Rabbis Graduate with Pastoral Professionalism
Five Melbourne’s Orthodox Rabbis have graduated from a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training course, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Pictured Left to Right: Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, Rabbi Boruch Schapiro, Rabbi Michoel Stern, Rabbi Yosef Nerenberg, Reverend Tom Miller, Reverend Marilyn Hope
Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant
The course was the result of a joint partnership between Jewish Care Vic.; The Rabbinical Council of Victoria Inc.; The Alfred Hospital and The Healthcare Chaplaincy Council of Victoria (HCCVI).
Although CPE considers itself non-denominational, the course was created by Christian pastoral care educators – Rev’d. Marilyn Hope, an Anglican, and Rev’d. Tom Miller, a Lutheran – and was especially adapted for Orthodox Rabbis.
Its main objectives were to help integrate theology, spirituality, ministry and personal identity, as well as provide a self-directed learning experience in the ministry. Both the rabbis and CPE supervisors enjoyed the exchange of ideas and approaches to concepts in spiritual care.
Jewish Care’s Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant, who was the inspiration behind the course, said, “This young group of rabbis have become pioneers and shown true leadership qualities by undertaking this rigorous and demanding course. They have all emerged from the course with a greater understanding of pastoral care and an enhanced skill-set that will benefit not only their congregants, but the Jewish Community at large”.
The five rabbis who graduated are Rabbi Yoseph Nerenberg from Jewish Care; Rabbi Michoel Stern from Emmy Monash; Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, Army Chaplain and Rabbi of East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation; Rabbi Boruch Shapiro of Russian Chabad House (F.R.E.E) and Rabbi Samuel Altshul of Blake Street Hebrew Congregation.
