The first event, the Family First lecture, is an annual tribute to Dr. Aviva Weisbord A’H, founding director of SHEMESH, where parents, educators, and community members come together to honor her enduring legacy of service. Dr. David Rosmarin, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and founder of the Center for Anxiety, delivered an engaging and insightful keynote. Recognized for his pioneering work in integrating spirituality and mental health, his presentation was based on his book Thriving with Anxiety and discussed four key steps that help reshape anxiety into a positive force. One attendee shared, “The talk was incredibly engaging and helpful in a practical way about living well with anxiety,” highlighting the profound impact of the lecture.

Among the 60 attendees, Dr. Weisbord’s family deeply appreciated this special commemoration, which honored her unwavering commitment as a clinical psychologist and family therapist dedicated to helping others with strength and compassion. To support the Aviva Weisbord SHEMESH Fund and continue the work that was deeply meaningful to her, please consider donating using this link.

The following day, the Mental Wellness Summit took place in partnership with Jewish Community Services and was funded through a grant from The Associated. This event brought together over 45 mental health professionals, educators, and school administrators from schools and organizations in the community, eager to enhance mental wellness supports. Held at the Pearlstone Jewish Retreat Center, the summit began with Dr. Rosmarin’s keynote, How to Make Anxiety into Your Ally, Not Your Enemy, emphasizing how reframing anxiety can be a source of strength rather than distress. The day continued with a series of breakout sessions, including discussions on fostering a positive school culture, creating neurodivergent classrooms, building resilience through emotional intelligence, and utilizing movement and art therapy to support mental wellness. Attendees also participated in interactive discussion groups, exploring how schools can integrate strategies to help students thrive despite challenges. One participant reflection demonstrated the immediate value of the summit’s practical takeaways, “I’m excited to be able to bring this back to my school and personal life, to better the lives of the people I work with.”

The summit concluded with a wrap-up discussion led by Dr. Rosmarin on Creating a School Culture to Support Thriving in the Age of Anxiety, leaving participants with actionable insights to bring back to their schools and communities.

JES is also offering eligible participants in the summit to apply for Mental Wellness Mini-Grants, further assisting schools to implement meaningful initiatives to support student well-being.

Both events underscored the critical importance of mental wellness in Jewish education. By providing parents and educators with knowledge, strategies, and resources, Jewish Educational Services reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the well-being of its students, ensuring they can grow into resilient and thriving individuals.