By Toby Ehrlich
The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living in Somerset will host a unique program, “Creating a Caring Community: Illness as a Trigger for Spiritual Growth” on Tuesday, October 22, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Lena and David T. Wilentz Senior Residence, which is located at 360 DeMott Lane in Somerset.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Ben Corn, Professor of Oncology at Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, and co-founder of Life’s Door — Tishkofet, a Non-Government Organization that has developed innovative approaches to facing illness and loss, impacting thousands of patients, families and professionals in many fields.
Dr. Corn also serves as Chairman of the Institute of Radiotherapy at Tel Aviv Medical Center.
The program at The Wilf Campus, which is geared toward chaplains, Rabbis, social workers, physicians, and other professionals who work with Jewish older adults will address the challenges of emotionally engaging those they serve in a sacred manner. Attendees will learn how both parties can find growth in the care/counseling experience.
Participants will be encouraged to utilize their personal stories, vulnerability and their human side when caring for community members and patients.
Rabbi Bryan Kinzbrunner, Campus Chaplain at The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living, said, “When we are supporting others, it is not enough for us to follow formulas. We really need to walk with that other person and experience the conflicts that come up within ourselves in order to grow with the other person.”
Caring for a person in need, noted Rabbi Kinzbrunner, will certainly stir something within oneself.
“But, at what place and at what point do you put that aside to care for the other person?” he said. “It is important to strike a balance between caring for the other person without shutting down what comes up within your own self.”
Rabbi Kinzbrunner has attended many speaking engagements led by Dr. Corn, calling him “a very dynamic speaker who is rigorous and not cut and dry.”
“While his background is in medicine and research, Dr. Corn brings the human touch to his lectures. He presents real stories with real challenges and real emotion. That is what he brings to the forefront,” he said.
Dr. Corn possesses nearly 30 years of experience in safely utilizing radiation therapy to treat tumors throughout the body. He was educated at Boston University and completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
He is a member of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Israeli Society of Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy.
His appointments and professorships include Tel Aviv University School of Medicine in Israel and Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.
In 2011, Dr. Corn was awarded the Israeli Citation for Volunteerism by President Shimon Peres for “changing the way people face illness” on behalf of Tishkofet. He was the winner of the Essay-Writing Contest of Lancet Oncology for 2012-2013.
Brunch will be served during the program and Kosher dietary laws will be observed. The program is free and sponsored by The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living which is comprised of The Martin and Edith Stein Assisted Living Residence which includes Jaffa Gate Memory care neighborhood, The Martin and Edith Stein Hospice, The David T. Wilentz Senior Residence, Wilf Transport, Wilf At Home, and The Foundation.
To attend, please call (732) 568-1155 or email info@wilfcampus.org.
