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Hospice of Palm Beach County understands the vital roles that faith and spirit play in the lives of patients and their families, and for more than 30 years have provided spiritual care counselors for all faiths. Chaplains are an integral member of the healthcare team and are available to provide pastoral care for patients and family members, and will also provide competent spiritual support and objective crisis intervention when needed.

Hospice of Palm Beach County Chaplains

The chaplains also serve as liaisons for local clergy. With the patient’s permission, they can call the family pastor, priest, rabbi, imam or other religious leader, and provide pastoral care and support until the patient’s own clergy arrives. If the patient and family do not have his or her own clergy, the Hospice of Palm Beach County Chaplain serves as a trusted friend and pastoral figure.

The newest member of the Hospice of Palm Beach County spiritual care team is the first Rabbinical Coordinator Rabbi Dr. Chaim Joseph Wender. From 1996-2007 he served as Rabbi of Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County, Florida. He is Co-President of the Delray Beach Clergy Association and has been awarded the title of Fellow of Leo Baeck College (F.L.B.C.), in recognition of more than twenty-five years in the rabbinate. Rabbi Wender recently invited Cantor Margaret Schmitt to conduct a Jewish Music Workshop for the Hospice of Palm Beach County Music Therapists. The songs introduced at the workshop represented some of the most important prayers in the Jewish faith.

Jewish Music Workshop participants

“I feel genuinely privileged to work with so many wonderful people–the staff, patients and their families–who are associated with the outstanding Hospice of Palm Beach County. It is my earnest hope to be able to reach out even more to our local Jewish community, ” said Rabbi Dr. Chaim Joseph Wender.