Dear Sadie

As part of our religious school curriculum, we want to educate our teens and pre-teens about eating disorders. Where can we get information and resources?

E.B.

Dear E.B.:

So often we think that eating disorders aren’t a part of our community—especially because so many of our celebrations center around delicious food! And yet, that’s not the case.

And, why just educate the teens? What about the adults? The Union for Reform Judaism’s Department of Jewish Family Concerns recognized that both adults and young people need to learn about this important issue.

Litapayach Tikvah: To Nourish Hope is a comprehensive Jewish guide to educate congregants—both adults and youth—about eating disorders. Combining information from professional organizations, Jewish texts and Reform congregations that have designed programming on this issue, Litapayach Tikvah discusses eating disorders and how to educate, help and support those who are dealing with them. See these and other resources to help you address the changes in the contempory Jewish family, visit the Department of Jewish Family Concerns.

And don’t forget: Rabbi Richard Address, director of the department will be with us at the MAC Regional Biennial from October 24 – 26, 2008!! There you’ll have an opportunity to learn from him and meet with him one-on-one. I hope to see you there!!

Sadie