JWell

The Shema, our central prayer that speaks to the unity of the Divine, demands unity from us as well -- unity of self in our worship of the Divine. By the time we arrive at the Shema in our morning prayers, we are meant to have complete focus, complete presence, and complete intention. We physically gather our tzizit (ritual fringes), mirroring an internal gathering of the self - the pieces of which are so often scattered and pulled in different directions. We affirm the oneness of God, and then we read that we must love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might. The structure I imagine for the Wellness Center is one that embraces this trilogy established in the Shema of the heart (levavcha - which in the biblical tradition is also the mind), the soul (nafshecha), and the body (me’odecha - your might/physicality). 

Judaism believes in an integrated self - mind, body, and soul all interconnected. When one of these pieces is hurting, the others suffer as well. When one of these pieces is nourished, the others are fed as well. The trap is a singular focus on one of these spheres to the exclusion of the others. The dream I have is to build a center that is intentional and proactive about integrated care. A center that tackles the spiritual malady of loneliness. A center that serves as a supportive and healing space for those suffering from addiction, grief, and mental illness. A center that sees the body as the temple of the soul. A center for creativity, self-expression, and play. A center for meaningful prayer and study. A center that utilizes the powerful healing tools baked into our tradition.  Join us in building this sacred space for the Cleveland Jewish community. We need it now more than ever.