Pensylvania Chabad House Opens Hospitality Center Together With Local Hospital
“It’s so important for patients and families to feel a sense of belonging and community while they’re away from home during treatment for substance use disorder,” said Rabbi Yosef Lipsker, the founder and director of Chabad of Berks County [Pennsylvania] and a spiritual consultant. For over 20 years, Rabbi Lipsker and his wife Chana, on behalf of Chabad, opened their home for Shabbat and other religious events to thousands of patients and families seeking substance use disorder treatment at Caron • Full Story
Mike Urban/Reading Eagle
Those receiving addiction help from Caron Treatment Centers have a new place to practice their Jewish faith with the opening of the Chabad of Berks County [Pennsylvania] hospitality center in Muhlenberg Township.
The new facility opened Sunday at 2310 Hampden Blvd. and will host religious events for Caron clients and their families.
“It’s so important for patients and families to feel a sense of belonging and community while they’re away from home during treatment for substance use disorder,” said Rabbi Yosef Lipsker, the founder and director of Chabad and a spiritual consultant at Berks based-Caron.
“Many families feel lost and experience significant challenges, including fear and anxiety,” he said in a press release. “They’re out of their familiar environment and on a journey both physically and spiritually.
“In all our years of welcoming families, we’ve often experienced firsthand how walking through our doors becomes a turning point in that journey. They feel a warmth that represents a home away from home. The smell of challah, the taste of chicken soup, the ability to safely practice their traditions often leads them to feel their first real sense of hope since addiction invaded their world. We’re able to help them build a bridge from despair to faith and transformation begins.”
For over 20 years, Lipsker, and his wife, Chana, on behalf of Chabad, opened their home for Shabbat and other religious events to thousands of patients and families seeking substance use disorder treatment at Caron.
The new center now offers extensive dedicated space for these activities. Additionally, the center provides accommodations for families visiting their loved ones in treatment.
They also expect to host small retreats specific to Jewish life and substance use disorder and provide opportunities for the local Jewish community to use the building for celebrations as well.
“Addiction is a family disease that often causes people to isolate, shut down and feel alone,” said David Rotenberg, Caron’s chief clinical officer. “Chabad and Caron work together to create an environment where Jewish families can come out of that isolation and heal through connection and community.”
59
Join ChabadInfo's News Roundup and alerts for the HOTTEST Chabad news and updates!
Related Posts:
Most Popular
New Videos
Editor's Picks
