Rabbi Matt Goldberg

Yeah. I think, I think you're right. I've seen that both in, in congregants and community members who have gone to visit, you know, connected to this job. And also when I was, I did a chaplaincy internship, I guess it could be called in Chicago as part of my schooling, my rabbinical educate rabbinic education.

Yeah. I think, I think you're right. I've seen that both in, in congregants and community members who have gone to visit, you know, connected to this job. And also when I was, I did a chaplaincy internship, I guess it could be called in Chicago as part of my schooling, my rabbinical educate rabbinic education.

And that was when I was, you know, every day going in and seeing not only Jewish patients and their families, but people of any or all faiths, some who had requested a chaplain, others who had not, just kind of doing rounds and checking in with them.

And that was when I was, you know, every day going in and seeing not only Jewish patients and their families, but people of any or all faiths, some who had requested a chaplain, others who had not, just kind of doing rounds and checking in with them.

The first thing that I just want to make clear, I guess, for my own what have you being on this podcast, is that spirituality and prayer is not a substitute for doctors and medical care and I think that there are people out there who perhaps get that confused, but I think that they work together. And it's important to say that that's just before we go further, that's my belief.

The first thing that I just want to make clear, I guess, for my own what have you being on this podcast, is that spirituality and prayer is not a substitute for doctors and medical care and I think that there are people out there who perhaps get that confused, but I think that they work together. And it's important to say that that's just before we go further, that's my belief.

And we certainly can't substitute prayer or religion or what have you for real medicine and doctors and care teams in hospitals. That said, I agree with you that I've seen spirituality, religion, prayer be a big, big part of people's time in hospitals or going through medical treatment, whether it's surgery or something else. I think that there could be any number of reasons for that.

And we certainly can't substitute prayer or religion or what have you for real medicine and doctors and care teams in hospitals. That said, I agree with you that I've seen spirituality, religion, prayer be a big, big part of people's time in hospitals or going through medical treatment, whether it's surgery or something else. I think that there could be any number of reasons for that.

I think a big one is that there's something that spirituality does to fight against isolation. And in that, kind of build community and bring people together. When I was working in the hospital doing chaplaincy, we would ask people, tell me about your support system. What support system do you have? And often that was, friends or family who were coming to visit.

I think a big one is that there's something that spirituality does to fight against isolation. And in that, kind of build community and bring people together. When I was working in the hospital doing chaplaincy, we would ask people, tell me about your support system. What support system do you have? And often that was, friends or family who were coming to visit.

And often it was God or their religious community or their prayer practice. And I think that there's something important about, particularly in this vulnerable moment in their lives, in the hospital or whatever it might be going through an illness, they can feel very isolating. And I wonder if spirituality, if prayer,

And often it was God or their religious community or their prayer practice. And I think that there's something important about, particularly in this vulnerable moment in their lives, in the hospital or whatever it might be going through an illness, they can feel very isolating. And I wonder if spirituality, if prayer,

can fight against that, can give a sense of, oh, I'm in this fight with someone, or I have a community and a connection that I may not be able to see in the room with me, but I know it's there.

can fight against that, can give a sense of, oh, I'm in this fight with someone, or I have a community and a connection that I may not be able to see in the room with me, but I know it's there.

Right. Yeah, certainly. It's, you know, related to what you were saying, you know, also a moment ago. There's having someone to talk to, someone to, again, pray with or sing with. I keep coming back to prayer and music because those are big parts of my own spirituality and spiritual practice.

Right. Yeah, certainly. It's, you know, related to what you were saying, you know, also a moment ago. There's having someone to talk to, someone to, again, pray with or sing with. I keep coming back to prayer and music because those are big parts of my own spirituality and spiritual practice.

But I think it can just be a distraction and help put people even just in a better mood, which, you know, if they're more willing, you know, I don't know if it's giving them a positive attitude. outlook or, or just being calmer, but then it can help them be more ready to listen to, to the rest of the care team, uh, more ready to receive, um, receive whatever care that they need.

But I think it can just be a distraction and help put people even just in a better mood, which, you know, if they're more willing, you know, I don't know if it's giving them a positive attitude. outlook or, or just being calmer, but then it can help them be more ready to listen to, to the rest of the care team, uh, more ready to receive, um, receive whatever care that they need.

And, and it's all, it's all related. I think that it's important to, to see chaplains as a part of the care team, which doesn't, doesn't always happen, but, but, uh, my experience was very positive in the hospital I worked in, uh, in that way.

And, and it's all, it's all related. I think that it's important to, to see chaplains as a part of the care team, which doesn't, doesn't always happen, but, but, uh, my experience was very positive in the hospital I worked in, uh, in that way.