Articles, Downloads

What is Refuah Shleimah? | A Deep Dive into Middot

An exploration of Refuah Shleimah as a guiding middah when caring for others and ourselves. In Jewish tradition, visiting the sick is one of the greatest mitzvot someone can do for another person. According to the Talmud, even just visiting and acknowledging the pain of others allieves part of their suffering.

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Living Your Values: Emotional Resilience and Navigating Difference in Turbulent Times

During turbulent times, it can be challenging to support our mental wellness while also remaining connected to our communities. We each face a unique balance that allows us to honor our values, boundaries and the health of our relationships.

Articles

An Exploration of the Mi Sheberach

By Miriam A.G. Baumgartner | Many of us think of a mi shebeirach as a prayer for healing. But one can say a mi shebeirach for other reasons as well. Simply put, a mi shebeirach is a Jewish prayer used to request a blessing from God. Its format — invoking God in the name of the patriarchs and matriarchs and then making a case that a specific person or group should be blessed — dates to the 10th or 11th century CE in Babylonia. At that time, it was used to bless the congregation or the people gathered for prayer.

Articles, Downloads, Jewish Support

Derech L’Tefilla – A Path to Prayer

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Halachic Responsa: When Should a Person Come Off the Communal Prayer List?

Rabbinic Responsa from Rabbis Daniel Greyber & Micah Peltz about what guidance traditional Jewish sources can offer about when one should and should not pray for someone who is ill? What about mental, terminal, or chronic illnesses? When should we stop praying for someone’s healing because it cannot be reasonably expected?

ARJE Mi Sheberachs for Mental Health

Check out these lovely Mi Sheberachs we created with the Association of Reform Jewish Educators!

Articles

High Holiday Liturgy Viewed Through the Lens of Depression

Imagine for a moment you live with depression. It is not a family member or loved one who has depression — you are the patient. You are suffering. You are in so much pain and your brain is so ill, you have thoughts of suicide. Next, consider the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: We are commanded to “choose life.” Teshuva, Tefilla and Tzedakah, repentance, prayer and charity, are your ticket to the Book of Life for another year.

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Blue Dove Foundation + Mayyim Hayyim High Holidays Mikveh Immersion Meditation

The Mikveh is an ancient Jewish practice that provides an incredibly powerful way to experience a transformation of the mind body and soul. It is a long standing tradition that people immerse in Mikvot before the High Holidays to spiritually prepare for the days ahead.

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Jewish Prayers Related to Suicide

Depending on the traditions of a person’s specific Jewish community, a death by suicide can include all of the same prayers and rituals as any other death.However, we should remember the particular sensitivities around death by suicide and the family and friends who survive. We offer some prayers and rituals, written by survivors, you might use or adapt.