In this episode, we meet three Jewish chaplains who serve as spiritual care managers in their respective hospitals and discuss blessings and challenges in their experiences in leading their departments.
Rabbi Fredda Cohen recently retired after a distinguished tenure as Director of Pastoral Care & Education at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York. She managed a staff of six chaplains and numerous volunteers. She has rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and is a board certified chaplain under the auspices of NAJC. Rabbi Cohen received the prestigious Chaplain of the Year Award conferred by the New York Board of Rabbis in 2015. Prior to her career as a chaplain/rabbi, Rabbi Cohen earned a law degree from Fordham University and worked as a trusts and estate attorney. Here is Rabbi Cohen appearing on a White Plains Hospital podcast. Rabbi Cohen moderates this discussion.
Rabbi Simcha Silverman, serves as director of Chaplaincy Services at Northwell Health, Lenox Hill Hospital. In his capacity as director, he oversees the department of multiple chaplains, provides pastoral care to patients, their family members and hospital staff. He also serves as Rabbi of the hospital, creating an infrastructure and setting for Jewish people of all types to feel most welcomed and have their cultural and religious needs met. Prior to coming to Lenox Hill in 2012, Rabbi Silverman worked in hospice. He completed his chaplain internship and residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Downtown Miami and received his board certification through the NAJC. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from Bellevue University and Semicha from the Mirrer Yeshiva. In addition to his hospital responsibilities, Rabbi Silverman serves as the rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush, a synagogue in Brooklyn NY that has just marked its centennial anniversary. Rabbi Silverman co-authored this piece on the Northwell website regarding his facility's new chapel.
Chaplain Mark Daniels serves as the Manager of Spiritual Services at the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New Hyde Park, NY, which is also part of the Northwell Health system. Chaplain Daniels has had a rich, multi-faceted career that included a decade in education during which he was headmaster of a school. He then led his own home decor business for over 25 years. Having endured a serious health crisis, Chaplain Daniels was inspired to train as a chaplain, first at Mount Sinai West (formerly Roosevelt Hospital) after which he completed his training at North Shore University Hospital before doing advanced work in a fellowship at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. He has been at CCMC for nearly a decade. Chaplain Daniels has been an active Reform Jew his whole life. He is a Board Certified Chaplain and serves on the NAJC Board. Here is an article profiling Chaplain Daniels during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.