Refuah & Psak

Episode 10: Understanding Hospice Care

In this episode of Refuah & Psak, Rabbi Brody speaks with Chaya Lasson, Director of Jewish Hospice and Palliative Care for Bridging Life in Baltimore, about clarifying misconceptions around hospice and integrating it with Jewish values. Chaya distinguishes hospice from palliative care, outlines the collaborative hospice team model, and dispels myths about hospice.  They discuss aligning care with halachic guidance, involving rabbis and clinicians in real-time decision-making, and recognizing patient preferences within Jewish law. Chaya stresses the importance of early education for families, rabbis, and communities to avoid crisis-driven decisions, and shares moving stories of patients who lived longer and more meaningfully under hospice. The conversation urges building relationships with culturally sensitive providers and viewing hospice not as giving up, but as “doing everything” to maximize dignity, comfort, and meaningful living until the final breath.

Episode 9: Understanding Artificial Nutrition &Hydration

In this episode of Refuah & Psak, Rabbi Brody speaks with Dr. Beth Popp, a palliative-care physician, about the medical, emotional, and halachic complexities of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH). They review why ANH may be needed, the methods used, and the risks that may be involved. The conversation highlights how decisions differ at various stages of illness, especially near the end of life. Together they stress the importance of case-by-case evaluation, patient comfort, sensitive guidance for families, and review some of the key information needed for providing halachic guidance about ANH.

Episode 8: Supporting Your Congregants

In this episode of Refuah & Psak, Ematai’s associate director and physician assistant Rachel Secunda speaks with Ematai’s director of community outreach, Bassie Taubes, an oncology nurse, health coach, and rebbetzin, about how rabbis and communities can better support those who often feel unseen. They highlight the elderly who quietly withdraw due to physical challenges, caregivers who sacrifice silently and need recognition and respite, mourners who grieve long after shiva or outside traditional halachic categories and the ill themselves.  The discussion also covers the importance of sensitive bikur cholim, remembering caregivers after a loved one’s passing, and empowering rabbis to ask questions of the healthcare team when answering shailot. Ultimately, they stress that rabbis cannot and should not do everything alone; rather, they should do what they can to make congregants feel acknowledged and educate the broader community to notice, listen, and care so that no one feels forgotten.

Episode 7: Understanding Oncology Treatments

In this episode of Refuah & Psak, Rabbi Brody speaks with Dr. Moshe Ornstein, a genito-urinary oncologist and author of Cancer in Halakha, about cancer and its treatments. Dr. Ornstein explains what cancer is, clarifies the difference between localized and metastatic disease, and reviews treatment options from surgery and radiation to immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Dr. Ornstein highlights the importance of distinguishing between curative and palliative goals, noting that “palliative” often means long-term management rather than giving up hope. The conversation also delves into how rabbis and families can support patients with both medical realities as well as spiritual and emotional support.

Episode 6: Understanding Cyclical Treatments

In this episode of Refuah & Psak, Rabbi Brody speaks with Dr. Ernest Mandel, member of the Ematai medical advisory board and nephrologist about the halachic and medical nuances of cyclical treatments, with a focus on dialysis and vasopressors. They discuss how treatments that naturally start and stop differ from continuous interventions, and why this distinction matters for both halacha and patient decision-making.  The discussion covers the use of time-limited trials, potential risks and side effects, and how “pause points” allow for reassessment. They also explore the importance of aligning medical care with a patient’s goals and halacha, especially in end-of-life contexts.