Youth

Summary:  Thru action, study and prayer, Judaism emphasizes affirmation of life.

· Food plays a major role in Jewish tradition, emphasizing food should be enjoyed as one of the gifts of Creation. Showing gratitude for the food we eat.

· We pass along values during food prep and mealtime.

· We are raised with philosophy that it is better to have too much, than have too little: perhaps due to our history, suffering deprivation and starvation. Any wonder some feel eating disorders are the ‘Jewish addiction of choice?

· Eating disorders manifest itself in a unique way, particularly in Jewish women; usually high achieving, well educated and middle class are more susceptible to eating disorders.

· Eating disorders are NOT about food, but about emotions and psychological well-being.  Hunger and nourishment are no longer based on nutritional value, but to meeting emotional needs not being met in other ways.

· Many anorexics – self starvation is an attempt to manifest one’s strength and independence by withdrawing from love.  By not eating food, it’s an outward rejection of parental love, to separate themselves from parent.

· Eating TOO much – stuffing your body with food to block out emotion.

· Binge eaters help fill ‘emptiness’, stuffing down ager or ‘filling up’ on love. Purging – punishment for having consumed ‘too much’!  It doesn’t help quell need for love or to voice anger.

· Jewish holidays:  particularly stressful for people with disorders (‘try this’; ‘take another piece’; ‘sweetie, you’ve had enough dessert’).

* Yom Kippur: anorexics, a day of licit fasting.  Everyone enjoys the ‘high’ of self-starvation.

*Oneg Shabbats: Very tempting and painful for Binge eaters, with the vast array of sweets often presented.

*  Seders/Yom Kippur Break-fasts/Chanukah latke parties: anxiety provoking for those with eating disorders.

· Jewish families have a hard time believing a loved one is self destructive. It undermines the myth of the ‘perfect Jewish family’. Jewish parents over-identify with their children. Many live in denial.

• Self injurious behaviors affect every member of the family.

Food is to be enjoyed in moderation, and every meal should begin and end with a blessing, according to tradition:  gratitude for food which enables us to live, work and love.  Kashrut can also be a means of attaining deeper reverence for the way we nourish ourselves…..a wholeness in the world.  FOOD SUSTAINS US.

As a community, we can help return a sense of sacredness to people with eating disorders, and being sensitive to the families involved.

Return food to its rightful place: not as a “weapon” to destroy ourselves, but as pleasurable part of our Jewish experience to nourish the BEST in ourselves.

Jewish Values:  From Deuteronomy – - “Take good care of yourselves and take great care of your souls”.  This has been interpreted by Rabbis as a directive to avoid habits that may harm the body.

The Jewish concept that all of humanity is created ‘btzelem elohim’ in the image of G-d, reflects the view that a spark of the divine rests within each of us. Individuals with eating disorders need to be reconnected to that ‘spark’ within.

For local support, you can contact The Renfrew Center;  6633 Fairview Road, Charlotte 28210.  (704) 366-1264. www.renfrewcenter.com

Women for Reform Judaism has produced a brochure titled: Litapayach Tikvah/Hope, to educate members of the Jewish community.

Jewish Women’s Foundation of N.Y. (JWF) launched a program called “NoBody’s Perfect”: program to fifth graders in Jewish day schools in N.Y.C. and Long Island.

KOLOT Center for Jewish Women and Gender Studies – thru the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, has an initiative called ‘Rosh Hodesh’:  It’s a Girl Thing – to foster a positive and strong Jewish identity to fortify girls and counter unhealthy cultural norms, including eating disorders.