The
Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health convenes leaders in the
Jewish healing, spirituality and spiritual direction movements
to engage in dialogue, review resources and share tools while mining
our rich tradition for sources on health and healing.
"The Jewish healing movements emerged in
the early 1990s. The work was spearheaded by professionals and
lay leaders who came to realize that, as a consequence of modern
life, many Jews no longer had easy or meaningful access to the
spiritual and communal supports that had sustained previous generations
of Jews through difficult times of illness and loss. And,
they started to change that reality. Services and resources were
developed and provided to Jews in need, through communal organizations,
grassroots groups and congregations. The movements are evolving
today to encompass not only services and resources for those experiencing
loss and illness but for those who wish to add reflection and spirituality
to their lives. This spiritual awakening and education is fostered
through study and ritual involving Jewish texts, practices and
communal life."
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"Jewish spirituality is a way of exploring the meaning and purpose
of one's own life story in the context of the story of the Jewish
people. Embedded in Judaism is a tradition of spirituality; a vision
of well-being that is grounded in a fierce engagement with life;
the importance of community, and a belief that sacred texts and rituals
can be relevant to our modern dilemmas. It is both an intensely private
experience and inextricably bound to the collective. "In modern life the word 'spirituality' is sometimes associated
with 'New Age,' but Judaism has always recognized the
importance of care of the soul and its interactions with the
care of the body. Jewish healing draws on a deeply rooted wisdom
that has evolved for over 3500 years with much to say about the
effects of stress, isolation, loss and hard times on the body,
mind and spirit.
"The heritage that is being rediscovered is grounded in traditional
Judaism, but it is also undergoing a new elasticity, stretched by
movements like the search for a personal spirituality, demographic
shifts, and feminism. The history and practice of authentic Judaism
is an ever-evolving one; and today, the Jewish healing movement integrates
modern psychology, medical science, complementary medicine and pertinent
insights of other religious traditions."
For more details about Jewish spirituality and healing,
click here to explore the National Center for Jewish Healing: http://ncjh.org/aboutjh.html
Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW, Rabbinic
Director, and Susan J. Rosenthal, LCSW,
Coordinator of the National Center for Jewish
Healing, a program of the Jewish Board of
Family and Children's Services, JBFCS
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