Resource Type: Articles

Hineni – 8 Ways to Support Your Trans Teen

At the Blue Dove foundation, we recognize that being a parent, guardian or loved one of a teenager isn’t always easy. So much in this world is constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. We all want to do right by our youth, but we don't always know how. Adults also need support when it comes to connecting with a trans teen.
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An Aftermath of Grief in Megillat Rut

By Ruthie Hollander | If the past few months have taught us anything, it is that some grow louder in the face of loss and others quieter. Grief looks different on each one of us. In Megillat Rut, the text we read on the holiday of Shavuot, we find a powerful affirmation of the different forms of grief. They are especially resonant now as we feel the outpouring of the Jewish world’s anger, fear, and mourning in the still-echoing wake of unprecedented attack, of war we never wanted, of lost and stolen loved ones.
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Your Guide to “Arguments for the Sake of Heaven”

In Jewish tradition, arguments with a shared goal are holy and called “arguments for the sake of heaven!” Engaging in spirited debate conveys that both sides believe in the goal and care enough to fight for it. But shared goals don’t always mean constructive conversations, and a destructive conversation can have negative ramifications on your mental health. Here are three tips to ensure your arguments for the sake of heaven stay that way.
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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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October 7th – The Jewish Collective Trauma Response

By Talya Gordon | I don’t have the answers for how or even if we will be okay. Right now, all we can do is sit with the pain and be honest about how we are doing. We are not okay. We need the world to do more. We need to mourn and cry and take care of ourselves. We need support from non-Jews, so we know people outside of our community care about our safety.
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The JED Foundation: Protecting Student Mental Health in the Face of Antisemitism and Islamophobia

On college campuses, which are homes for student activism and academic debate, students are describing hostile environments, hate speech, and incidents of violence based on perceived or actual religious affiliation or nationality. These attacks threaten their sense of safety and well-being. To protect the mental health of all students, The Jed Foundation (JED) suggests colleges and universities take the following actions to engage students and support their mental health during this time and beyond.
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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.
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Guidance for Talking to Our Kids

By Betsy Stone, Ph.D. | We urgently need to support parents, teachers and other communal professionals who work directly with children with resources for speaking with young people about what is going on as the present conflict continues to evolve.
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