Resource Category: Mental Health

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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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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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Shemini Atzeret: A Holiday of Holding

Simchat Torah is one of the most joyful days of the year, filled with music, dancing, and celebration of the Torah. However, its roots in Shemini Atzeret remind us that joy can take many forms, and the boisterous celebrations traditionally practiced on Simchat Torah may not be the kind of joy everyone needs as the High Holiday season comes to a close. Some of us find the most joy in the quiet embrace of those we love.
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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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Hineni | Caring for the Caregiver

This is a companion guide, not a “manual.” We don’t intend to lecture; we want you to feel as if we are sitting with you at the breakfast table, helping you to step back from your own reactions and look at things objectively. We want it to feel conversational, e.g., one parent/caregiver talking to another, and provide you with information to educate you as a caregiver and accompany you on what is often an incredibly isolating and thankless job. Our team’s extensive experience working with families and educating communities has taught us a great deal about ways to offer support, and we wish to share some of that experience with you and say, “Hineni.”
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