Hospital chaplain

Rabbi Diane Cohen

P.O. Box **** *******@*****.***

West Hills CA 91308 818-***-**** LinkedIn.com/in/RabbiDianeCohen

Facebook.com/Nourishing Our Souls: Diane Aronson Cohen

I am seeking a permanent placement with a hospital, hospice, or other agency that will enable me to bring my years of pastoring experience and my chaplaincy training to people in spiritual distress. While my goal is full time work, I am also open to part time placement. I am particularly interested in palliative care and end of life ministry.

Clinical Pastoral Education

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Fall 2015

UCLA Santa Monica Fall 2014-Spring 2015

Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Winter 2014

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Summer 2013

Academic History

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Master of Hebrew Letters, Rabbinic Ordination

Two time recipient, Rubinovitch Prize for Outstanding Work in Jewish Theology

University of Judaism, Los Angeles (now American Jewish University)

Bachelor of Hebrew Letters, Master of Arts in Education

Fisher Prize for Academic Excellence

Fisher Prize in Homiletics

University of California, Los Angeles

Bachelor of Arts, English

Experience

2011-2013: I served in two capacities:

Chaplain at Jewish Healing and Hospice Center of Los Angeles

Traveling chaplain to homes, hospitals and nursing homes, caring for patients with end-stage illnesses as well as dementia

Rabbi at Fairwinds Senior Retirement Community

Conduct Shabbat services each week, as well as special services for High Holy Days, Pesah, and other observances; weekly “schmooze” sessions that combine discussions of contemporary issues and an exploration of the weekly Torah portion

2006-2010: I taught 4th and 5th grade students in synagogue religious school

Rabbi Diane Cohen

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2003 to 2005, I served as an interim rabbi in two congregations:

2004-2005 Rabbi, Beth Sholom Synagogue, Memphis TN

2003-2004 Assistant Rabbi, Beth Am Israel, Penn Valley PA

Placement as interim requires unique talents. The position is for only one year, and the rabbi is expected to perform all those duties the position requires, as well as bring healing to her community. The interim rabbi behaves as though she will continue in the position, all the while preparing the community for the permanent rabbi who will follow her.

At Beth Am Israel, my responsibilities included preaching, pastoring, and bar/bat mitzvah preparation, as well as support for the senior rabbi who was very new to the rabbinate.

In Memphis, I served as solo rabbi:

supervising full professional staff

mara d’atra (ritual authority) of the congregation

interacting with all committees and leadership

interacting with students in the synagogue’s religious school as well as the local Solomon Schechter school

teaching a conversion class and bringing four souls to the Jewish people

participating in the rabbinic rotation at Memphis Jewish Home

representing the congregation in the community

performing the full complement of preaching and pastoral duties

teaching adult education and offering on-line Torah study each week

bringing compassion and enthusiasm to my interaction with my congregants

From 1993 to 2003, I served as rabbi to two congregations:

1993-1995 Temple Bnai Israel, Willimantic CT

In Willimantic, I was “kol bo,” preaching, chanting the services and reading Torah, as well as head of the religious school.

In the greater community, I was Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at St. Joseph College, West Hartford.

1995-2003 Temple Ohev Shalom, Colonia NJ

During my years in Colonia, in addition to reading Torah weekly, I was active both in the Jewish community and in the greater community. Among my activities and achievements:

Designed an adult education program that garnered a Solomon Schechter Award for my congregation

Taught in the Center for Conversion and Outreach, sponsored by United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly, New Jersey Region

Represented the Jewish community at many community and interfaith events

Taught college students as part of a mentoring program at Rutgers University Hillel

Designed and conducted innovative synagogue programs, including Tu BiShvat seders and congregational observances of Yom HaSho’ah ’HaG’vurah

Conducted Shabbat morning Torah discussions that fostered a sense of communit

Represented the Jewish community on the Woodbridge Township and Middlesex County human relations commissions

Gave eight more years of life to a congregation on the verge of closing

Organization Membership and Offices Held

Treasurer, Vice President, New Jersey Region, Rabbinical Assembly

Secretary, Woodbridge Interfaith Clergy Council

Publications

“Toward a Ritual for the Divorced Woman,” Conservative Judaism

”Family as a Metaphor for Redemption,” Jewish Bible Quarterly

“Prayer,” in Moffit, ed., A Secret Sorrow: On Pregnancy Loss

“Rosh Hodesh Prayer,” in Berrin, ed., A Rosh Hodesh Anthology

Essay on parashat Balak in Goldstein, ed., The Women’s Torah Commentary

Contributor to drasha commentary, Humash Etz Hayim

Making Shabbat: A Beginner’s Guide.

Education and Awards

Election to Who’s Who in American Women, 2004

Recipient, Woman of Excellence Award

Middlesex County Commission on the Status of Women, 1999

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