August 5, 2009
Cedars-Sinai Selects Jewish Chaplain
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has named Rabbi Jason Weiner as its Jewish chaplain after a nine-month nationwide search.
Weiner is filling a void that was left by Rabbi Levi Meier, who died last year after dedicating almost 30 years of service to Cedars as its first Jewish chaplain. Weiner began his work at Cedars two years ago when he offered his assistance after Meier first fell ill.
“I just fell in love with the position, and I’m really proud to be a part of a long tradition of excellent care at the bedside,” Weiner said. “The main goal is that patients and staff should have excellent spiritual care in addition to their physical care.”
Weiner is joining Cedars-Sinai after serving as assistant rabbi at Young Israel of Century City, where he energized the synagogue with programming geared toward young couples and adult education, attracting new members in the process.
The committee in charge of selecting the new chaplain was particularly impressed with Weiner’s commitment to community building.
“We are so enthusiastic about him,” said Mark Siegel, Cedars-Sinai board chair. “He fundamentally understands the mission of the medical center. One of our key tenets is the improvement of the overall community health, and that sort of dedication to the community that he has shown is something that he really gets, he understands it in a really intuitive way.”
Weiner plans on forging partnerships within the larger Angeleno Jewish community by creating relationships with other rabbis and organizations, working together for the sake of healing.
Weiner is very excited to begin his role as active Jewish chaplain, an appointment that became effective on July 20.
“I just love being able to be there for people in times of need and helping make Judaism relevant in their healing,” Weiner said. “I find it very inspiring, being there with people when they really need a rabbi.”
