Jewish Family Service of New Mexico

JFS’ Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program Celebrates Five Year Anniversary

It was five years ago that The New Mexico Jewish Link published a front page story entitled “Chaplaincy Program a Reality”. The story announced to the community that Rabbi Min Kantrowitz, who had been a dedicated Jewish Family Service (JFS) volunteer and “well-respected teacher and spiritual counselor” in our community would serve as the program’s Director. It explained that the program would fill a long-standing unmet community need of providing pastoral care and support to unaffiliated Jews and engage a “cadre of volunteers” in the Program’s activities to promote its success. Recognition was given to the “very generous support of some individual community members” whose financial contributions gave JFS the “wherewithal to begin”.

Fast forward to September 2009 and what became a reality in September 2004 has become a legacy of service, outreach, and volunteer and donor engagement.

JFS is proud to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program, and celebrates Rabbi Min Kantrowitz for the spiritual leadership she has demonstrated in her role as the Program’s director. Through her committed service, Rabbi Kantrowitz’ reputation as a well-respected teacher and spiritual counselor has been strengthened and expanded to include individuals and communities beyond our own. The impact of her service has benefited a wide-variety of individuals and organizations over the years. In just the past year, Rabbi Kantrowitz provided pastoral care to 496 individuals. She serves these persons in their homes, in hospitals and other health care facilities, and even in detention centers. Her work as a teacher promoting Jewish values and knowledge of Jewish tradition takes her to funeral homes, hospitals, universities, assisted living facilities, hospices, and other community organizations. She participates in interfaith events statewide, nationally, and abroad. While the focus of her work is serving the unaffiliated Jewish community, the scope of her work extends beyond that target community and involves affiliated Jews as well as persons of other faiths and cultural backgrounds.

Rabbi Kantrowitz, as does any great leader, recognizes that the true success of community programs like the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program is dependent on the involvement and support of others. The Program in its original concept and design recognized the importance of engaging volunteers and donors in support its mission. The “cadre of volunteers” identified as a program requirement five years ago has been realized. The Program involves over fifty dedicated volunteers serving the Chevre Kaddisha and numerous others who serve in functions as varied as Chaplain, administrative assistants, and group leaders.

The Program became a reality in 2004 because of the vision of a few generous individuals; it continues to be a reality because of the vision and generosity of hundreds more. JFS enjoys a great partnership with the Jewish Federation of New Mexico who provides annual funding for the program. Additionally, both designated and undesignated donations will be made by individuals this year directly to JFS to provide the support necessary to continue the Program.

Rabbi Kantrowitz and her cadre of dedicated volunteers provide the kind of spiritual leadership that inspires us all, the kind that unifies communities, promotes understanding and tolerance, and the kind that exemplifies the Jewish value of tikkun olam. JFS considers it a great pleasure to honor their work, and the gifts of donors who make it possible, on this fifth anniversary of the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program!

Please consider joining us in celebrating this milestone by making a gift to JFS in honor of Rabbi Kantrowitz and all of those involved in the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program this year.