Congregational Nurse Program

Our Congregational Nursing Program’s mission is to work in unity with the Congregation to create a compassionate and caring community that will reach out to our members and provide support in times of need. This is a natural extension of the mitzvah of Gemilut Hasadim, performing acts of loving kindness, which is one of the core values of the our congregational community and our faith. Visiting the sick and integrating physical, mental and spiritual health is the Jewish tradition of Bikkur Holim. Our life is a gift requiring care and attention to our health needs, it is a Jewish value to support and pro-mote the health of our congregants.

Our health initiative, supported by our committee of congregants in the health care field, together with our Chesed committee, along with our Congregational Nurse, will aid in a number of crucial functions. They include, but are not limited to:

• Teaching health and wellness programs, and facilitating support groups
• Providing community referrals and identifying community resources
• Health promotion (blood pressure screening, flu shots, health fairs)
• Advocacy by assisting congregants to foster effective communication between home, hospital, and nursing home
• Assist our clergy in their work providing com-fort and spiritual support to congregants dealing with health challenges
• Help those congregants who are responsible for the care of others, such as aging parents or relatives, and who must navigate through social and medical services for their loved ones.

You can reach our congregational nurse by calling the synagogue at 718-776-3500 Extension 201 or by emailing Linda Liederman.

You will be prompted to leave a message with your name and phone number or email address. You can also send an an email using the form below. All contact and information is kept confidential.
Our nurse will arrange for a private and confidential assessment of needs; will discuss service options and recommend referrals and as part of our caring team will provide emotional support, spiritual care, and health guidance.

Please note that our Congregational nurse will NOT practice direct or hands-on healthcare in our synagogue community. She will not dispense or administer medications, make diagnoses, do wound care, draw blood, or provide treatments prescribed by a physician or per-form any nursing function that would be paid by a third party payer such as Medicare, Medicaid or an Insurance company. Our congregational nurse is not intended to take the place of, or compete with, existing community and health resources and medical providers. She is there to assist and be an educated ear to your concerns and augment our pastoral work.