Israeli spiritual leaders find warm welcome, healing at Hebrew SeniorLife

Last week, Hebrew SeniorLife welcomed 12 Israeli rabbis and chaplains for an intensive weeklong seminar in spiritual care. Organized by Hebrew SeniorLife’s spiritual care department, this visit offered a transformative and healing experience for the visitors and the broader Hebrew SeniorLife community. A key stop: a heartfelt lunch on Nov. 7 at Jack Satter House in Revere, where local residents, who are members of the Jewish congregation, gathered to share stories, embrace the visitors and express solidarity with Israel. For many of the Israeli participants, this touching welcome set the tone for an impactful week of learning, healing and cultural exchange.

  What brought the leaders together: The Refresh Spiritual Care Seminar was led by Rabbis Beth Naditch, Director of CPE, ACPE Certified Chaplaincy Educator, Hebrew SeniorLife; Lior Nevo, chaplain of Jack Statter House; and Karen Landy, chaplain and Manager of Spiritual Care, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. The seminar provided respite and renewal for the Israeli rabbis and chaplains – many of whom have been dealing with the ongoing pressures of supporting communities affected by the war.

The seminar’s topics were both broad and deeply meaningful, covering trauma, resilience, grief responses, moral injury and the art of spiritual assessment. To supplement these discussions, the group worked with expressive arts therapists, honing their listening skills, exploring diverse narratives and discovering therapeutic practices to take back home.

  Where they connected and learned: In addition to the lunch at Jack Satter House, the rabbis and chaplains connected with other Hebrew SeniorLife communities, including a spirited dinner at NewBridge on the Charles, which opened with remarks by Rabbi Judi Ehrlich, a chaplain at NewBridge. Residents and visitors shared stories over traditional meals, and local clergy joined the group for a Christian Fellowship service led by Rev. Barbara Groover, a minister to women at the Charles Street A.M.E. Church and NBOC Christian chaplain, and Emily Perlman, Life Enhancement Coordinator. For some of the visitors, it was their first experience at an interfaith service and their first time in America, which made exploring Boston’s sights and New England’s fall foliage even more meaningful.

The weeklong journey was enriched by contributions from several partner organizations, including the Center for Pastoral Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Blaustein Center for Pastoral Counseling at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Mayyim Hayyim Mikveh and Education Center, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies. These partners brought additional perspectives to the seminar, further deepening the collaborative spirit and creating a diverse learning environment.

  Why it mattered to all involved: Reflecting on the program, Rabbi Beth Naditch noted, “When we dreamed up this program back in February of this year, we imagined and hoped that the war would be over, the hostages would be freed, and this week would serve as a time of healing and rebuilding for Israelis serving on the spiritual front lines. We were correct about one of those. This week did serve as a powerful healing opportunity for everyone involved: for the Israeli participants, for us as organizers, for our guest teachers, for local clergy and community members who supported the program, and for our patients and residents who had the rare opportunity to connect with people from Israel, a place they care deeply about.”

According to Paula Weiner, a Jack Satter House resident, “Having the Israeli chaplains and rabbis spend time with us was unbelievable. I will never be able to forget today.”

  How it created lasting bonds: The week’s events emphasized the bonds between Hebrew SeniorLife residents and the visiting rabbis, fostering connection and cross-cultural understanding. Each encounter, from meals shared to reflective discussions, underscored the commonalities between Boston’s Jewish community and Israeli spiritual leaders.

“Connecting with American Jews and hearing their stories was meaningful,” said Israeli Rabbi Dr. Iris Yaniv.

“The week left us all with a deep feeling that while our circumstances might be different, we are there for each other,” Rabbi Naditch added.