Cultivating Compassion Education Series November Gatherings |
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Advocating for Spiritual Wellness Along the Path of ALS |
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Presented by Rabbi Fredda Cohen, MA, JD, BCC
Sunday, November 22, 2026 1:00 p.m. ET |
My husband, Eric, was diagnosed with ALS over three years ago. Friends and family, doctors as well, focus on his physical symptoms. “Is he still walking? Can he speak? Can he lift his arms?” He is seen by physical, occupational, and respiratory therapists, social workers, and nurse practitioners. And yet—with the exception of Compassionate Care ALS—we have never had a true conversation about his spiritual health at the clinic, and certainly not during the months between visits. As a rabbi and board certified chaplain, I have been surprised by the lack of focus on my husband's and other pALSs' spiritual concerns. Even our best-intentioned clergy may preach more than listen. We in the ALS community can advocate for better and more continual spiritual care. I invite you to attend this interactive session in which together we identify spiritual needs specific to an ALS diagnosis. Let us educate the medical community and help our providers understand why the focus on spiritual needs is critically important to the well-being of people with ALS, those who love them and those who provide care. |
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Rabbi Fredda Cohen, MA, JD, BCC, is a board-certified chaplain serving with SpirituWell. In April 2025, she retired as Director of Pastoral Care & Education at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York. She has lectured extensively in the fields of pastoral education, palliative care and spirituality, and is on the faculty of the Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary. Fredda was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2010. She received the prestigious Chaplain of the Year Award conferred by the New York Board of Rabbis in 2015. Prior to her career as a chaplain/rabbi, she earned her Juris Doctor from the Fordham University School of Law and worked as a trusts and estate attorney. She and her husband, Eric Nussbaum who was diagnosed with ALS three years ago, are grateful recipients of the support and love provided by Ron Hoffman and CCALS. |
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Beyond ALS
November 5, 6:30pm ET |
Join a welcoming group of men and women who have lost a loved one to ALS. Share openly with others who are rebuilding their lives after profound loss. This interactive gathering will highlight where we are now and what may feel different: our identity, our values, our approach to spirituality, and more. We will listen deeply to each other’s stories about the new experiences of building relationships, contentment with solitude, or challenges as a single parent. But, most importantly, come to enjoy and appreciate the company of others who have come to experience the precious nature of human life.
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Caregiver to Caregiver
November 12, 3:00pm ET |
Join the informal gathering designed to offer genuine support for those engaged in ALS caregiving. Enjoy the opportunity to be with other folks who have an intimate understanding of ALS and share your unique point of view as a caregiver. It is truly a meaningful experience to sit in council with ALS caregivers, to practice heart-centered listening, bear witness to our journeys and those of others, and to support and be supported without judgment. |
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Sons and Daughters of ALS Guided by Ron Hoffman, CCALS Founder
November 12, 7:00pm ET |
Sons and Daughters of ALS, hosted by CCALS Founder and CEO, Ron Hoffman, is designed for those 18 years and older who have experienced a parent or close loved one living with or having passed from ALS. Growing up with the intensity and complexity of ALS in our family can shake us to the very core. It is often hard to comprehend or describe the ways that this disease shapes our past, present and future. If you are living with, or have lived with, the impact of a parent with ALS, you are invited to join our zoom gathering for Sons and Daughters of ALS. With deep listening, in the company of others who know the similarity of the uninvited path of having a parent with ALS, we will gather in council to share our experiences with the broad motivation to bring heartfelt connection, awareness and healing. |
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Men of ALS Guided by Ron Hoffman, CCALS Founder
November 19, 2:00pm ET |
Join us for a time of brotherhood and belonging for men living with ALS, or men caring for someone with the disease. This group operates as a council circle that encourages deep listening, acceptance, and an invitation to be genuine about what is going on in your life. |
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Women of ALS
November 19, 3:00pm ET |
Enjoy the connection and unique perspective of other women living with ALS, female caregivers of persons living with ALS, daughters of those with ALS, or any woman touched by the disease. We will gather in council to share our experiences with the broad motivation to bring heartfelt connections and healing to the ALS journey. The Women of ALS gatherings create a safe space to explore the rich feminine perspective on lineage, sexuality, the role as caregiver, and the experience of compassion. |
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Mothers of ALS
November 23, 1:00pm ET |
CCALS offers this informal gathering specifically for mothers who have a child living with ALS. This disease shines a unique and challenging spotlight on the relationships between mothers and their children. We will join with each other in council to listen deeply and bear witness to our experiences as we connect and discover new pathways through the intensity of an ALS experience. |
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