The COVID-19 health crisis has brought major changes to our lives—sheltering in place, physical distancing, new routines. But this time also gives us the opportunity to start meaningful conversations with our loved ones and other important people in our lives about what matters most to each of us. We can prepare ahead of any crisis by developing an advance care plan, communicating our healthcare wishes, and completing our documentation. It may be more important now than ever.
We are all concerned about receiving the medical care we need and want. What happens if you are no longer able to make health care decisions on your own behalf? New York State allows you to to name an individual (as well as an alternate) whom you trust to advocate and make decisions on your behalf and to document this information in a New York State Healthcare Proxy.
Through a program called WHAT MATTERS, our congregation has a number of trained facilitators who can help you:
- Consider what your healthcare wishes would be, decide who to designate as your healthcare agent, and communicate your wishes
- Start a conversation with family, friends or other important people in your life about their wishes
- Complete an advance directive—the New York State Healthcare Proxy, or revisit one you had previously completed
- Answer your questions and refer you to needed resources
What Matters presents: Getting Your House in Order During COVID-19
Watch the video recording of the town hall below, or listen to the (audio-only) podcast.
The Time for “The Talk” is Now
By Laura Schellenberg Johnson, M.D.. The New York Times, 19 May 2020.
Do You Want to Die in an I.C.U.? Pandemic Makes Question All Too Real
By Paula Span. The New York Times, 24 April 2020.
CPR, by Default
By Paula Span, The New York Times, 31 January 2020.
More Americans Are Dying at Home Than in Hospitals
By Gina Kolata, The New York Times, 11 December 2019.
Get Your Digital Accounts Ready In Case of Death
By Melanie Pinola, The New York Times, 3 October 2019.
Phone: (212) 362-8800, Fax: (212) 877-6526, Email: info@crsnyc.org
Emergency Call Number: (917) 902-6103 V2
Rabbi Juliana Schnur Karol grew up in Scarsdale, NY. She attended New York University, earning her B.A. summa cum laude in Spanish Literature and Jewish History in 2008, and her M.A. in Jewish History in 2011. Prior to enrolling at Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), Rabbi Karol worked in international relations at the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris, France. She then moved to Washington, D.C. where she served as legislative assistant and then projects coordinator at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She returned to New York City to serve as assistant to the president-elect of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, and subsequently as coordinator of strategic initiatives. During her tenure at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Karol served for three years as rabbinical intern for Congregation Rodeph Sholom and as co-coordinator of the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen where she led a successful capital campaign to renovate the kitchen facilities. She earned prizes for Hebrew language and literature, community service, and academic achievement. Rabbi Karol is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, the Tisch Rabbinical Fellowship, and the American Jewish World Service Global Justice Fellowship. She is also a senior fellow of Humanity in Action, an educational organization that promotes active citizenship worldwide. Juli lives with her husband, Adam, their son, Joshua, and daughter Eva on the Upper East Side.
Our initiative for young children and their grown-ups provides a slate of offerings including Shabbat and holiday celebrations, music, classroom readiness programs, and new parent experiences. During the pandemic, we have leaned on $1m of seed funding for Sholom Sprouts established through this campaign as we offer age-appropriate virtual programs for our families with young children, who are the future of our community. We look forward to welcoming our littlest members and their grown-ups back to our new fifth floor, as well as hiring a Program Assistant to increase the capacity of Sholom Sprouts to grow. This program provides a crucial entry-point to the congregation and membership for young families.
