Resource Category: Jewish Connection to Mental Health

Closely following the holiday of Tisha B'Av, we observe Tu B’Av – the day we traditionally celebrate love, marriage and the continuation of life. This pairing of suffering with recovery and resilience is crucial to the survival of the Jewish people, and this cycle can teach us much about how we can cope and persevere in our own lives today. It can also be an opportunity to explore how we can cope and persevere and take care of ourselves when supporting the people we celebrate on Tu B'Av becomes too much for us.
It is true that people aren’t always ready to accept help, even when they desperately need it, but that doesn’t mean we need to wait until they hit rock bottom before accepting or seeking help. We can and should intervene before our friends get to that point. But we need to understand how to do it most effectively and sensitively.
Person helping another person up.
By Max Hollander | On Hanukkah, as you light the candles on the hanukkiah, be sure to look inward at the light shining inside of you, and take steps to ensure your inner flame is happy, healthy and bright.
Mother and child in front of Hanukkah candles.
Many don’t realize the Torah contains two versions of the 10 commandments; it’s easy to overlook. By and large, the two versions are essentially the same, and there are no differences between the laws. There are a couple of small differences in the presentation of some laws; these can be easily overlooked. Yet they have tremendous significance, particularly when it comes to understanding a crucial aspect of Shabbat — and rest in general.