JFCS Welcomes Community Rabbinic Chaplain, Shayndel Kahn

August 4, 2023 – Sarasota

JFCS of the Suncoast is proudly announcing their newest hire, Rabbinic Community Chaplain Shayndel Kahn. Upon arriving in Sarasota recently, Chaplain Kahn wrote a letter to the Jewish Federation stating she was new to town and looking to be of service, and JFCS CEO, Dr. Helene Lotman reached out to meet with her.  Chaplain Kahn has over 11 years of experience as an Interfaith Chaplain and combines her spiritual and pastoral counseling with therapeutic musical training. Before arriving in Sarasota and JFCS of the Suncoast, she’s served in Massachusetts as a Chaplain and most recently at the Sequoia Hospice in California. “I love connecting with people, which means sitting with people in their highs and lows. In my hospice experience bringing musical therapy I found some people can’t talk, but they can sing. Sometimes they can’t walk, but they can move their hands and experience joy and healing.”    Chaplain Kahn promotes the JFCS mission by serving the spiritual, emotional, and religious needs of individuals offering support. She’ll bring comfort and hope through assisting those in the community who are experiencing life challenges such as illness, isolation, spiritual crises, grief and even end of life. In 2012, she received the Rabbinic Pastor Ordination and Spiritual Counseling Training at the Aleph Rabbinic Seminary. She says of working with JFCS, “I’m looking forward to working in this mission-based organization and community.”