“Start worrying. Details to follow.” Text of a Jewish telegram.
Are you a worrier? My mother told me that when she was younger and there was a “crisis” in her childhood home, her brother would assign tasks to all the members of the family to address the issue. “Bluma,” he would say to her, “Your job is to worry.”
It seems that worrying is a Jewish (and universal, for that matter) trait. This trait is the subject of many Jewish jokes. However, in real life it is no joking matter. Worrying can be debilitating. It can sap all of our energy, preventing us from moving forward and achieving our goals. If can be a major obstacle in our meaningful service of Hashem. Myriads of self-help books have been written on the topic, with varying degrees of success.
What does Judaism have to say about worrying? Does Chassidus have any solutions for this disquieting characteristic? The Alter Rebbe in Tanya devotes a series of chapters addressing the idea of negative feelings such as worry and melancholy. Next month a new JLI (Jewish Learning Institute) course will be launched entitled “Worrier to Warrior.” It is based primarily on those teachings.
We are proud to announce that Chabad Uptown is a new affiliate of JLI. We will be offering this fall’s 6 part course beginning Wednesday, November 6. For information on registering for the Uptown course please go to www.chabadneworleans.com/jli. Chabad Metairie has been a JLI affiliate for years. The course will be offered in Metairie beginning Tuesday, November 12. For info on registering for the Metairie course please go to www.jewishlouisiana.com/jli.
The first class at each location will be open to public at no charge and refreshments will be served. Come taste and see that it is good.
We are pleased to share with you that JLI is partnering with the CE office at Albert Einstein Medical College to provide continuing education credits for the upcoming course, Worrier to Warrior. Einstein is an accredited medical school, accredited by the APA, The American Psychological Association and the AMA’s Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
Doctors, Psychologists, Social Workers in Louisiana will be able to earn up to 15 CE credits. Nine credits for attendance, and additional credits for studying the supplemental reading. Take advantage of this opportunity to further your Jewish education while gaining CE credits.
If you are not in the medical/mental health field, take advantage of the life transforming wisdom that this course has to offer. We look forward to seeing you there in November.
May you be sealed for a good and sweet year in all areas of life.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin