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Guard Your Soul Carefully – Prioritizing Caring for Yourself

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines self-care as “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health.” How we do this looks different for everyone. This resource explores proven and applicable methods of self-care and the Jewish sources that support the need for individualized self-care.

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The Difference Between Haman and Mordechai is You: Resisting Peer Pressure and Underage Drinking on Purim

By Avraham Walkenfeld | Despite social expectations and pressure, Mordechai’s refusal to bow to someone diametrically opposed to his values demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his own. What makes this an especially powerful example is the explanation in the following verse of why he refused to bow to a wicked man like Haman: He was a Jew. To be a Jew is to live by your beliefs — Live by Them (Vayikra 18:5) — and there is no holiday where that message is needed more than Purim.

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How Do You Adar? A Jewish Guide to Joy

Throughout its 3,000-year history, Jewish tradition has put a lot of thought into this deeply human question, among others, and has provided a plethora of answers. Our tradition offers paths to joy, including connection with God, finding meaning, contentment, and community. But, ultimately, what makes you happy is you.

Articles

Resist Your Inner Pharaoh: Unharden Your Heart

Over the course of the Exodus, one of the driving forces in the story is the “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart. This “hardening” set him in his cruel ways and prevented him from releasing the Jews from slavery, despite the increasing severity of the plagues and the pleas of his constituents. As most commonly understood, the loss of his free will to repent was a divine punishment for his mistreatment of the Jewish people in slavery, but there are voices within Jewish tradition that actually see Pharaoh’s challenge as something that plagues almost everyone — habituation.

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Choni HaMe’aggel: The Talmud’s Model for Overcoming Climate Anxiety

“Climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, is distress related to worries about the effects of climate change…and is often accompanied by feelings of grief, anger, guilt, and shame, which in turn can affect mood, behavior, and thinking.” (Harvard Medical School) Climate change has severe implications on our safety, but to rectify the impact we’ve had on our climate will require action, and that can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, the Talmud offers a model for self-empowerment in our fight against forces as seemingly unstoppable as nature.

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Exploring Social Connectedness and Mental Wellness

In May 2023, the U.S. surgeon general released a new advisory on the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation and lack of connection in our country. With the holidays approaching and this public health crisis at hand, we must ask what our responsibility is to support ourselves and each other in fostering meaningful connection. The Jewish value, or middah, kol Yisrael arevim zeh la zeh – כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה, all Jews are responsible for one another, is a reminder of our responsibility. It helps us understand we are interconnected and must be invested in the mental wellness and overall well-being of others.

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Hakarot Hatov Cards

Have everyone at your table select a card describing something they feel grateful for or have them make their own! (From our "Setting the Table with Hakarot HaTov" resource)

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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...

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Tisha B’Av from the Ground Up: Piecing Our World Back Together

On the holy day of Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, tradition has us sitting on the ground as a way to simulate grief and mourning. But the practice can also bring healing to people reeling in the lingering effects of trauma.

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Commemorating October 7: Creating Space During the Chaggim (High Holidays)

As we are approaching the year anniversary of the attacks on October 7, join us as we think about the ways we can create space to support our community members and Jewish professional staff during the Chaggim this year. We will explore this topic and share resources to support your communities.