Religious Services

Synagogue and Women's Gallery

You can borrow Tefillin, a tallit (prayer shawl), a kippa (yarmulke) and a siddur (prayer book) from the synagogue during the morning hours, and later at the Office of Religious Services.
Prayer hours and Shabbat and holiday hours are posted every week on the bulletin board next to the synagogue, on the bulletin boards in the different departments and on the website (in Hebrew).

Kosher Food

All the hospital food – in the departments, dining rooms, cafeteria and coffee carts – is strictly kosher (Mehadrin). Please do not bring any cooked food into the hospital.

Warning Signs for Kohanim

In case of a patient passing away, signs will be posted at all hospital entrances.

Shabbat and Holidays

Candle Lighting / Kiddush and Havdalah: Special trays with candles are positioned in all the departments. Lighting candles in the rooms is not allowed. Kiddush and Havdalah are recited in the synagogue and in all the departments. Each patient receives challah rolls with every meal.

Family Members / sleeping accommodations and meals: The 3rd floor dining room has wine for Kiddush and offers Shabbat meals. Food tickets can be purchased at the cashier's on the 4th floor. The sleeping rooms are located on the 5th floor. If you're interested in renting a room in our hotel, please contact the housekeeping department at 02-6555011.

Shabbat Elevators: The elevators work automatically during Shabbat, under the supervision of the Halacha Technological Institute. Please refrain from entering or exiting the elevator after the buzzer goes off.

Calling a Nurse: The system switches to Saturday Command. This does not apply to electrically-operated beds.

Shabbat Writers: Non-Jews are employed as writers in all departments to minimize desecration of the Shabbat.

Hot Water: Each department has a water heater under Saturday Command (indicated by a light) and tea extracts. The water in the faucets and showers are set to a low heat temperature.

Magnometer: The magnometer at the entrance to the hospital switches to Saturday Command and works without lights and alarm.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot: All prayers are conducted at the synagogue on the 8th floor. The Shofar is blown in all departments. A kosher Sukka is on the 8th floor balcony and the Four Species can be found at the synagogue.

Chanukah: A Chanukiah with candles is at the counter of each department. Lighting candles in the rooms is strictly forbidden.

Purim: Megillat Esther is read at the synagogue at night and in the morning.

Passover: All kitchens and rooms are kosher for Pesach. No outside food is permitted in the hospital during the holiday. The Seder is held in all departments.

areas of activity

1. Religious counseling for the staff, the hospitalized and their families
2. Spiritual support for the hospitalized and their families
3. Visiting patients on weekdays, Shabbat and holidays
4. Supervision of the kosher food in the kitchen, in the departments, in the cafeteria and in the coffee carts
5. Conducting MINYAN in the synagogue on the 8th floor all year round
6. Supervision of Shabbat matters
7. Distribution of Shabbat candles
8. Conducting Kiddush and Havdalah on Shabbat at 25 sites throughout the hospital
9. Activating volunteers to place tefillin
10. Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah in all departments
11. Conducting seders on the night of Passover in all departments
12. Bringing the four species to all departments in Sukkot
13. Reading the scroll on Purim in all departments
14. Lighting Hanukkah candles in the wards

Burial arrangements

The Patient Admissions office (4th floor) will assist families of deceased patients in preparing for burial. When the office is closed, the staff of the Emergency Medicine department (ER) is available to help (2nd floor).
The release of deceased persons is coordinated through the security center at 02-6555008, 02-6555005, 02-6666661 at all hours of the day.

A death certificate is issued by the medical department.
A burial license can be obtained at the Patient Admissions office or, when the office is closed, at the Emergency Medicine department (ER).