Los Angeles Daily News Hospital chaplains fill role of surrogate family members during times of isolation depression death Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 22 October 2020 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Los Angeles Daily News Hospital chaplains fill role of surrogate family members during times of isolation depression death During the COVID-19 pandemic, chaplains have acted as a bridge between patients and their loved ones. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. The Los Angeles Daily News recently interviewed Rabbi Jason Weiner, PhD, senior rabbi and director of Cedars-Sinai's Spiritual Care Department, for an article about how hospital chaplains' roles have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As hospitals have limited visitors to protect patients and staff, chaplains have become a critical bridge for loved ones. In the Daily News story, Weiner recalled a touching request from a hospitalized patient's husband: "Can you tell my wife I love her?" It was the first time in 65 years that the couple had not slept in the same room together. "Do you know what that's like?" the husband asked Weiner. "That was powerful and deeply moving," Weiner told the Daily News. "I gave his wife the message and she acknowledged it with a nod." In addition to guiding patients and their families through challenging times, chaplains help staff and patients celebrate religious holidays. During the pandemic, Weiner has adapted rituals to meet changing public health guidelines while also connecting local Jewish community leaders with Cedars-Sinai experts for advice on how to safely observe religious rituals. In April, Weiner improvised to help hospitalized patients celebrate Passover and Easter in small, meaningful ways. He posted a sign in the intensive care unit that said "Happy Passover" in English and Hebrew for a devout patient who was seriously ill. "Because Passover meant so much to him, his wife suggested we put up the sign on the ICU's glass windows," Weiner told the Daily News. "He saw the sign and gave a nod." Click here to read the complete story from the Los Angeles Daily News. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Contact Sarah Lichtman Sarah.Lichtman@cshs.org Share this release Los Angeles Daily News Hospital chaplains fill role of surrogate family members during times of isolation depression death Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home