Receiving Pastoral Care at Shir Tikvah

As a congregation, we care for the spiritual wellbeing of our community. We show up for each other in moments of exquisite joy and in moments of profound grief and heartache. We are a people who believe that our sacred task is to accompany each other through life, to support each other’s celebrations and each other’s sorrows.

Rabbi Sharon Stiefel rejoined the Shir Tikvah staff in January 2022 after serving as Interim Rabbi in 2008-2009. Rabbi Stiefel is available to meet with people for pastoral care. She is here to help congregants going through difficult times such as health challenges, divorce, death of a beloved, care for a loved one, or other life changes. As both a rabbi and a licensed social worker, she meets people where they are to provide support, a safe space for exploring options, and a uniquely Jewish perspective. Through her experience, approachability, and warmth, Rabbi Stiefel can help you discover even more space in your life for meaningful Jewish connection. To make an appointment to speak to Rabbi Stiefel, you may email her directly here.

If you would like to learn more about our Caring Community supports, visit here.

Grief Resources

We know that recovering from loss can be a slow and difficult process.  While mourners often get focused care from community at the time of a loss, many times that awareness wanes more quickly than the need for it. According to Jewish tradition, you are a mourner for a full year following the death of an immediate relative.  Nevertheless, tradition also dictates that you say kaddish for only eleven months.  The Jewish tradition of saying Kaddish helps create space for you to receive support and to build community as you move through this first year.  We hope you will take the opportunity to say kaddish with our Shir Tikvah community throughout your year of mourning.

We want to encourage you to attend Thursday Morning Minyan, which is an intimate space designed to support people through stages of grief and to build community. Please also know that our Shabbat services on Friday night and Saturday morning will provide you opportunity to say kaddish in community.

Sometimes it’s helpful to get support from others who have also recently experienced loss or who can provide support around grief management and recovery.  We encourage you to take advantage of these resources if you feel they may help:

• Individualized Jewish grief support, information, and resources:

  • Jewish Family Service of Mpls or 952-546-0616

  • Jewish Family Service of St. Paul or 651-698-0767

• Connect with Rabbi Sharon Stiefel if you have specific questions about Jewish grief

• We can recommend specific therapists who specialize in grief; email Nikolina

• Shir Tikvah’s Library has excellent grief resources; email Nikolina for library access

• Center for Grief in St. Paul or 651-641-0177

• Allina Grief Resources or 651-628-1752

• Health Partners Grief Groups or 952-883-7117