Resource Category: Jewish Holidays

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Your Red Sea, Your Pursuers, and Your Nachshon Moment

By Ruthie Hollander | We can’t find freedom by outrunning anxiety, anger, or grief. This lesson is captured in the compiled Rabbinic teachings called midrash, which preserves the memory of Nachshon, prince of the tribe of Judah and brother-in-law of Aaron. The sea only splits, according to the midrash, when Nachshon steps forward and enters the sea, “since they (b’nai Yisrael) were standing and taking advice/debating/arguing (over what course of action they should take).” Their salvation came at the hand of a brave man’s choice to step forward. What is your Nachshon Moment?
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Mental Health Mishloach Manot

By Max Hollander | We don’t only preserve community by taking care of our most unfortunate community members when they need us; we do so by also showing the people in our lives we care about them even when they don’t need us. We can’t just ensure the poorest among us don't fall through the cracks; we must also strive to ensure those closest to us don't drift away. This balance between matanot l'evyonim (gifts to the poor) and mishloach manot (gifts to our friends) is what nurtures community, and community is what nurtures us in the aftermath of intense challenges and trauma.
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Staying Rooted: A Tu B’Shvat Meditation

Tu B’Shvat, also known as the New Year of the Trees, is a Jewish holiday focused on nature and humankind’s stewardship of Earth. It serves as a time to reflect on the ways we are nurturing ourselves. Like all living things, we are constantly growing and bettering ourselves. Just as we care for the trees, we also must care for ourselves. Just as we water a garden, we must also nourish ourselves. Let’s take some time to step into nature, connect with the earth and plant the seeds of our own mental wellness.
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Staying Grounded to Keep Growing

According to Jewish law, all fruit trees need to be left to grow for a three-year period ending on Tu B’Shvat, the 15th day of the month of Shvat. Then, after a ritual redemptive process in Jerusalem, we may eat the saplings of the fifth year. This process is called “Orlah.” On the surface, this long and complicated process may seem tedious and unnecessary. But if you dig a bit deeper, the law of Orlah offers us a valuable lesson about the importance of patience when undergoing growth processes.
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The Mental Health Hanukkah Journal

Hanukkah can also remind us we, like the rest of the world, need to remember the great miracles we are and have light shed on the innermost parts of ourselves that need attention and understanding. In this book we have devoted space to eight essential reflection prompts we hope will help you reflect on your year — on what brought you light and what dimmed your light — as we add more light to our menorahs this season. We will intersperse these prompts with our mental health Hanukkah resources.
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Pirsumei Nisah – Illuminating Your Inner Self (An Eight Day Hanukkah Journal)

Hanukkah can remind us we, like the rest of the world, need to remember the great miracles we are and have some light shed on the innermost parts of ourselves that need attention and understanding. We have devoted space to eight essential reflection prompts we hope will help you reflect on your year — on what brought you light and what dimmed your light — as we add more light to our menorahs this season.
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Mental Health Ushpezin

Much like we invite ushpezin into our sukkot, what qualities or practices would you like to invite into your life in the new year? Maybe you want to focus inwardly on forming new self-care and gratitude practices. Or, maybe you want to focus outwardly and commit to reaching out to friends and family more often? You can choose qualities or practices that feel big or small to you — even small steps can make a big impact on our mental wellbeing.
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