Jewish chaplain honoured for two decades of service at local hospitals

A Jewish hospital chaplain in Essex has been given an award for two decades of service at King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen Hospital in Romford.

Reverend Newman, who is also the pastoral minister at Cranbrook United Synagogue, visits patients on a weekly basis, providing them and their families with support, including for bereavements, while also helping hospital staff.

Newman, who is often on-call for emergencies, said he was delighted to receive his special certificate from the BHR University Hospital Trust.

“I look at my role as a calling, not a job, getting tremendous satisfaction from knowing that I could give comfort to patients, their families and to staff as well as to the volunteer hospital visitors provided by the League of Jewish Women,” he said.

“While so much in the world has changed over the last 20 years, the need to give support and comfort to people in distress is ongoing.”

Michelle Minsky of United Synagogue Chesed said he was “one of the stalwarts of the Jewish Visiting service”, adding: “It’s amazing that he has been doing this role with such a good heart for so long and hopefully for many more years to come.”