Hospice service thanks local philanthropist

A statewide hospice service will name its Jewish pastoral care program after Long Branch philanthropist Ruth Hyman.

Her gift of an unspecified amount to the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group will be used to fund what will be known as The Ruth Hyman Spiritual Support in the Jewish Tradition program. 

“I contribute to many causes, and the care that the VNA Health Group hospice program provides is extremely worthwhile,” said Hyman in a press release. “It does my heart good to support a program that helps so many people.” 

Rabbi Nathan Langer heads the VNA’s Jewish chaplaincy program.

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“What we have learned is that a person’s life can be enriched by spiritual and pastoral care and companionship,” he told NJJN. “I have the blessing of walking the walk with each of my patients through the completion of their mission on this earth.” 

Langer, a member of the Joint Chaplaincy Committee of Greater MetroWest, works out of VNA’s Englewood office and is also on loan to its branches in Red Bank and Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in New Brunswick.

“We are so grateful for Ms. Hyman’s contributions,” said VNA Health Group president and CEO Dr. Steven Landers. “She is a wonderfully dedicated woman who shares VNA’s passion for making the community a better place. Ms. Hyman’s accomplishments and leadership have made a tremendous impact on the community, and VNA Health Group’s hospice program will greatly benefit from her generous donation.” 

Hyman, the owner of Ruth Hyman Fashions, is a member of Congregation Brothers of Israel in Elberon and served for decades as president of Long Branch Hadassah. She had been a lay leader of a number of area Jewish organizations, including JCC of Greater Monmouth County, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County, and the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County. Among the other organizations she has supported are American Red Magen David for Israel, Daughters of Miriam, AMIT, Israel Bonds, and the Central Jersey Jewish Home for the Aged.