Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, a momentary pause for the Jewish people between the chaos of the Exodus and their journey to freedom in the promised land. This reminds us that while growth and recovery are long journeys, to progress appropriately, we need to take time to pause, rest and reflect on how far we have come and where we are going. Thus on Shavuot, we encourage you to pause and reflect on how far you have come, how you are doing and where you are going on your road to mental wellness.
Shared goals don’t always mean constructive conversations, and a destructive conversation can have negative ramifications on your mental health. Here are three tips to ensure your arguments for the sake of heaven stay that way.
Some of the primary texts of the holiday of Shavuot call to mind the mental health condition, "burnout", and prompt us to consider how to best avoid it.
Together, Ruth and Naomi confront many difficulties but are able to overcome them, because they support each other – exemplifying the middah nosei b’ol im chaveiro.
These holidays are about forming deeper relationships with our heritage, the Torah, and community, to build a sense of belonging that has proved to have a significantly positive impact on our mental and physical wellness.
The Book of Ruth is a fairly simple story with profound and timeless messages. The Jewish people accepted the Torah in fear of G-d’s overwhelming power. But Ruth accepted it out of love and loyalty. This is the message that most resonates with me.
Check out this short guided meditation from our Shavuot program with One Table and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, talking about burnout and how we can combat it.
On Shavuot night, while we shouldn’t fall asleep, we should consider embodying the value that the Jewish people brought to Har Sinai and spend the night reflecting on growing and being honest with ourselves as a means of connecting with God.
For 49 days, Judaism maintains a special awareness of time — even for a religion that, as Abraham Joshua Heschel described, constructs a sanctuary of time each week in marking the Sabbath. But what exactly makes these 49 days between Passover and Shavuot so special?
If the past few months have taught us anything, it is that some grow louder in the face of loss and others quieter. Grief looks different on each one of us. In Megillat Rut, the text we read on the holiday of Shavuot, we find a powerful affirmation of the different forms of grief.