Helping Grandparents to Be There for Their Twin Granddaughters

By Rabbi Nathan Goldberg

At a local hospital the daughter of a patient undergoing acute dialysis came to me and said that her father was feeling down, and asked that I speak with him, which I did.

I learned that his twin granddaughters were soon to become bat mitzvah, and the grandfather was distressed that neither grandparent could attend, because he was in the hospital and Grandmother was home-bound.

We together composed a blessing for each granddaughter on the lines of the blessing that Jacob gave to his grandsons in the book of Genesis:

BLESSING!

Jewish Tradition provides the perspective that healing is not merely about the physical body. Healing incorporates body and soul. June and Joan, (note: names changed to respect privacy) please allow me to thank you for allowing me the privilege to be part of your lives and to share this blessing. The mere act of writing this has provided healing for Grandma’s and my spirits.

Please know that even though Grandma and I cannot be here with you with our physical presence, we are certainly with you in spirit. On that note, we would like to share our gratitude to your parents, our children. They loved and cared for you long before you could recognize them. Their vigilant and tender care for one-and-a-half pound “premie” twins began years ago. The fruits of their love are beginning to be experienced now as you begin your journey as young women.

Joan, I shall start with you. Your Hebrew name is Miriam. Like Miriam the prophetess, your kind, considerate creativity endears you to your family and friends. I am blessed by you and pray that you will continue to grow into the wonderful woman you are already becoming.

June, your Hebrew name is Devora. You, like Devora the judge, can see things clearly and achieve your goals. Your intensity is energizing and I cannot wait to see where you will go in the future.

We are particularly proud that our two granddaughters are wonderful individuals who are not afraid to express who they are. At the same time, they are considerate of others- each of them emanates kindness. In this way, they are following in the footsteps of their family- in particular their mother and father who are dedicated to Tikun Olam, fixing the world, on a personal and professional basis.

I leave you with the blessing of Jacob for his children and grandchildren as well as the Aaronic blessing, traditionally given to children as well. In these blessings, I also include (other granddaughter, grandson Jesse, and great grandson.)

May the angel who redeemed me from all evil bless the children in the name of the parents…

May G-d bless you, and watch over you.
May G-d make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
May The L-RD lift up his presence to you, and give you peace.

Afterwards Grandpa wrote to me, “The words were read by one of our sons and through these words everyone at the celebration felt our presence and love for our granddaughters. The words were beautiful and very moving. You had finalized our thoughts so perfectly.  Thank you for what you helped us say and for our ‘being there with everyone,’ especially our girls. It touched us and gave us the comfort we needed so very much at that time.”

Grandpa’s letter was such a gift to me, to hear that I could bring him and Grandma closer to their family, to ease their burdens in difficult times, and to add to the joy of this milestone event for their family.

Orthodox Rabbi Nathan Goldberg, an Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor, is a member of the Clinical Faculty at HealthCare Chaplaincy.

Laughing Yourself to Better Health

By Jeannette Watson Sanger

	Jeannette Watson Sanger.

Research has shown that laughter reduces stress and pain, lowers blood pressure, enhances lung capacity, improves sleep and boosts the immune system. Laughter Yoga, created by Dr. Mandan Kataria, is a unique exercise routine that combines group laughter exercises with yoga breathing.

This Fall I’ll be conducting Laughing Yoga classes at the Open Center – the country’s largest and oldest holistic health center. We’ll practice a blend of laughter techniques interspersed with breathing, stretching exercises and rhythmic clapping to improve our health and refresh our psyches. Laughing Yoga fosters happiness and clears negativity. Ten minutes of laughter, it is said, equals 20 minutes of jogging, and is much more fun!

The classes will be given on October 4th and October 11th, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at The Open Center, 22 East 30th Street in Manhattan.

As e e cummings said: “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”

Note: Not advised for people with hernias, advanced hemorrhoids, heart disease, recent surgery, severe backaches, persistent cough, epilepsy, high blood pressure, incontinence or any eye complications.

-----------------------------
Jeannette Watson Sanger is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and a Member of the Board of Trustees of HealthCare Chaplaincy. She was the founder and owner of Manhattan’s renowned Books & Co and the Lenox Hill Bookstore, where she had a satisfying career healing people with words, thoughts and books. It was a natural progression into the healing arts. Jeannette is a Level 4 practitioner of Healing Touch and a graduate of Healing the Light Body Program of the Four Winds School, where she learned ancient Incan Shamanic healing techniques. She has studied Buddhism for many years. More recently, she studied yogic laughter with Vishwa Prakesh and is now a Certified Laughter Leader. Jeannette believes that of all her healing techniques Laughter can provide a profound healing, combining elements of Buddhist teachings along with yogic and Shamanic techniques.

Come Celebrate with Us
at Our 50th Anniversary Gala

For full invitation and ticket purchase information, click here.

Caring for the Caregivers - September 11th Events Held for Hospital Staffs

The Hospital for Special Surgery and New York Hospital Queens both held 9/11 Tenth Anniversary remembrances for employees, medical staff, friends and family.

At the Hospital for Special Surgery, Sister Margaret Oettinger, Chaplain Judy Fleischman
and Rabbi Ralph Kreger from HealthCare Chaplaincy and the hospital’s department of pastoral care invited hospital staff to reflect on the events of that day and how it has impacted them through to the present. They stressed the importance of touch in human relations, and invited everyone present to enjoy a relaxing massage from a professional masseuse.

At New York Hospital Queens, staff was invited to come together to reflect upon the memory of 9/11 and the lives of those lost 10 years ago. Speakers included HealthCare Chaplaincy’s Rabbi David Keehn, director of pastoral care at the hospital, Mark Kindschuh M.D., vice chairman, Emergency Department, and Chief Diane Pizzuti, NYPD commanding officer – Patrol Borough Queens North. The memorial ceremony featured an honor guard at the NYHQ Emergency Services Memorial site.

Follow us and join the conversations on spirit –centered palliative care.