2024 Bikur Cholim Conference

"Widen the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations, do not spare; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes."  Isaiah 54:2

Once again we bring together our community of caregivers, social workers, chaplains, Rabbis and others committed to Jewish healing for our virtual National Bikur Cholim Conference.  This year’s conference will begin with a stellar group of Jewish community leaders discussing our response to the tragedy in Israel and emerging antisemitism.  It then will address specific on the ground efforts to adapt our efforts to providing healing to the current crisis.

The second part of the program recognizes that our Jewish communities and the healing issues we face often are challenged when we try to serve those outside our traditional communities.  Our objective is to challenge us to expand and strengthen our circles of caring by looking at how we connect with and embrace those who are often outside our circles, including:

• The differently abled  
• Family estrangement
• Dealing with difficult losses including death by suicide
• Loneliness
• Jews of color
• LBGTQ+ communities
• Substance abuse

Each session will take place at 8pm ET/5pm PT on a Monday night beginning in January and ending in June. Session descriptions will be updated periodically closer to the event.

Session descriptions are as follows:

January 15, 2024

“Responding to the Unimaginable:  The Challenges of War and Increased Antisemitism”

In many respects everything changed after October 7.  We face challenges in the pain and stress faced by so many effected by the war, conflict and increased antisemitism.  What are the challenges and how have we responded? How will we respond to future challenges?

Speakers:  

• Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO Jewish Federations of North America
• Reuben Rotman, President and CEO Network of Jewish health Service Agencies
• Alissa Thomas-Newborn, President Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains
• Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Zachter Family Director of Trauma and Crisis Intervention for OHEL

January 29, 2024 

“On the ground efforts to adapt to the crisis”

How have our caregiving entities adapted to the crisis? What new programs are being developed? How are needs being recognized and addressed?

Speakers:

• Rabbi Joseph Ozarowski, Rabbinic Counselor and Chaplain for Jewish Child and Family Services Chicago.
• Rabbi Fred Klein, Director of Mishkan Miami
• Denise Dunager
  

February is Jewish Disability month and our programs on disability are dedicated to the memory of Judith Ellen Heumann, who was an American disability rights activist, known as the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement.”

February 12, 2024

“Taking a Wholistic View of the Needs of the Disabled”

Speakers:

• Shelley Christiansen, Creator Inclusion Innovations
  

February 26, 2024

“Expanding our Tents to Create Belonging”

Speakers:

• Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

March 11, 2024

“Family Estrangement” 

Speakers:

• Rabbi Judith Beiner, Chaplain, Jewish Family and Children’s Services Atlanta

March 25, 2024

“Lets Talk About it: Suicide in the Jewish Community”

Speakers:

• Rabbi Suzanne Offit, Board Certified Chaplain
• Marjie Sokoll, Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center for Jewish Healing, JFCS Boston

April 8, 2024

“A Jewish Approach to the Crisis of Loneliness”

Speakers:

• Rabbi Mychal B. Springer, manager Clinical Pastoral Education New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
  

May 6, 2024

“ EMBRACING OUR JEWISH LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY”

Speakers:

• Asher Gellis, MBA, founder and CEO of JQ International

May 20, 2024

“Being fully Inclusive for Jews of Color”

No speaker yet

June 10, 2024

“A Jewish Approach to Substance Abuse”

No speaker yet

Program Questions: Contact David Balto at david.balto@dcantitrustlaw.com or 202-577-5424
Sponsorship and Registration Questions: Contact david.balto@dcantitrustlaw.com