Is “selfie culture” impacting your children’s self-esteem? How does halacha play a role in mental health considerations when determining psak halacha? Egg freezing poses several fascinating halachic, hashkafic and ethical considerations, but did you know this technology could possibly help agunot situations?
All this and more will be discussed at Nishmat and Mizrachi Canada’s Global Family Health & Halacha Virtual Conference taking place May 2-5.
Designed to explore a carefully curated list of topics to help “guide us in conversations that focus on our spiritual, emotional and physical well-being, as individuals and in our closest relationships,” the conference will bring renowned leaders and experts from all over the world to take part in the discussions.
According to Atara Eis, program director for Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center and U.S. Yoatzot Halacha Fellows Program, the conference is meant to “kind of stitch ourselves back up and maybe make something even more beautiful now that we’ve been kind of cracked wide open.”
As for the conference’s schedule, it seems no topic was off limits. One session looks at “Everything Egg Freezing” while another examines “Sustaining Passion in Perimenopause.” Pelvic-floor dysfunction gets a turn and then there’s a whole discussion dedicated to “Family Planning After 35.”
You also don’t want to miss Yoatzet Halacha Lisa Septimus’ interview with Chaya Chanin of The Frock NYC, to talk about her marriage to a spouse who suffered from addiction.
And that’s just day one.
The topics stemmed from the many questions the yoatzot halacha fielded over the last year. Eis, explained, “It was just so obvious what issues needed to be discussed and, in many cases, needed to be evaluated based on the experiences everyone had this year.”
“There’s remarkable work being done to break down these stigmas…and we all have to talk about these things, ” she said. But the program does allow for completely anonymous participation, for those who still might feel uncomfortable attending an infertility discussion or a session on maternal mental health.
To be sure, the conference offers something for just about everyone, even that most finicky demographic…teenagers.
Yoatzot Halacha Rachel Weber Leshaw and Laurie Novick will address educators on how to teach the concept of tzniut to adolescents. Eis says that it is such a misunderstood topic and it is important to teach it in a healthy and accurate way to “teenagers who are in the throes of learning to love their bodies.”
Yoatzot Halacha Shayna Goldberg and Lisa Septimus will speak directly to 11th and 12th graders to discuss issues including managing decisions and the Torah’s perspective on love.
Eis continued, “You’re heading toward adulthood and you’re being included in these conversations—we’re having conversations with yoatzot halacha for you about building healthy relationships. I think that’s really amazing messaging being able to show them, ‘Look, this is what’s important to the community. These are the conversations that your parents and friends and family are taking part in all over the world.’ I think it’s an amazing teachable moment for our young people.”
For more information or to register for this event please visit https://healthandhalacha.com.
