This year, the Jewish High Holy Days and Suicide Awareness Month coincide on the lunar calendar. In fact, World Suicide Prevention Day lands on Friday, September 10, 2021, falling squarely between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a time when we often reflect on issues of life and death and search for meaning, purpose and identity in our lives.

In March we met Lauren, a 16 year-old with a behavioral addiction to social media. Because of her time online, she was losing sleep, seeing her grades slip and having less time and more conflict with her family. What does abstinence look like in a situation like this?

The dedicated chaplains at JCFS Chicago are committed to uplifting community members. “We listen,” Rabbi Joseph S. Ozarowski said. “It’s all about relationships.” In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, these success stories illustrate those relationships and the journey of mental health.

The long-awaited vaccine is accessible to more and more people, yet many feel ambivalent. The sense of apprehension and even dread at the thought of life returning to “normal” is called “re-entry anxiety."  

You may have an empty chair and an aching heart at your Seder. Even if you have not had an immediate loss of a loved one this year, this reflection about grief during Passover may help bring healing and order to your real (or virtual) Covid Seder.

Addiction wears many masks. It can look like physical, psychological and spiritual dependence on substances or the use of devices. 

As we reach the one-year anniversary of the initial pandemic lockdown, we pause to reflect and look to the future. 

Making space for ourselves and our own well-being, especially at a time when there are others that need taking care of, is extremely important. While making the time and commitment to self-care can seem arduous, so too is the process of recovering if we ignore our own care or let ourselves run out of steam. Finding a couple of small moments to do something that makes us feel good each day can have cumulative benefits.

The pandemic has left many people feeling isolated and alone. To ensure that our clients feel connected to their community and faith, JCFS Chicago’s Jewish community services swiftly transitioned support groups and their chaplaincy program to be virtual.

Recently, two eighth grade girls who went through JCFS Chicago’s Safety Kid program spoke up against a teacher who was making them feel uncomfortable. The Safety Kid program educates preschool- 5^th grade students about personal safety and empowers them with the language and tools they need to keep themselves safe.