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This is a list of my Top 10 Self Care Tips for Jewish Educators. If you're a Jewish Educator like me be sure to check it out!

As Jewish educators and communal professionals, we find ourselves navigating a balancing act of nurturing Jewish joy and self-confidence in the face of the external forces of antisemitism. At the same time, we also want to meaningfully support and empower students and families who are facing the realities of hatred, fear and discomfort.

How can I reassure my learners and colleagues that they are safe in Jewish spaces, despite growing evidence to the contrary?

For those who are coming of age during the resurgence of hate, and those who care about them, allowing for the gray area between the black and white of right and wrong to be a place of meaning-making will be critical. So too will be finding the authentic truths that guide them in their life journeys. 

 It’s no wonder that our collective instinct when it comes to a new challenge, in this case that of preparing our teens for the cold realities of independence and adulthood in a world that is increasingly plagued with anti-Semitism, is to model, to teach, and to learn. It is the instinct that has led to the abundance of training and advocacy programs for high school students, each one with the same core goal: To buoy high school students with enough Jewish content, pride, and networks so that if and when they face backlash, they are ready to respond.

 We need to consider how to connect with our disengaged teens. But we also need to connect our active teens with one another, building bridges for them between the silos in which Jewish communal organizations tend to operate. 

As educators, each choice we make creates an encounter for our learners. As we build the synergy between them and the canon of Judaism, we are the facilitators of the next steps of their lifelong journeys as the inheritors of the collective wisdom of the Jewish people

Jewish practices and observances should not be centered around fear and defiance. Rather, the wisdom, rituals and learning that mark the Jewish experience are meant to bring value, joy and transcendence to our lives.

After a few too many stress dreams, I realized that only by prioritizing my own health, am I able to be the best version of myself. I began to uncover the rich, multifaceted array of connections between Jewish rituals and culture and the modern self-care phenomenon. Turns out our religion has been tuned into the idea of self-care long before it became an Instagram hashtag.

By removing the proverbial masks that can all-too easily be added to complex identities, we can partner with our learners and their families to create proud, multifaceted Jewish leaders and the lifelong learners of the future. By leading this charge, educators are the pivot point between the Jewish life of today and the tomorrow that we’re excited to co-create.