Resource Category: Jewish Connection to Mental Health

Setting the Table with Hakarot Hatov

Eating can be a self-centered activity, wherein we fixate on our own needs and appetites. Of course, that doesn’t mean eating is a bad thing, but we should acknowledge how often our stomachs take on lives of their own, letting us forget about everything outside of our plate. Jewish tradition’s system of blessings reflects its understanding of that aspect of human psychology and equally recognizes the benefits of gratitude for our mental health and wellness. While the blessings directly reference God as the ultimate source of our food, this system nonetheless invites us to see beyond our self-interest, so we can think more broadly about where our food comes from...
Read more

Coping: Addressing the Difficult Moments as they Arise

As we are approaching the year anniversary of the attacks on October 7, we should think about the ways we can create space to support our community members and Jewish professional staff during the Chaggim, High Holidays, this year. We should also be thinking about the ways we can be compassionate to ourselves as well as others.
Read more

Pride All Year Long: How to Build a More Inclusive Jewish Space

By Shoshana Nerenberg | June, which often houses Shavuot, is the national month of Pride, but our inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ Jews into our broader communities shouldn’t end there! There are lots of ways to incorporate inclusion into the day to day, and a lot of important information that you should constantly be aware of. If you’re feeling a bit lost on some little (and not so little) ways to be more queer inclusive this year, this is the resource for you.
Read more

Navigating Difficult Conversations

Created with BeWell | As we navigate the current situation in Israel and Gaza, as well as around the world with the rise in antisemitism, we want to validate the wide range of mental, physical and emotional reactions you may be going through. While many of us share a strong connection to Israel, we need to be sensitive to the different feelings and experiences people have had since October 7, 2023. Conversations around the situation in Israel will naturally arise during the summer with staff and peers. This resource offers ways to think about how to have these difficult conversations.
Read more

The 7 People You Need as a Leader

Created with Pastor Serve | Many leaders from our historical texts experienced extremely tough times where they questioned and struggled with God. Rather than turning away from God, they sought the answers to help them understand how God would rescue them from or meet them in their suffering. In their quest for answers, they voiced their confusion and frustration very honestly and openly to God. They were often so honest and open, you might duck from the lightning that you might expect to fall on them as you read these pieces of Scripture from their stories.
Read more

All Night, Always Honest

By Rabbi Zach Beer | On Shavuot night, while we shouldn’t fall asleep, we should consider embodying the value that the Jewish people brought to Har Sinai and spend the night reflecting on growing and being honest with ourselves as a means of connecting with God.
Read more

Hineni – 8 Ways to Support Your Trans Teen

At the Blue Dove foundation, we recognize that being a parent, guardian or loved one of a teenager isn’t always easy. So much in this world is constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. We all want to do right by our youth, but we don't always know how. Adults also need support when it comes to connecting with a trans teen.
Read more