like the support of a chevre bikur cholim (society for visiting the sick). (Contact: Lisa Whitmore or the Beth Am Office)
Ongoing
Please choose something from the recommended reading list (see button above) and bring a "nugget" from the publication to share. It could be something that was new to you or something you think the group would benefit from.
Other Bikur Cholim Resources
- Gesharim!
- New York Times article by Bruce Feiler with visiting the sick etiquette and some additional references
- The Art of Visiting the Sick: A Practical Guide By Rabbi Bradley Artson
- Beth Am Phone Call Guidelines
- "What Do I Say?" by Nancy Flam (DOC)
- Jewish Healing Programs: Best Practices (PDF)
- "Give Me Your Hand" Jane Handler et al (PDF)
- Stephen S. Wise bikur cholim handbook (PDF)
- "Rabbi Isaac Trainin Bikur Cholim Coordinating Council" references, publications, and other information
- Nedarim 39b
Regional Training/Volunteering programs
- Pathways volunteer program
- Bay Area Jewish Healing Center 40 hours of training, 1 year commitment of 4 hours/week. Location San Francisco
- Jewish Chaplaincy at Stanford University Medical Center 1 year commitment. Location Stanford University. Ongoing training.
- JFCS visiting program
- El Camino Hospital Chaplaincy volunteer program 2 hours/week for 6 months.