Spiritual care rooted in Jewish tradition with the intent to comfort people who are facing life’s greatest challenges no matter what their affiliation or Jewish background. We don’t meet with our clients to fix a problem but to accompany them in difficult moments with an assumption that a caring connection can transform suffering through relationship and reflection.
What We Do
– One-on-one pastoral care: sharing Jewish wisdom, comfort, and care to people facing illness, grief, and life’s most challenging moments
– Life cycle events: officiating at funerals, unveilings, weddings, conversions, and mikvah ceremonies
– Shabbat and holiday services: bringing Jewish life to local retirement communities of Capitol Lakes and Oakwood Village
– Holiday gift bags: delivering holiday treats to isolated Jews across Dane County
– Welcome bags: supporting Jewish seniors in transition to a new living situation
– Recovery work: offering culturally relevant resources to those affected by alcohol or other substance use and addiction
– Madison Jewish Burial Fund: ensuring that every Jew has a dignified Jewish burial
– Yahrzeit letters: marking the anniversary of the death of a loved one
– Grief Group: providing Jewish tools and a space to process loss
– Outreach and training: teaching local service providers how to provide culturally sensitive care to Jewish clients
Testimonials:
1. I am grateful for the [Spiritual Care] Program and that I have benefitted from your counseling. Instead of telling me simply to “move on…” I am grateful your process is different. You listened to my story, learned about my parents and family, and helped me make difficult decisions while still honoring my parents. Thank you for making me feel as though my parents and I matter.
2. Dear [Rabbi] Renée, Thank you again for getting it just right. Your bedside visits to our father and your efforts to reach out to our family, investing hours of listening time and guidance down the path and through the woods, were deeply appreciated by all of us.
3. Dear Rabbi Renée, I want to thank you for all the kindness you showed my brother, and me as well. I believe that your interactions with him gave him both purpose and meaning in his life. He was able to return to his roots which I think were far more important to him than he realized. You got him to use his brilliant mind again. And to see that his thoughts, perceptions, and efforts were so important. I can’t thank you enough for that! Thank you very much for the beautiful funeral services. They were extremely comforting to me at such a difficult time.
When You Should Call
If you or a family member is struggling with mental or physical illness, bereavement, or want to reconnect with the Jewish community.
How to make contact:
Rabbi Renée Bauer, Director of Spiritual Care and Outreach
rabbi@jssmadison.org
(608) 442-4081 (main)
(608) 424-4033 (direct)
The Spiritual Care Program, which has been made possible by grants from Kathy and Tim Mazur, touches every corner of Jewish life and is a lifeline of connection, compassion and continuity.