What We Carry: Jewish History and Modern Well-Being Series

Are you a Jewish history nerd? Are you looking for a supportive space to connect with others and process what it means to be Jewish today?

This interactive series explores the stories, cultures, and traditions of Jewish history through a mental health lens, connecting Jewish collective memory and lived experience with practical tools for grounding, reflection, and building resilience.

Participants will discover the remarkable diversity of Jewish life through communities such as Beta Israel in Ethiopia, the Jews of Kaifeng China, the experience of African-American Jews and more. The subject matter will challenge assumptions and uncover stories that reveal just how global and multifaceted the Jewish experience has always been. You will also engage with relevant Jewish texts to explore how the Torah has acted as a connective thread across the Jewish experience regardless of time or place.

Beneath these histories runs a deeper theme: resilience. Across centuries and continents, Jewish communities have found ways to preserve their traditions, adapt to changing circumstances, build strong communal bonds, and cultivate joy. Drawing on instructor Gabby’s experience as a pre-licensed therapist, you will learn and practice specific techniques for regulation, connecting the history lessons to modern well-being.

Taught by: Gabby Newell, a pre-licensed therapist; Rabbi Arielle Krule, Founding Rabbi of Base Philly; and Amanda Graff, Tribe 12 Engagement Manager.

Dates: Tuesdays, November 17th and 24th and December 1st and 8th, from 6:30-8 pm at the Weitzman Museum (5th & Market). Special Hanukkah celebration during the last session! A closing Shabbat will also be scheduled. Can’t make one session? No big deal – sign up anyway and the instructors will share the materials you missed.

Cost: Your $30 registration fee covers all four sessions and snacks. Feel free to BYO dinner.

Registration will open soon!