What is Ohr Tikvah?
What is a Jewish Healing Center?
As Jews, we are blessed with many rituals to help us mark lifecycle events: birth, adulthood, marriage, death and mourning. A Jewish healing program is based on the philosophy that there is a uniquely Jewish response to individuals experiencing illness, loss, and other difficult times in their lives.
Our religious heritage is a repository of rich resources from which Jews can draw strength and solace as they face life's greatest challenges. The Torah, prayers, psalms, other Jewish texts and the power of the community as a healing agent are the spiritual tools to help people find hope and strength to cope. Many clinical studies provide direct and indirect evidence of the power of faith, prayer, meditation and support groups on improving human health and the healing process.
The Jewish healing movement emerged in the early 1990s, working within the framework that the body, mind and spirit/soul are intertwined and influence each other. There are approximately 30 healing centers across the country. The National Healing Center, based in New York City, provides resources, materials and training for these healing centers.
What is the Ohr Tikvah Jewish Healing Center?
Ohr Tikvah was launched in February 2003 as a new Jewish healing program of our tri-county area. It represents a coordinated effort of the organized Jewish community to respond to issues of suffering in the Jewish community. It brings together nine synagogues, the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Community Center to create programs that will bring hope and renewal to Jews in need of healing and wholeness.
Our ancestors knew the power of the community as a healing force. Today we are relearning that Jewish spiritual care is not only delivered through Rabbis, but can be integrated into every Jewish setting.
Whom does Ohr Tikvah serve?
The Center serves any Jew--affiliated or unaffiliated--in our community who is coping with illness (life-threatening or chronic), loss, pain or suffering. Other specific needs will be identified and emerge as our programs unfold.
Many Jews may not know how to access communal supports in times of crisis and immediate need. The healing center will help them connect to the Jewish community and strengthen the bonds that link us to one another.
What kind of programming does Ohr Tikvah offer?
Our programming is designed to strength existing services, provide education and spiritual guidance for all area Jews and offer spiritual support programming for the ill and bereaved.
The healing wisdom of Judaism is not limited to our response to illness and grief. It also has much to say about the proper balance of mind, body and spirit. Thus, our Center also offers programs that promote wholeness and wellness:
Expanding existing Bikur Cholim efforts to serve unaffiliated Jews, particularly those who are homebound/isolated, without family, and/or living in non-Jewish institutions
Building a clearinghouse and resource library
Is there actually a physical center? Where will Ohr Tikvah programs take place and who will manage them?
Ohr Tikvah is a virtual healing center, with programs and services provided at participating synagogues, Jewish Family Service and the Jewish Community Center, in the same way that Jewish LIFE exists. Our office is located at Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
For further information or if you have other questions, please contact us:
Ohr Tikvah Jewish Healing Center
908-725-6994
EMAIL ADDRESS: Ohrtikvahjhc@aol.com