Kosher pantry launched at St Vincent’s

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and Health Secretary Susan Pearce have used the opening of a kosher pantry at St Vincent’s Hospital to send a message to Jewish patients that they are seen, supported and safe in the state’s health system.

Park said the pantry, launched in a ceremony last Tuesday, was “more than just a cupboard”.

“This is a signal, and it sends very clearly a message that we support Jewish people as they come into our hospital, often on the worst day of their life,” he said.

“We support their faith, we support them as part of our community, and importantly, we see them. We want them to identify as Jewish. We want them to feel comfortable in our hospitals to do that.”

Pearce said the health system had a duty to use its voice. “Everywhere I go at the moment, at every opportunity, I talk about the responsibility that we have as a health system to do what is right, and what is right is to remind society that we are here for everyone,” she said.