2025 National Bikur Holim Conference

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Grappling with crisis:

The chaplain’s perspective

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Rabbi Ziona Zelazo

Disaster Spiritual Care provider for the American Red Cross, Lead for NE New Jersey and supervisor

Ziona.Zelazo@redcross.org

All photos used are

with the consent and permission

of the clients and the Spiritual Care Providers

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In the American Red Cross,

the term “Disaster Spiritual Care Provider”

Is replacing the term “Chaplain” since 2015

What is Spiritual Care during disaster?

• Deals with the immediate trauma.
• We cannot fix things – but we can promote the recovery process for individuals, families, and communities by listening, showing compassion and making individuals feel noticeable.
• Helps clients and responders to access their own inner strength and coping mechanism to navigate through trauma with faith, hope, and meaning.

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Teamwork and Community Partners�

• DSC collaborates with local and national organizations;

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• VOADs - The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• COADs - Community Organizations Active in Disaster
• Local faith-based groups
• State Agencies

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• Collaborates with specialists, such as legal aid, mental health, and religious providers.

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Integrated Care and Condolence Teams��

• At times, specially trained Disaster Spiritual Providers participate on an Integrated Care and Condolence Team (ICCT). They provide services to families whose loved ones are missing, hospitalized or deceased.
• They address the client's medical, financial, emotional or spiritual needs in one visit. 
• An ICCT team consist of four individuals from Disaster Health, Mental Health, Spiritual Care and Casework/Recovery.
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Spiritual Care during a disaster is different from the hospital environment��In the field

In the shelter

�*We meet individuals who were caught by surprise � and lost everything;� Their home, their personal belonging, their community� and sometimes their loved ones.� �*We speak to individuals who deal with the immediate trauma;� They do not care [currently] why, for example, � the disaster happened. But they ask what the � next day will be like for them.�� *We hear; the fear, the anxiety, the grief, the survival mode,� the pain and the sense of uncertainty.��

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Telling the story – a step for recovery from a trauma

• It is difficult to calculate the toll of a disaster for people.
• It is harder to quantify human suffering.
• Therefor we focus on survivors’ accounts. These are the most precious stories that you will ever hear.

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The disaster spiritual care (DSC) provider is not a therapist �--BUT is therapeutic

• A compassionate and healing presence.

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• A listening presence.

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• No judgement but affirming reflections.

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• A hug goes a long way.

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Every client is different�and everyone reacts/copes to disaster in a unique way��

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• Different clients have different spiritual needs.
• We support and respect everyone:

regardless of--

age, nationality, race, religious beliefs, atheists, physical/emotional disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic class or political opinions.

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Every client is different�and everyone reacts/copes to disaster in a unique way

• Not everyone we meet has a faith tradition. Not everybody needs to pray with us. This includes atheists.
• There is a personal struggle and conflict regarding God. Some justify the disaster to be God’s will. Others might be angry with God, and some might feel that they are punished by God.

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Challenges for the disaster care provider

• There is a limited time to engage with a client.
• Working with clients in a chaotic and rapidly-changing environment, including working in severe temperature and climate conditions.
• Working with team members you do not know and be flexible with those who have different work habits than yours.
• Being affected by what we see and hear. Identify, pay attention and take a step back.
• Remember to practice Self-compassion.

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SELF - COMPASSION

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What does the disaster spiritual care giver take home?

• Personal reflection

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“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did,

they will remember how you made them feel.”

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― Maya Angelou

Always keep the smile on your face

and hope in your heart�