Religious Services

Synagogue and Women's Gallery

The synagogue is on the 8th floor. Siddurim (prayer books) are available.

During morning hours, you can borrow Tefillin and a tallit (prayer shawl) at the synagogue (later on - the Office of Religious Services). 
The times for prayer services and for Shabbat and holidays are posted every week on the bulletin board next to the synagogue, as well as 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 (products are all Badatz Eda Haredit). Please do not bring any cooked food into the hospital.

Warning Signs for Kohanim

In event of a patient passing away, signs are posted at all hospital entrances. You can call *4503 from any telephone for an automated update. 

Shabbat and Holidays

Candle Lighting / Kiddush and Havdalah: Special trays with candles are prepared in all 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 a challah roll with every meal.

Family Members / sleeping accommodations and meals: An external organization provides Shabbat meals for family members of hospitalized patients, in the tent outside (4th floor). Men's and women's areas for sleeping are located on the 5th floor. 

Shabbat Elevators: The elevators work automatically during Shabbat, and it is permissible to use them (with approval of the Institute of Science and Halacha). Please refrain from entering or exiting the elevator after the buzzer sounds.

Calling a Nurse: The system switches to a special halakhically-approved Shabbat system. 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 is equipped with a special hot water urn for Shabbat (indicated by a light) and tea extract. The hot water in the faucets and showers is set to a lower temperature and may be used.

Magnetometer: The metal detector at the entrance to the hospital switches to a special Shabbat system that works without lights or an alarm.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot: All prayers are conducted at the synagogue on the 8th floor. The Shofar is sounded in all departments. A kosher Sukka is available on the 8th floor balcony and a Lulav and Etrog are available at the synagogue for reciting the blessing.

Chanukah: A Chanukiah with candles is placed at the nurses' station of each department. Lighting candles in the rooms is strictly forbidden.

Purim: The Megillah is read at the synagogue at night and in the morning, as well as in the departments.

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

Areas of activity

• Religious counseling for the staff, hospitalized patients and their families
• Spiritual support for hospitalized patients and their families
• Visits to patients on weekdays, Shabbat and holidays
• Kashrut supervision of the kitchen, the departments, the cafeteria and the coffee carts
• Prayer services in the synagogue on the 8th floor all year round
• Supervision of matters relating to Shabbat observance
• Distribution of Shabbat candles
• Conducting Kiddush and Havdalah at 25 sites throughout the hospital
• Activating volunteers to help patients wishing to put on tefillin
• Sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah in all departments
• Conducting Seders on the night of Passover in all departments
• Arranging for Lulav and Etrog to be brought to all departments on Sukkot
• Reading the Megilla on Purim in all departments
• Lighting Chanukkah candles in the departments

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 relevant 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).