Q: Rabbi Schwartz, congratulations on becoming the new Executive Director of the Jewish Caring Network and Tikva House. What drew you to this role?

What drew me in is deeply personal. My wife and I have experienced what it means to have children facing life-threatening illness. We spent long periods in out-of-town hospitals, frightened and exhausted, without guidance or a place to stay. We learned firsthand that healing is not just about the patient—it requires a family to be there to help.

JCN and Tikva House exist to provide that support. We empower families to remain as their loved one's greatest source of healing, hope, and strength.

With diverse experience across rabbinic and financial sectors, and most significantly, as a JCN board member, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to lead one of Baltimore's premier chesed organizations.

Q: For those who may not be familiar, what exactly does JCN do, and how is it different from other organizations that help the sick?

While we eagerly collaborate with other community organizations to ensure that people are well served without duplicating efforts, the Jewish Caring Network is the primary support for families navigating serious and long-term illness. JCN, originally called Gevuras Yarden, was founded thirty years ago by Chaiya Drabkin a"h and Keren Traub as a zechus for the healing of a young community member battling cancer.

Today, JCN serves approximately 100 families at any given time. We provide a wide range of personalized services that keep patients and their families together, supported, and uplifted throughout treatment and recovery. As such, we become extended family.

We offer:

• Fresh daily meals for the week, Shabbos, and Yom Tov
• Groceries
• Cleaning assistance
• Nursing care funds
• Art therapy
• Camp support
• Respite care
• Gift packages for birthdays and anniversaries—milestones that families generally celebrate

What distinguishes JCN is the depth and duration of our relationships. Serious illness is rarely a short journey. Families need ongoing, constant support throughout years of treatment and recovery.

A dedicated coordinator is assigned to each family to create a personal connection and care plan. We also have a vast volunteer network who answer the call day and night to deliver whatever is needed.

Q: Where does Tikva House fit into the JCN mission?

The Tikva House is one of the crown jewels of the Jewish world. It stands ready to receive people from across the world who come to Baltimore seeking life-saving medical care at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Located just one block from Hopkins, Tikva House is a world-class kosher hospitality residence serving local and global patients and families regardless of affiliation or level of observance.

We offer:

• A fully stocked kosher kitchen with weekday and Shabbos menus
• Coffee and snack bar
• An Eruv
• A library of seforim
• Seven deluxe guest suites, each with a private shower and kitchenette
• Laundry facilities
• Work spaces
• A playroom

Orchestrated by Rabbi Boruch Brull, Tikva House was secured with a generous gift by Rabbi Ephraim & Etti Rubin a”h and built through the tireless leadership of Mrs. Stacey Goldenberg, who guided JCN for more than two decades.

Over 13 years, we have hosted more than 21,000 stays for people from 8 countries and more than 85 cities. This past month, we welcomed families from Brazil, Spain, South Africa, and Israel.

In the words of one recent guest:

“Within its walls, we have found comfort, community, and hope… a virtual hug from the Baltimore community.”

And from another:

“You became our family and took care of every detail so that we could be totally present for our critically ill sister in the hospital.”

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing JCN right now?

Our community has grown and the needs of families facing serious illness continue to expand. Today’s patients and caregivers are navigating not only medical challenges, but also profound emotional, practical, and financial burdens.

Simply scaling back is not an option. Illness doesn't pause just because funding becomes more difficult. Caring well for others is not a luxury; it’s a basic tenet of our Torah values.

Our challenge is ensuring long-term sustainability while continuing to provide a high level of personalized care. This means:

• Strengthening fundraising efforts
• Enhancing operational excellence
• Increasing community awareness
• Building meaningful partnerships with donors, volunteers, healthcare institutions, and community leaders who share this vision

Q: What message would you most like the community to hear?

Illness can touch any family, at any time.

When it does, what matters most is that the community will be there for you and your family. JCN and Tikva House exist to ensure that no family faces this alone. Whether serving local families or welcoming guests from around the world, our mission remains: to provide support, compassionate care, and meaningful hope for the family for the long term.

There are many ways to take part in this mission:

• Volunteering
• Advocacy
• Philanthropy

We welcome your partnership with our fundraising campaign this week, June 14–16.

The measure of a community is not how it celebrates together, but how it cares for those who are struggling.