Organization Spotlight; Chazkeinu
As an only girl in my family, I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister. Someone who could be a mentor and role model for me, and hopefully I could do the same for her. This past year for me has been one with many trials and tribulations. There were times I felt alone, and I needed someone who understood me, related to me, and could be a role model. I needed someone to show me that it was possible to succeed and rise above the stigmas and judgments that had been placed on me. Once I hit rock bottom, I was lost, and looked for any sort of comfort or community who understood my struggles in such a personal way. Then I learned about Chazkeinu.
In March of 2016, a group of women, inspired by their own experiences with mental illnesses, founded Chazkeinu. They took it upon themselves to create an organization which promotes empathetic support and positive connection between Jewish women struggling with mental illness. Zahava List, one of the founders and the President of Chazkeinu said, “We all deserve to find a safe and anonymous place where we can empathize with and strengthen each other...Many have shared that Chazkeinu has changed their life and are now free of the shame that comes with mental illness.”
This community of women has expanded to the point of becoming international through its programming. There are twice weekly phone meetings in which a Chazkeinu member might share a personal story, a mental health professional might share some insights, or we might hear from Rabbi Grossberg, the rabbinic advisor of Chazkeinu, who shares words of Torah. There are many ways to get involved, such as volunteering to help with programming and events, because a goal for Chazkeinu is for each member to have the ability to be involved, to feel heard, and to feel like they have an actual impact.
The warmth and support everyone gives each other at Chazkeinu is inspiring and I feel like I’ve gained a community who understands me on a level I’ve never felt understood before. I finally do not feel alone, and I know I can get through all these challenges with the support system around me. As another Chazkeinu member said, “This was my first time truly feeling like I ‘found my tribe’ among Jewish people. I have always felt like an outsider. Like I just didn’t fit in. People just didn’t get me or understand me. I have never been able to talk at home about things that are truly on my mind...It was so liberating for me to just be able to talk, to not have to hide my experiences, and to not have to feel ashamed of what I have been through or that I see a therapist! It is so liberating to find that there are Jewish people on this planet who get it! I feel a sense of freedom. I feel a sense that I can finally be real and authentic and not have to have my mask on to the world.”
Since Chazkeinu’s first year, there has been an annual shabbaton where the women of Chazkeinu get to sit back and take a break from the stress of daily life, a place without the fear of the stigma following them, and a place where they can get the empathy and validation they deserve. For this year’s Shabbaton, we are aiming to raise $18,000. Now is the time for the Jewish community to join together and help out those who work so hard every day to be the best they can be and prove to themselves and others that they are capable and can do it! You might not realize it, but you might be helping out someone you actually know have the weekend of her life! Visit for more information or to donate:
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