Chaplaincy Program

Often during the course of serious illnesses, patients and their families and friends can be caught up in a bewildering schedule of medications, treatments, doctor visits, surgeries and tests. They may struggle with fear and uncertainty about decisions and eventual outcomes. Sometimes end-of-life issues must be confronted.

At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, we understand that healing involves the whole person - body, mind, spirit and soul. For this reason, we offer spiritual care services to patients and their loved ones.

Chapel Open to All

Our chapel is open 24 hours a day and available to persons of all faiths.

The chapel is centrally located on the Plaza Level, between the North and South Towers.

Spiritual Support for Patients and Visitors

Patients may request visits with a Cedars-Sinai Chaplain of their choice at any time during their hospital stay. Spiritual counseling appointments may also be arranged with concerned family members. Please call (310) 423-5550 for assistance with any spiritual needs.

Patients and visitors are welcome to ask for help and guidance from the Chaplains. Each Chaplain has training to offer spiritual support to all patients and their loved ones of any spirituality or religion. Rabbi Jason Weiner is available for prayer and spiritual counseling for patients and their loved ones who are Jewish. Father Lester Avestruz is available for prayer and spiritual counseling for patients and their loved ones who are Catholic. The Chaplaincy office can also assist with contacting community clergy of a particular faith or religion.

Religious Services

Recorded Shabbat services are available on Fridays at 3:15 p.m. and on Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. on Channel 50 (in-house closed circuit television).

Catholic mass is celebrated in the chapel at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays, unless otherwise announced. Mass is also broadcast live to patient rooms on Channel 50.

Religious Observances

For Jewish Patients and Their Families:

  • Shabbat (Sabbath) candles
  • Sabbath and holiday elevator
  • Jewish Sabbath observance
  • Cedars-Sinai Campus Map for Sabbath observance

    NOTE: Saperstein Sabbath Entrance Temporarily Relocated
    The Sabbath entrance to the Saperstein Critical Care Tower will be changed temporarily starting on Friday, July 15, to accommodate construction work on the Plaza Level of the Saperstein building. 

    The Tower's automatic doors will be kept open on Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. so those observing the Sabbath do not have to activate the doors' sensors. 

    Signage will be posted to direct people to the appropriate entrance. 

    Construction is expected to be completed in late August.
  • Kosher food is available in the Employee Cafeteria and the Plaza Café. Patients are offered a kosher meal plan, featuring fresh food cooked in our kosher kitchen, certified by the Rabbinical Council of California. For more information call (310) 423-4444 or (310) 423-4797.
  • Local Kosher restaurants and markets*
  • Local area hotels*
  • Pre-Sabbath taped services (televised Friday at 3:15 p.m. on Channel 50)
  • Post-Sabbath taped services (televised Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 50)
  • "Healing through Jewish Songs and Stories" (televised daily at 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Channel 50)
  • Pre-taped holiday services (televised on Channel 50)
  • Yahrzeit observance
  • Brit Milah/Circumcision assistance
  • Jewish Calendar (2006-2015)*
  • Rabbi Weiner's Study Session every Tuesday at 12:00 noon in the Chapel on the Plaza Level, broadcast live to patient rooms on Channel 50
  • A traveling Torah
  • A communal Sukkah
  • Kosher Mezuzot on all doorways
  • The Jewish Chaplaincy Annual Report to the Community

Special Note about Brit Milah/Circumcision:

To accommodate parents wishing to observe the Jewish tradition of brit milah, Cedars-Sinai's Chaplaincy Program can help make arrangements for a mohel to perform the circumcision. Recommended mohels are experienced and technically trained in this surgery. In the event a mohel is not available, one of our knowledgeable Jewish staff physicians may perform the brit after consulting with a rabbi.

For Christian Patients and Their Families: (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Non-Denominational)

  • Roman Catholic Mass is celebrated in the chapel at 12:00 p.m.on Wednesday and Fridays and at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays, broadcast live to patient rooms on Channel 50.
  • Anointing of the sick
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation
  • Communion
  • Services on important Christian holidays such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter, televised on Channel 50
  • Emergency baptisms
  • New Testament and Bibles
  • Devotional reading and Holy Cards
  • Rosaries
  • Music for Healing volunteer gospel/worship singers

For All:

  • Assistance contacting community clergy
  • Visits by Chaplaincy Department volunteers
  • Inspirational programs on Channel 50

For More Information

For further details about religious and spiritual services and programs at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, please contact the Chaplaincy office at (310) 423-5550 or one of the Chaplains directly:

  • Rabbi Jason Weiner, Jewish Chaplain
    (310) 423-5238
  • Father Lester Avestruz, Catholic Chaplain
    (310) 423-8040
  • Christina Shu, Palliative Care Chaplain
    (310) 248-8120


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