Jewish Chaplaincy Services
Our Jewish Community Chaplain, Rabbi Ralph Dalin, responds to the acute pastoral and spiritual needs of unaffiliated Jews in San Diego County who are ill, at the end-of-life, or experiencing life crises, including those in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and prisons.
Our Community Chaplain:
- Works with all San Diego hospitals to assure that the spiritual and religious needs of Jewish patients are met.
- Visits unaffiliated patients as requested by the patient, family or hospital staff.
- Offers spiritual support to patients and families from out of town who are hospitalized locally.
- Responds to the needs of the unaffiliated upon the death of a loved one.
- Assists in making final arrangements (advance planning or at time of need).
- Officiates at funerals, memorial services and unveilings.
- Makes appropriate referrals for ongoing bereavement support.
- Facilitates connections to local synagogues.
- Serves as a resource for long-term care facilities seeking guidance in meeting the needs of Jewish residents.
- Makes pastoral visits to unaffiliated homebound or those in long-term care facilities.
- Visits Jewish inmates in correctional facilities and assists local prison staff in meeting their Jewish religious needs.
- Advises unaffiliated Jews regarding life cycle events such as baby namings, bnai mitzvah services, conversions and weddings, referring them to appropriate synagogue rabbis.
Meet Rabbi Dalin:
Rabbi Ralph A. Dalin has served as Federation’s Jewish Community Chaplain since 2004.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Rabbi Dalin was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he also earned a master’s degree. He was a congregational rabbi for two decades, during which time he found pastoral care to be a particular source of meaning.
Rabbi Dalin is a member of the Biomedical Ethics Committee at Sharp Grossmont Hospital and the professional consultation committee for UC San Diego Health’s Clinical Pastoral Education program. He is as a volunteer chaplain for the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. His affiliations include Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains, the Rabbinical Assembly, and the San Diego Rabbinical Association.
