David Blum has over 15 years of experience in counseling, administration, and chaplaincy work within healthcare and human services. He has held several roles such as Counselor, Group Facilitator, Director of Joint Chaplaincy Program, and Assistant Rabbi. Blum seeks to continue using his skills in health or human services. He has a Master's in Public Administration and Rabbinical Ordination.
1. David Blum
1306 Central Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Phone: (732) 317-2407 E-mail address: Commack3@aol.com
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE: To continue to use my administrative, communication, counseling and advocacy
skills within the field of health or human services.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Counselor
New Horizons, Inc., Newark, NJ June 2014 – March 2015
• Member of Adult Partial Care Program, servicing individuals diagnosed by medical and psychological
professionals as suffering from a variety of disorders.
• Create and maintain client’s treatment plans for working towards progress in areas including but not
limited to symptom management, medication compliance, relapse prevention, interpersonal skills, and
anger management.
Group Facilitator
Capitol Care, Inc., Somerset, NJ Feb 2013 – Jun 2014
• Member of Adult Partial Care Program, servicing individuals diagnosed by medical and psychological
professionals as suffering from a variety of conditions including but not limited to schizophrenia, bi-
polar, borderline, schizo-affective and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Work in conjunction with
multidisciplinary team including psychiatrist, clinical specialist, nurse, case management.
• Conduct psycho-educational sessions to facilitate development of self-esteem, peer support, cognition,
job readiness, career and personal development, computer skills, and related areas.
Director of Joint Chaplaincy Program
Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, South River, NJ Sep 2003 – Aug 2001
Counseling/Pastoral Responsibilities:
• Provide pastoral counseling to bring insight and comfort to individuals in physical and spiritual crisis.
• Assist families in distress using conflict resolution techniques to de-escalate discord in regard to vital
decision making on behalf of ill/terminal patients.
• Aide families in accessing rabbis, synagogues and other community resources to assist with religious
matters and concerns affecting patients.
• Member of hospital’s multidisciplinary team with goal of assuring optimal patient care.
• Maintain appropriate state mandated documentation records.
• Conduct religious services and classes pertaining to Jewish holidays and customs at assisted living,
rehabilitation and nursing home facilities.
• Hospice/Palliative care, including prayer and counseling for patients and family members.
Educational Responsibilities:
• Conduct in-service training sessions to chaplains of multiple faiths and denominations regarding
Jewish ritual and customs, with special emphasis on cultural sensitivity when interacting with
denominations within the Jewish population.
• Created, “The Chaplain’s Portion”, a column for the Jewish Federation’s Newspaper, which culled from
chaplaincy experiences, spiritual insights and classic rabbinical commentaries to corresponding
weekly Torah readings.
• Open meetings with brief, inspiring religious message to establish sacred space for administration and
leaders of the community.
Chaplain Intern
Parker Jewish Institute for Healthcare and Rehabilitation New Hyde Park, New York Aug 2001 – Aug 2003
• Therapeutic pastoral care to nursing and rehab patients addressing emotional, spiritual and religious
concerns.
• Officiated at memorial gatherings.
2. • Generated and maintained computerized lists of patients and acted as liaison with appropriate
departments to facilitate patient attendance and participation in religious services.
Assistant Rabbi
Central New Jersey Jewish Home for the Aged, Somerset, NJ Jan 2000 – Sep 2003
• Conducted prayer services, religious classes, and interpretation of Torah for those wishing deeper
meaning and understanding.
• Offered counseling and solace to patients, family members and staff
Administration Internship
Care One at The Highlands, Edison, New Jersey Feb 2007 – Sep 2007
• Pre-planning of departmental structure and operation to identify and provide direction in management
of departments associated with patient care, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, dietary
service, social work and recreation.
RELATED EXPERIENCE:
• Passover Rabbi at New York University Medical Center, including conducting services and visitation
with patients
• Chaplaincy Training Instructor - Lectures to rabbinical students at Yeshiva University
• Cemetery Leader - Graenum Berger Bronx Jewish Federation Service Center - escorted Bronx residents
to cemeteries in various locations in New York City and Long Island. Administered prayers at
gravesites, and responded to spontaneous germane queries about Jewish customs, traditions, and law.
• Instructor of Talmud - R.I.E.T.S. summer kollel.
• Study partner and instructor of Jewish education at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue.
• Part of team that visited and conducted programs for inmates at Sing-Sing Correctional Facility. Sleepy
Hollow, NY.
PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROJECTS:
• Roundtable Discussion: “What is this Midrash Telling Us?”, Blum, Glazer, Deutsch. Congregation Ohav
Emeth, 2010.
• Symposium: “The Role of Spirituality in the Healing Process”, St. Peter’s University Hospital, Project
manager, participated in protocol preparation, coordinated logistical marketing plan, liaison for Jewish
Federation and hospital administration, 2009.
• Project Manager: “First Annual Sukkos Celebration”, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, St.
Peter’s University Hospital, coordinated implementation of First Sukkos Celebration for patients, staff
and visitors. Discourse on aspects of Sukkos’s relevance and significance . 2008- 2009.
• Presentation (Video): “Insight to Rituals, Customs and Traditions of Jewish Holidays”, Blum, Baskinger.
St. Peter’s Hospital, 2008 - 2009.
• Panelist: “Interfaith Clergy Day”, Blum, Herauf, St. Peter’s Hospital, 2005
• Roundtable Discussion: “Symbolism of Purim”, Blum, Greene. Hillel House of Rutgers University, 2004.
EDUCATION:
Master’s Degree in Public Administration - May 2008
Kean University, Union, New Jersey
Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.), October 2001 – August 2003
The HealthCare Chaplaincy, New York, NY
Rabbinical Ordination – August 2001
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS)
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, May 1995
Yeshiva University, New York, NY