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Rabbi /Scholar-in-Residence, MJ Newman, with JFS of Greenwich was drawn to JFS’s holistic mission -- meeting emotional, spiritual, social, and material needs. Rabbi MJ sees this work as a sacred partnership rooted in Jewish values like Hachnassat Orchim (welcoming the stranger) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). She leads our weekly Shabbat service, shares thoughtful commentary on the weekly Torah portion, and leads our Bikur Cholim volunteers.
“In a culture where illness and isolation makes people feel invisible, Bikur Cholim restores presence,” Rabbi MJ explains. Volunteers sit with patients, offer prayers, and provide human connection in fragile moments.
For Rabbi MJ, meaningful Jewish experience happens where life unfolds -- at a hospital bedside, over a Zoom Shabbat table, or in study that connects ancient texts to today’s moral urgency. Her message is clear: connection and care are not luxuries—they are moral imperatives. “When we reach out to a lonely neighbor or sit with someone afraid to speak, we repair the world in real time; when we respond with compassion rooted in justice, guided by Jewish wisdom, we create a more humane, just, and connected world.”
To help sustain these vital services, please consider donating to our Jewish Health & Healing Program here. Your support strengthens our ability to bring comfort, connection, and Jewish wisdom to our community.
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