Articles

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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Who is strong? Resisting Peer Pressure & Underage Drinking

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Reimagining Traditions to Promote LGBTQ+ Inclusion

Jewish tradition encourages us to be an “open tent” the community can walk into, which invites the question: How do we open up so LGBTQ+ people feel welcome? A creative reimagining invites us to explore tradition for connection opportunities that focus on belonging for all.

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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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Simchat Torah and Recovery Spiral

Judaism encourages us to question, to learn and to grow; it’s one of the unique and valued traditions of our religion. While we as Jews do this all year round, it is especially emphasized during the holidays at the beginning of a new year. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us a chance to focus on self-reflection and improvement. Simchat Torah presents a different opportunity to celebrate and begin a fresh start to our Jewish growth and learning.

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Dancing into Forgiveness

Simchat Torah speaks to us in two ways. First, the completion and renewal of the Torah can show those of us stuck in or holding onto the past that we can begin again, and we aren’t alone in our need for a fresh start. Second, when all else fails, sometimes we just need to move our body. Simchat Torah provides a jumpstart of fun, excitement and dance we can use to pull ourselves out of our own heads and into our bodies, which can serve as a form of informal dance therapy.

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The Prayer for Rain, Climate Change, and Mental Health

Water is an essential part of our lives, and on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret, we celebrate and pray for that water in the form of rain. While originally a prayer for rain in association with the yearly harvest, climate change and its accompanying consequences on our collective mental health has given it a renewed significance.

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Use Your Past to Create Your Future

These holidays are about forming deeper relationships with our heritage, the Torah, and community, to build a sense of belonging that has proved to have a significantly positive impact on our mental and physical wellness.

Resource Category: Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah