Resource Category: Jewish Connection to Mental Health

Modim and the Hedonic Treadmill

Judaism has several daily prayer services; Shachris (Morning service), Mincha (Afternoon service), and Maariv (Evening service), and additional Musaf service on Shabbat and holidays. In each service, the central piece of liturgy is the Shemonah Esrei, a collection of prayers consisting of praises of God and requests for Their assistance in everything from health, to business, to peace, recited silently by each member of the congregation. However, among the myriad of requests in the Shemonah Esrei, one prayer offers a moment of gratitude – the Modim – or thanksgiving prayer.
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Who Are We?

When working with folks in recovery, many questions come up around how they build and reestablish trust with loved ones whom their addiction has led them to burn in some way. Especially as they navigate recovery, I hear from my residents that they’ll tell their loved ones “this time is different” or “here’s who I am now,” and their loved ones don’t necessarily believe them right from the start.
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The Jewish Gift of Giving

Purim is a holiday of joy, celebration and feasting, but an essential element of Purim is giving, particularly to those in need. Mordechai established matanot le’evyonim — gifts to the needy — as a central commandment of the day. Jewish tradition and modern research alike show that generosity increases happiness and life satisfaction and activates “the happiness trifecta” of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. Engaging in giving transforms personal joy into shared joy, making Purim a celebration that uplifts both the giver and the community.
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The Tabernacle & the Psychology of Relapse | Parshat Terumah

This article explores Parshat Terumah and the Mishkan as a response to the Jewish people’s relapse into idolatry after the golden calf, showing how God provided structure and tangible guidance for their spiritual recovery. It draws a parallel between this biblical narrative and modern understandings of relapse, emphasizing the importance of frameworks and support systems in navigating periods of vulnerability.
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Mahjong: My Surprisingly Jewish Self-Care Practice

By Gabby Spatt | Listening to my mother’s stories, something clicked: My grandmothers were practicing self-care through mahjong and baking long before we had the language for it, connecting to each other and their families through a combination of shared baking and quality time. And now, this game and coffee cake recipe were passed down to me by my grandmothers and my mom. L’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. I even have a mahjong set that belonged to one of my grandmothers, purchased in Hong Kong in the 1960s.
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From Gap to Gain: Why Measuring Backward Moves You Forward

That six-minute personal best happened because I spent less energy worrying about where I wasn't and more energy appreciating where I was. My body responded to gratitude and confidence instead of stress and anxiety. The course didn't get shorter. I just stopped racing toward the horizon and started measuring the ground under my feet.
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The Rule of Threes: A Jewish Way to Say You’re Sorry

The High Holidays are a season of forgiveness—a time dedicated to improving ourselves and making amends with God and the people we’ve wronged in the past year. Some might see this exercise as trite: Why would we need to be reminded to say we’re sorry to our friends? Others might see it as disingenuous if we all do it at the same time every year, but sometimes we need that external push to actually do it. But how?
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Body (From Hineni: Caring for the Caregiver)

Mental health IS physical health and vice versa. We are only beginning to fully understand the way this works and how our actions affect our physical being. In addition, emotions can be a very physical experience, and we gain from learning the skill of tuning in.
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Mind (From Hineni: Caring for the Caregiver)

Mental illness is rarely logical. Thoughts and feelings can collide in ways that make no sense; illness can make someone reject help they know they need and do things that can harm. We attempt to explain what we can, suggest strategies for maintaining objectivity, and point you toward resources that can provide more information.
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