On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, Lenox Hill Hospital, a world premier medical institution opened its doors to a joint program of the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim (RAA/IGUD), an Orthodox rabbinical association with a membership near 1,000 Orthodox rabbis serving throughout the United States, and the National Council of Young Israel (NCYI), an Orthodox synagogue association with over 130 congregations across America. The symposium, entitled “Mchayil Lchayil, Taking YOUR SELF seriously, THE RABBI and HIS SELF care!”, was geared toward congregational rabbis and institutional chaplains. The symposium reflects the desire of both the RAA/IGUD and the NCYI to collaborate long-term on professional development and training that will enhance the Orthodox rabbi and chaplain. This training focuses on the rabbi’s and chaplain’s need to avoid burnout and to make certain that they are physically and spiritually healthy. A burnt-out rabbi or chaplain is unable to properly tend to the religious and spiritual needs of his congregation and patient. Therefore, the first of this series of professional development focused on staying healthy in order to best answer their calling to serve the community.

Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank, director of the Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs of the RAA/IGUD, opened the program and introduced Mr. Joe Leggio, associate executive director of Hospital Administration at Lenox Hill Hospital, who warmly greeted the attendees and emphasized the hospital’s sensitivity to and celebration of local communities. Rabbi Simcha Silverman, the director of Chaplaincy Services at Lenox Hill Hospital, also serves as Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush and as a member of the Chaplaincy Commission of the RAA/IGUD, further welcomed the rabbis and chaplains, and gave his insight as both a synagogue rabbi and hospital chaplain. Also participating in the Symposium were Rabbi Michoel Chazan, Rabbi Yochanan Ivry and Rabbi Tzephania Kreger, the other members of the Chaplaincy Commission of the RAA/IGUD.

Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director of Rabbinic Services at NCYI; Rabbi Marc Volk, executive director of NCYI and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of RAA/IGUD, spoke of the unprecedented stress and pressures felt by the contemporary rabbi. These demands represent the complex reality in which the rabbi finds himself today, which are different from rabbis in previous generations.

Dr. Steven Mandel, Neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital; Ms. Katrina Hartog, Dietician at Lenox Hill Hospital; Dr. Adam Rosenbluth, Cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital; and Rabbi Richard Weiss MD, a practicing physician and the rabbi of the Young Israel of Hillcrest, gave brilliant lectures in their respective fields of medicine. In particular, they focused on how a rabbi and chaplain can lead a healthy life and be more productive as a religious leader and guide.

During the dinner catered and sponsored by Lenox Hill Hospital, Inspector Mark Molinari, commanding officer of the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force, spoke about the rise of anti-Semitic incidents and hate crimes and presented security solutions that synagogues and houses of worship can implement. Inspector Molinari gave great security tips and expressed his gratitude to Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik for inviting him to participate in the symposium. Inspector Molinari concluded that he looks forward to continuing his collaboration with the RAA/IGUD and NCYI, who are great community partners and play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for New Yorkers.

The successful symposium concluded with a grand tour of the hospital, its operating rooms, emergency rooms and its cutting-edge technology led by Rabbi Simcha Silverman and Dr. Brandon J. Godbout, vice-chairman of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital.

At the end of the night, the rabbis and chaplains left recharged and encouraged, all possible thanks to the generosity and kindness of Lenox Hill Hospital.

 

FULL EVENT


NAMES IN PICTURES

Picture (1)
Left to Right
Abraham Steinberg, RN Patient Navigator; Rabbi Marc S. Volk, executive director, National Council of Young Israel; Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director Rabbinic Services, National Council of Young Israel; Mr. Joe Leggio, associate executive director of Hospital Administration, Lenox Hill Hospital; Dr. Steven Mandel, Neurologist, Lenox Hill Hospital; Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank, director of Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Simcha Silverman, director Chaplaincy Services, Lenox Hill Hospital and member Chaplaincy Commission, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim and Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Rav U’Machshir, Kashrus Alliance, Aleph K, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim.

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Names Left to Right
Members of the Chaplaincy Commission Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
Rabbi Michoel Chazan; Rabbi Tzephania Kreger; Rabbi Simcha Silverman; Rabbi Yochanan Ivry; Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik.

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A group of Rabbis and Chaplains posing with Inspector Mark Molinai, commanding officer, NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force.

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Group of Rabbis on the hospital tour led by Dr. Brandon J. Godbout, vice-chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital.

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Names Left to Right
Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director Rabbinic Services, National Council of Young Israel; Mr. Mendy Greenberger, Lenox Hill Bikur Cholim; Rabbi Simcha Silverman, director Chaplaincy Services, Lenox Hill Hospital and member Chaplaincy Commission, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Ari Weiss, governmental and law enforcement liaison, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Inspector Mark Molinai, commanding officer, NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force; Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank, director of Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Menachem Lichtenstein, member Commission on Public Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Rav U’Machshir, Kashrus Alliance, Aleph K, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Marc S. Volk, executive director, National Council of Young Israel and Rabbi Yisroel Kahan, member Commission on Public Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim.

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Names Left to Right
Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director Rabbinic Services, National Council of Young Israel; Rabbi Simcha Silverman, member Chaplaincy Commission, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim and director Chaplaincy Services, Lenox Hill Hospital; Mr. Mendy Greenberger, Lenox Hill Bikur Cholim; Rabbi Dr. Richard Weiss, Young Israel Hillcrest, Queens, New York; Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank, director of Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim and Rabbi Marc S. Volk, executive director, National Council of Young Israel.

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A group of Rabbis and Chaplains touring the operating rooms of Lenox Hill Hospital.

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A portion of the Rabbis in the lecture room at Lenox Hill Hospital.

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Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank, director of Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud, opening the Symposium.

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Rabbi Simcha Silverman, member Chaplaincy Commission, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim and director Chaplaincy Services, Lenox Hill Hospital speaking at the Symposium.

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Mr. Joe Leggio associate executive director of Hospital Administration, Lenox Hill Hospital, welcoming the Rabbis and Chaplains to Lenox Hill Hospital.

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Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim speaking at the Symposium.

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Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director Rabbinic Services, National Council of Young Israel speaking at the Symposium.

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Dr. Steven Mandel, Neurologist, Lenox Hill Hospital lecturing at the Symposium.

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Dr. Adam Rosenbluth, Cardiologist, Lenox Hill Hospital lecturing at the Symposium

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Rabbi Dr. Richard Weiss, Young Israel Hillcrest, Queens, New York lecturing at the Symposium

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Inspector Mark Molinai, commanding officer, NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force speaking at the Symposium.

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Rabbi Tzephania Kreger, member Chaplaincy Commission, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim.