Religious services for the Jewish public

 

Hillel Yaffe Medical Center is committed to the general welfare of all visitors, including those who are religiously observant. This commitment ensures that they can maintain the religious lifestyle to which they are accustomed, even when they are in the hospital.

Below is information about activity at the synagogue and the prayer times, the level of kashruth and kashruth procedures as well as the charitable organizations that work to promote the welfare of hospital patients and their families.

 

Medical Center Rabbi: Rabbi Dovev Bindiger

Telephone: 050-8761795

 

General

Transportation in the hospital: Each building has a Sabbath elevator that is marked with a sign. The elevator operates from the beginning of the Sabbath until it is over.

At the ground level, there are exits for wheelchairs and carts that do not violate the Sabbath.

Discharging patients on the Sabbath: Patients who are shomer Shabbat and find themselves stuck in the emergency room on the Sabbath with no way of getting back home may remain in the hospital until Sabbath is over.

Borrowing tefillin: The Medical Center Rabbi will lend tefillin to anyone who requests them.

But: The Medical Center Rabbi will come to the patients' bedsides when called to provide them with support and to pray. The rabbi can be contacted through the department staff or may be called directly.

Ritual impurity of Kohanim: Kohanim who want to enter the medical center to visit a patient must consult with the Medical Center Rabbi.

 

Synagogue

The synagogue is located in Inpatient Building A, near the elevators.

It is open all day long.

Afternoon prayers (mincha) are held at 2:00 p.m.

 

Kosher certification

The kashruth of the medical center's kitchen and the departments is certified by the Medical Center Rabbi.

The mitzvah of ma'aser for fruits and vegetables is observed as required. Alei Katif leafy vegetables are cleaned and checked for insects, aside from cabbage, which is handled in the medical center's kitchen according to the instructions of the Chief Rabbinate.

Shmita: The vegetables served with meals (cooked and fresh) have a "sales permit."

The flour is sifted with a standard sifter.

Legumes and rice are sorted by kashruth supervisors.

Cooking is bishul yisroel, even for those who are very strict, using the Beit Yosef method. The entire cooking process is meticulously supervised.

There is complete separation between meat and dairy products, including steaming, both in the central kitchen and in the departments. There are separate sets of dishes for both meat and milk, including serving trays.

The coffee stations and cafes located in the medical center are certified kosher by the Hadera Rabbinate.

Glatt kosher meals for hospital patients alone, kosher le'mehadrin certified by Badatz can be ordered through the Medical Center Rabbi or the department nurses.

Food served on the Sabbath is supervised by a mashgiach. The food is cooked prior to the Sabbath, aside from soup, which is cooked by a "goy shel Shabbat."

The food is transported to the department by a "goy shel Sabbath."

The food is heated on heating carts by automatic programs that are certified by the Institution for Technology and Halacha.

The department kitchenettes are equipped with electric urns for Sabbath that meet the strictest Mehadrin standards. They are for the use of companions and the general public. Use of the electric urn on the Sabbath is permitted when the red light is on.

Wine for kiddish and lechem mishne: are provided when ordered in advance. Contact the Medical Center Rabbi (orders should be placed on Thursday).

Mifal Chesed provides glatt kosher meals on Shabbat for hospital patients and their companions. They must be ordered in advance by calling Rabbi Rosenberg at 052-7178674 or Chaim Heberman 050-6977501.

Contact the Medical Center Rabbi regarding hospitality and accommodation on the Sabbath, and if necessary on week days as well.

 

Candle lighting

Sabbath candles are distributed on Fridays and holiday eves in the various departments. Additionally, Sabbath candles can also be obtained at the nurses' station. For safety's sake and to prevent fires, candles may only be lit in the candle lighting area near the departmental cafeteria. If a woman is bedridden, her husband should light the Sabbath candles for her.

 

Holidays

Rosh Hashana: The shofar is blown in all the departments.

Sukkot: There are two sukkahs on the hospital grounds for the use of the patients and the general public. One is in Inpatient Building A, on the outpatient patio, and the other in Inpatient Building B, behind the service elevator. Contact the Medical Center Rabbi to make the blessing over the four species.

Hanukkah: A safe Hanukkah menorah is placed in each department.

Tu Bishvat: A planting ceremony is held every year (except during a shmita year). Dried fruit is distributed during dinner.

Purim: The megillah is read in the synagogue and in the departments if coordinated in advance with the Medical Center Rabbi.

Passover: The Medical Center undergoes fastidious Passover cleaning in the central kitchen, all departments and units. All of the cookware and kitchenware are replaced with Passover cookware and kitchenware before the holiday. A Passover seder is held in the Maternity Department's cafeteria for the benefit of patients in all departments.