Tarzana, CA – When Providence Tarzana Medical Center looked to become the first San Fernando Valley hospital to hang mezuzahs in all patient areas, they turned to Chabad of the Valley for assistance.
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Hospital officials, administrators, doctors, nurses and area rabbis celebrated the placement of the first mezuzah, in the hospital auditorium, in mid-March. At the gathering, Rabbi Mordechai Einbinder, associate director of the Chabad of the Valley shared thoughts on the mezuzah’s role in spiritual and physical security. Rabbi Bruce Raff of Temple Judea and Rabbi Edward Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom spoke as well.
Hanging the rest of the holy scrolls took several weeks because the hospital committed itself to placing them in all patient rooms and public rooms. With a hospital staff member at his side and super strong double-stick tape in hand, Chabad of the Valley’s director of development Rabbi Yanky Kahn hung over 270 mezuzahs, each encased in a sleek copper-tone tube.
“The mezuzahs represent a beautiful partnership between a local hospital and Chabad as we work hand in hand to make the world a safer, healthier place,” said Rabbi Kahn.
Chabad helped the hospital purchase authentic mezuzahs, handwritten by trained scribes on natural parchment. “The rabbis at Chabad were the ones who really spearheaded the project, getting the mezuzahs. It was a really good experience,” said Shawn Kiley, director of mission leadership at Providence Tarzana. “Reaction to the mezuzahs has been positive. They’ve been really well received.”
Providence Tarzana, which serves a patient population that is 20-25% Jewish, stands down the block from Chabad of the Valley headquarters on Burbank Blvd. Providence Health and Services, a large not-for-profit Catholic health ministry with 27 hospitals in the western United States and Alaska, bought the medical center in 2008. The move to place mezuzahs at all doorposts signaled the hospital’s commitment to honoring their patients’ beliefs.
“Our patients do not have to check their faith at the door,” according to Shawn Kiley, director of mission leadership. “Now that this is a Catholic-run hospital, those who are Jewish can celebrate their faith even more than before.”
Beyond mezuzahs, Providence Tarzana offers Jewish patients electric candles to light for Shabbat, kosher meals and the services of two on-site chaplains. Chabad rabbis are part of the spiritual care advisory board that meets quarterly to address religious issues. Chabad of the Valley, under the leadership of Rabbi Joshua B. Gordon, hosts holiday festivities at the hospital during Chanukah and Purim and throughout the year. They are also on call for patients who request Chabad chaplain services.
Providence Tarzana and Chabad are deepening their partnership. Chabad of the Valley, an umbrella of 24 Chabad centers, is developing a new program to deal with drug and alcohol addiction. According to Kiley, Providence Tarzana’s clinical social workers are part of the Chabad coalition.
“We are looking for ways to help Chabad in their places of faith. We are solidifying our relationship with the rabbis and are looking forward to helping them with their initiatives in their community.”
I think according to Halacha the hospital ( a non jewish / public place) is not required to have Mezuzos altogether. Can someone confirm if there is a Halacha requirement to have Mezuzos there.
Why did they do this?
Did they put them next to the Crucifix?
Are the mezuzas next to crosses and other Christian things? Lubavitchers may feel comfortable with such arrangements, like when they put their menoras next to Xmas trees. However, that is not mainstream Judaism. We don’t go around and missionize.
Even though there may been rare and isolated cases where non-Jews have had Jewish symbols, to install mezuzas en masse, on every patient’s door of a Catholic hospital, is not a good idea, even if the hospital invited it. There is no obligation to do so and some of the non-Jews will not like it, just like a Jew would not want a Christian symbol.
This is a foolish move which should be reconsidered, even if the people meant well, although quite likely it was a a decision to try to attract Jewish business as well, if not primarily so.
What a Bizayon to Kisvei Hakodesh to be hung in such a place!
i hope they take mr. yemach shmo hanging on the vont out of the mezuzah rooms. catholic hospitals have the most meshuggah figurines and pitctures all over the place. come out of one , and go to the mikveh. this is all about money, the catholics like all the other goyim hate us. they are not pluralistically inclined.
I’m Sure they got the Consent of Great Reliable Rabbinical Advisors;
What a bizoyan…
Read the article 25 % of patients r Jewish so for brocha and shmira they put up the mezuza there…I m sure if ur child had to be there u would be happy to know there is a mezuza.. Oh but it’s not ur child so who cares… That’s the difference bettween u an d chabad shluchim … I would pick any day their “punishment” for putting up 270 mezuzahs than your ” reward” for bashing this rabbis good work
WOW! Incredible, Yes off course the Halacha is of utmost importance, but why do you put a Mezuzah on your door? just because of a Halacha?! Shame on all of you who have nothing positive to say, and are literally bearing to the world their lack of Yiras Shomayim, and their warmth to Yiddishkeit, remember it isn’t always about the specifics of Halacha, as long as it is not Assur, start thinking as to WHY you put up a Mezuzah in your own homes, or do you do it just because your “rebbi” told you! if so, then its a “bitte rachmonis” that you have no real connection to Judaism!
2) who do you think these “Chabad” people are? you think they are your buddies?! these are Rabonim, and yes I personally know many of these Chabad Rabonim who received Smicha from the same place your “Rov” got his Smicha. No one says they cannot be criticized, but remember they are familiar with the Halochos, just as your “Heilige Rov” is familiar with his!
3) And I guess now in the sfira is a great time for acrimonious rhetoric towards our fellow Yidden, whom busts themselves on the front line every day, while you sit comfortably in your “Daled Amos” and throw in your cheap critique!
when is maimonides in boro-park going to put mezuzos on all the doors.
i am not kidding.
walk around the hospital and you will see some doors with, and many doors without.
Why don’t you chochomim open up a shulchan oruch and look in hilchos mezuzah? There are very few places that it is OSSUR to put up a mezuzah and a hospital is most certainly not one of them.
It’s my opinion that putting up mezuzos in that place takes this act out of the realm of Shulchan Aruch, Kedusha, and Jewish tradition and throws it into the realm of superstition and good luck, a nice thing to do.
One is only mechyav to put up mezuzos in a dwelling where one lives more than 30 days, but, that does not pertain to a hospital stay, because you are not the renter or owner of your room and you only plan to stay there temporarily. I don’t get why Lubavitch does all these strange things that no other frum Yid does.
Do they offer Shomer Shabbos Residencies? This would be a great way to help the Jewish community. Let current Jewish Medical Students have Shomer Shabbos Residencies at the Hospital. There is not enough of them.
I happen to agree with #6 ! I worked in a hospital for many years. They have a bibel in every drawer and why be “mevaze” mezuses in such a manner? And to#8 why should #1 keep quiet? He’s voicing his opinion in a respectable way. He’s not blasting Lubavitch. I LOVE lubavitch and what they do. But a lot of their actions begs explanation
I’m sure it’s these same people bashing chabad, stay by chabad houses when they need a place to stay.
Which lucky sofer/im got the job?!!-at least a yid got parnosa from this…
Wow, so much commotion over creating some good will between Rabbis, Judaism and a hospital that tries to help the sick. Nothing wrong with the Mezuzah being there and if it gives some spiritual lift to a CHoleh, thats fine. It is not a place of Bizayon. Please everyone who is negative, try to be at least an Ohev Yisrael if not Ohev Habrios.