Illness

Please notify the temple office about illness in your family. Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel is ready to help families in times of joy and in times of sadness in order to foster communal support for members through every transition in our lives. Bikur cholim (visiting the sick) is a term encompassing a wide range of activities performed by our clergy and community to provide comfort and support to people who are ill, homebound, isolated and/or otherwise in distress.

Please also let the temple office and/or Cantor Grainer know if you wish to have your loved one included on the list for Refuah Shleimah (prayer for complete recovery). The way we treat and use this seemingly simple list and the other customs associated with prayers for the sick say a lot about Jewish values and their evolution and about our own community. During the Torah service, the gabbai or clergy will utter a Hebrew formula, will give the opportunity for people to utter names in Hebrew, will recite names from the list, and then continue the Hebrew formula.

Email Cantor Grainer to add your name or loved one’s name to our Refuah Shleimah and/or Bikur Cholim lists. Please provide the following information:

1. Name of the ill individual

   i. English Name

   ii. Hebrew Name:

      A. For a Male - Hebrew Name ben Mother’s Hebrew Name

      B. For a Female - Hebrew Name bat Mother’s Hebrew Name

2. Name of person requesting that the name be added to list(s) and his/her relationship to the ill individual

3. Reason for illness; Location (e.g. home, rehab, hospital – please indicate which hospital, room number and phone numbers); Current health status;

4. Phone number of person to contact to find out updates about ill individual (can be the ill person him/herself)

5. Please also indicate whether you would like any information to be kept confidential among BZBI’s clergy or if we can make your information available to the community (e.g. a member asks about you or your loved one).

PLEASE NOTE: Names will be removed from the Refuah Shleimah list after a month. If you wish for a name to remain on the list, please be sure to contact the temple office or Cantor Grainer.