The original plan for a Shabbos of Mental Health Awareness was to have a program focused on the gift of self-care and the availability of quality professionals to help navigate the challenges we face. But the world has changed; in a blink of an eye our anxiety and fear for our beloved Eretz Yisrael, our families and its citizens have caused us great personal angst. Our anchored ground has experienced a systemic shift, possibly forever. How do we cope? What do we tell our children? Will things return to normal?
Although nothing is sweeter to Hashem than the achdut of his children, we did not ask for this to bring us together. Klal Yisrael continues to face challenges and burdens from the outside and from within but we have tools in our arsenal to help deal with these challenges; tefillah, teshuva, our rabbeim, rebbetzins and a cadre of Torah mental health professionally trained clinicians to guide with compassion, humility and tzinius.
Allowing ourselves the gift of self-care and seeking professional help to navigate the challenges we face is the accepted norm of those who are in the know. A page has turned, a new chapter is being written, where dealing with “our stuff” to grow and be our best is a source of pride and accomplishment.
On the weekend of Nov. 17- 18, Parsha Toldos, NEFESH International, in conjunction with leading Torah organizations, invites all shuls, mosdos and agencies to join for a Shabbos of Mental Health Awareness. We will hear from our rabbonim and professional clinicians to make us more aware and more sensitive to what is going on inside us and around us.
The program will be tailored for each community and shuls will have their rav give a drasha concerning the importance of being your best and that seeking clarity should be a positive transformative experience. Some shuls will offer a panel discussion on the topic of their choosing, while others will offer a stand-alone clinician as scholar in residence.
We ask that shuls and agencies proudly add their name to the program flier so that Klal Yisrael appreciates that seeking guidance for yourself and for your family is a journey worth taking.
Program Ideas:
- For Friday night after the seudah or one hour before Mincha on Shabbos afternoon:
The shul hosts an Oneg Shabbos with a mental health professional speaking on a topic of your choosing. Q&A to follow.
Panel discussion between rabbi, mental health professional and an educator from the shul. Q&A to follow
- Shabbos morning the rabbi gives a drasha dedicated to mental health awareness/self-care.
- At the Shabbos kiddush, NEFESH and other organizations will provide information packets dedicated to mental health, such as how to choose the right professional.
For more information, contact NEFESH International, [email protected] , (201) 384 0084.
NEFESH International
