Religious Needs of the Orthodox Jewish Patient

Jewish law recognizes the supreme sanctity of life. Any of the following which may interfere with procedures that are necessary to sustain or prolong life or for the comfort of a critically ill patient would thus be suspended. Orthodox patients are generally aware of those laws which pertain to them and must be practiced and which can be suspended. Please feel free to consult with the patient, his family or his rabbi to clarify any doubt you may have. If need be, please call out Bikur Cholim (Guardians of the Sick) Hot Line 494-4343.

1. General

  1. It is imperative that notification of the presence of any Jewish patient in the hospital occur in a timely fashion, preferably via fax.
  2. If the patient requests a clergy visit, and has no affiliation, please call our Hot Line 494-4343.
  3. Provide the Rabbi with any information you feel may be relevant to the patient's situation.

ll. Daily Needs

  1. Modesty- Men will keep their heads covered at all times. Some women may cover their hair with a kerchief or wig. If so, they will choose to do so at all times, and consider themselves immodest if they are not so covered. In addition, modesty dictates that their arms and legs be covered.
  2. Prayer and ritual washing- Most Orthodox patients say daily prayers 3 times a day and recite grace after meals. Beforehand they may wish to wash their hands ritually (using a cup). During these times, they will not respond to questions or requests.

    Males will don phylacteries ('Tefillin'-black box-like religious artifacts with straps that must be properly affixed to both head and hand), once a day, if possible.

lll. Kosher Food

  1. Jewish law requires that all food be properly supervised and properly sealed. This includes all snack foods.
  2. Meat and milk or their derivatives are not eaten together.
  3. Packages whose seals appear to be tampered with will not be eaten.
  4. Orthodox patients order from a special Kosher menu in addition to the regular menu.

IV. Sabbath Observance

  1. The Sabbath is ushered in on Friday before sundown by lighting a special candelabra, available in the Chaplain's office cabinet.
  2. On the Sabbath, Friday evening after sundown until Saturday after nightfall, many restrictions apply. Patients will prefer not to use electrical appliances. Included would be elevators, call bells, electric hospital beds, lights, cars, doors that open electronically etc.
  3. Orthodox observers will not write on the Sabbath, and by American law, may indicate their desire for medical procedures in front of witnesses.
  4. They will not use or touch money. (Special accommodations have been made in the cafeteria for vouchers to be repaid after the Sabbath. Please contact the volunteer office.)

    Since neither the patient nor anyone accompanying him will travel on the Sabbath, the patient cannot be discharged on Saturday, and those with him may not leave until after sundown. (They must have some form of accommodations, even if only a pillow and cover to use on the couch in the lounge.)

V. Holidays

  1. Religious holidays hold great significance for the Orthodox Jewish patient. While each holiday has its own symbols and ceremonies, most holidays carry restrictions similar to the Sabbath (see Sabbath, above) with regard to use of electrical equipment, ability to write to drive, etc. All Jewish holidays begin before sundown and end after nightfall. Please be sensitive to the requests of the patient as he will generally be aware of the laws and restrictions himself.
  2. Jewish holidays are based on a lunar calendar. The dates listed below are only approximate. Jewish calendars are available on a yearly basis, usually published the beginning of September, the time of the New Year Holiday.
  3. Special symbols and ceremonies for specific holidays include:

VI. Maternity

  1. Orthodox Jewish women will attempt to adhere to their laws of modesty even under the most trying of circumstances and their wishes should be respected.
  2. Orthodox Jewish husbands, while extremely supportive and helpful throughout the labor and delivery process, will not touch their wives or hand them things directly during active labor. They are not being recalcitrant when they seem unwilling to do such tasks for their wives.
  3. Jewish babies must undergo religious circumcision on the eighth day of birth. Medical circumcision is prohibited. Several competent Mohelim (ritual circumcisors) are at our disposal. Only approved Mohelim should be used. Please call our hot line at 494-4343.
  4. Aborted fetuses which possess a human form are required to receive the same burial procedures as adults. Please follow the procedures as described under Death, Miscarriages, and Amputations below.

VII. Death, Miscarriages, and Amputations

  1. While in many other areas, the religious Jew will attempt to be forgiving if his needs cannot be met, the time of death carries with it the most emotion-laden and eternal ramifications. Therefore, it is imperative that these directives be carried out with the utmost of expediency and accuracy.
  2. The body of the Jewish patient is sacrosanct. Only his Orthodox religious co-religionists may touch it. Therefore, it is most important that timely notification occur to the patient's family or if they are unavailable or unreachable, the Hebrew Free Burial Association can be reached 24 hours a day at (212) 239-1662 as can the Chevrah Kaddishah (Holy Burial Society) of Queens at (718)-849-9700.
  3. All body fluids, whether in tubing, gauze bandages, or linens are considered part of the body and to be buried with it. Pending the arrival of the family or Burial Society, no one should move or touch the body. All indwelling tubes, intravascular catheters, and drains should remain undisturbed in situ following death. Drains can be similarly sealed and taped to the patient's body. In the interest of safety, we urge that draining venipucture sites and indwelling catheters or needles be covered with a gauze bandage and sealed by tape. Drains and intravascular catheters should be ligated or knotted before they are covered and taped. Care should be taken that all bandages, linens and tubings that are soiled with body fluids accompany the deceased. 1. If a death occurs on the Sabbath, co-religionists will will not be able to attend to the body until Saturday night. It should be removed to the morgue with all bandaging tubing, and linens intact.
  4. Upon arrival of the family of Burial Society, a request will most likely be made to allow a Guardian to stay with the body. Every effort should be made to allow this, if at all possible in the patient's room, or it not, even in the morgue.
  5. Autopsies are considered in the highest form of insult to the deceased and can only be performed under suspicion of foul play, and even then only after consultation with a competent Orthodox rabbi. Please consult Pastoral Counseling for a list of telephone numbers or call our Hot Line at 494-4343.
  6. Miscarried or aborted fetuses which possess a human form are treated precisely as described above. Other tissues and fluids occurring during miscarriage or abortion may be disposed of as the hospital sees fit.
  7. Amputated limbs require burial. Cremation or any other form of disposal are unacceptable.
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