Jewish Community Programs

Soon it will be Thanksgiving, a special time to reflect on the people we are grateful for. Carol Brumer, former chaplaincy coordinator and community educator, shares her appreciation for chaplains and the work that they do.

We are living in unprecedented and uncertain times. While we can change little of the world around us, we can build up our resilience, our ability to adapt and cope with our situation. 

The Hebrew keyword for this time of year is T’shuva, referring to the process of coming back to who we are, where we need to be and rediscovering ourselves as Jews and Spiritual Human Beings. Here are Ten ‘R’s of spiritual practice for seeking a spiritual place this special time of year. 

Our lives have been turned upside down during this pandemic in one way or another.  We have missed or adapted to life events such as Jewish holidays, weddings, graduations and funerals. Many of us are still trying to process our experiences. We are reflecting not only personally but as a nation, as a faith group, as a culture and as a Jewish community.

If you give it some thought, could you answer this question: where were you the first time you heard the word ‘suicide’ used? Today, more people are talking publicly about suicide, but sadly, often only in the aftermath of a crisis.

Keeping with the principle of pikuach nefesh (preservation of life and health), JCFS Chicago chaplains continue to provide support by phone or online. We speak with people who live at home, in senior communities or in other residential facilities, often bringing a sense of spirituality and connection to the Jewish community in challenging times.

What is compassion meditation, and how can it be so impactful so quickly? In this form of meditation, one offers simple phrases of good will to oneself and to others. Even short periods of compassion meditation has been found to reduce stress and increase positive emotions.

by Nina Henry, JCFS Chicago Addiction Specialist

With much of the world shut down, loneliness has become a familiar facet of everyday life, especially for older Americans living alone, in nursing homes, or retirement communities.

by: Ann Luban, Senior Director, Jewish Community Services

NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) reported that 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 youth struggle with mental health challenges each year. While there are no magic wands we can wave, there are some strategies we can employ to help ourselves and that we can share with our family and friends.

As we reshape our lives and navigate a new normal, we feel the impact of this current pandemic on our emotional well-being.