Star Replaces Cross for Jewish Patients in Catholic Hospital

Jewish patients at St. Mary’s Hospital here now have the option of requesting the temporary removal from the room they occupy of the crucifix posted throughout the Catholic facility and its replacement during their hospital stay by a bronze Mogen Dovid. The arrangement was initiated by Dr. John Regan, a psychiatrist who is hospital chief of staff, and Sister Mary Madonna, its executive vice-president, who wanted to carry a step further the practice of some Christian hospitals of such temporary removal of crucifixes at the request of Jewish patients. The two hospital officials raised the matter with a fellow psychiatrist, Dr. Irving Berstein, whose wife, Dr. Dorothy Bernstein is a child psychiatrist and also a nationally know artist, according to the American Jewish World, the local English-Jewish newsweekly. Mrs. Bernstein was commissioned by the hospital officials to make six Stars of David, each mounted on a walnut background which were turned over to the hospital in a brief ceremony. Both Dr. and Mrs. Bernstein are staff members at the hospital.