Celebrating the opening of the Winthrop-University Hospital Sabbath House are (l.-r.) The Reverend Jill M. Bowden, Director of Pastoral Care and Education at Winthrop; John F. Collins, President & CEO, Winthrop; Charles M. Strain, Chairman of Winthrop's Board of Directors; Rabbi Anchelle Perl, Congregation Beth Sholom of Mineola; Amy Wolin, Assistant Vice President of Patient Financial Services at Winthrop; and Mineola Mayor Jack Martins. In a demonstration of Winthrop-University Hospital's commitment to providing bikur cholim accommodations for observant Jewish patients and their families, members of the community, local officials, Hospital administration and staff gathered on July 7, 2009 to celebrate the opening of the new Winthrop-University Hospital Sabbath House, located adjacent to the Hospital's campus.

"Winthrop is dedicated to meeting the needs of all patients. We understand that in addition to healthcare needs, our patients have important spiritual needs," said John F. Collins, President & CEO of Winthrop-University Hospital. "It is with great pride that we celebrate the opening of the Sabbath House and the great strides that we have made in helping to eliminate barriers to care so members of the community can fully support their family members."

Members of administration, staff and local community members gather to celebrate the opening of Winthrop-University Hospital's Sabbath House on July 7. The Winthrop Sabbath House offers comfortable accommodations for up to five families at one time based on religious restrictions. The kitchen is fully equipped for Kosher food handling and lights go on automatically in the afternoon and off at night. Sabbath prayer books and candles are available for guests to use. In addition, a sukkah will be located in the backyard of the Sabbath House for use during Sukkot.

Within the Hospital setting, there are numerous resources for Jewish patients and visitors. These include a Sabbath Elevator, which stops at each floor on the Sabbath and Yom Tov, Glatt Kosher patient meals, as well as a selection of Glatt Kosher food for visitors which may be purchased in the Hospital's Lobby Café. Sabbath candles (electric only for safety purposes) as well as Tallit and Tefillin for prayer are also available.

In addition, Winthrop offers comprehensive support of observant Jewish patients and family members through the spiritual counsel of Rabbi Anchelle Perl of the Congregation Beth Sholom Chabad of Mineola. Arrangements can also be made through the Hospital's Department of Pastoral Care for visitation by a patient's personal clergy. Family members may also worship in the Hospital's multi-faith Serenity Chapel, which is open daily for prayer and personal meditation from 5:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Information and directions to Congregation Beth Sholom Chabad are available for those who wish to attend Sabbath services.

The mission of Winthrop-University Hospital to provide high quality, culturally competent, and comprehensive healthcare. The Hospital is deeply committed to the integrity, comfort and well-being of the individual.

For more information about pastoral care services at Winthrop, please call the Department of Pastoral Care at (516) 663-4749. For information about the use of the Sabbath House, please contact Winthrop's Department of Patient Relations at (516) 663-2058.