JEEP’s rabbi serves as a volunteer Jewish chaplain at many nursing homes and hospitals throughout our area.

The visits are short, sweet and supportive regardless of the patients’ affiliation or orientation. We coordinate with the patients’ own rabbi whenever possible and desired by the patient. JEEP’s pastoral care has extended into life support issues and, when (unfortunately) necessary, has included educating families about traditions of Jewish burial. JEEP also provides chaplaincy for Jewish residents at Summit Behavioral Center and other psychiatric units at area hospitals.

When a Jewish holiday approaches, we provide holiday celebration, food and spirit, according to the patients’ situation and desire.

The parents of a newborn boy learned about the significance of the mitzvah of bris milah (circumcision according to Jewish tradition) during a visit in the maternity ward the day after the birth.  As a result, they decided to have a bris milah for their son.

We arrived at the ICU of a local hospital in time to see the unfortunate passing of a young Jewish mother, leaving her three-year old son an orphan.  JEEP is guiding the non-Jewish father in arranging a Jewish education for the child, fulfilling a resolution that both parents agreed to several years before.

A former prisoner struggling with psychiatric challenges credits his early release, rehabilitation, employment and social success in great part to the Jewish learning and counseling he received during JEEP’s chaplaincy visits at the state mental health residence.

 A new American from Russia, following a most severe surgery, was counseled and comforted together with his wife during his last months, as the world of Jewish education was opened up to them for the first time. Upon her husband’s unfortunate demise, the wife learned of the importance of having a traditional Jewish burial.  JEEP facilitated all of the arrangements with sensitivity and according to Jewish tradition.