Progressively Speaking: Why all benefit from Mental Health Awareness Shabbat
Sharon Daniels takes a topical issue and applies a progressive Jewish response. This week, focuses on JAMI's Shabbat, which gives attention to mental health
We’re aware of “five a day” and the importance of fruit and veg for our physical health, but are we aware of the mental health equivalent – the NHS’ five ways to wellbeing?
Being active, learning, connecting to people, giving to others and taking notice of the world around us are essential to our “emotional diet”.
With JAMI’s Mental Health Awareness Shabbat falling this week, it is a good time to consider whether we are getting our five a day.
Happily, all of these are readily available in Jewish communities – walking groups, mindfulness, choirs, youth groups, volunteering opportunities, discussion groups, prayer, befriending projects, educational programmes and more.
Being involved with a synagogue is good for our mental health!
When we experience mental health difficulties, it can be hard to join activities, or even get out of bed.
Communal responsibility is a core Jewish value – as we read in the Talmud, Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh – all of Israel is responsible for one another. So we must ensure the myriad of opportunities are accessible to all, particularly when people may find it hard to take the first step.
Many communities have welcoming practices on Shabbat and festivals – a simple smile or introduction can be great starting points.
Having conversations about mental health, in an open and non-judgemental atmosphere, help create an approachable and welcoming environment.
Reform Judaism has welcomed mental health campaigners, hosted informal chats and trained young people to facilitate awareness raising sessions in cheders and youth clubs.
We are also training Mental Health First Aiders in communities and for our youth movement, RSY-Netzer, so there is greater awareness of how we can support people in difficult times, and when and how to get professional support from the NHS or voluntary sector organisations, such as JAMI.
Sedra Bo, which includes the plague of darkness, was specifically chosen to be our Shabbat for thinking about mental health.
Darkness affects our ability to function, much like mental ill-health. It is a chance to acknowledge that many are experiencing mental health difficulties and we must turn up the light, to ensure we are truly welcoming and supportive to all.
- Sharon Daniels is Reform Judaism’s wellbeing and inclusion manager
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
