In January 2017, I got a Facebook message from Ariel Mintz asking if I had any interest in joining an upstart organization he created to address the mental health stigma in the Jewish community. A few days later, on my first day of my first job out of college, I spoke at length with his partner Shanee Markovitz about what role I could play in their little crusade to cultivate critical change. I was not exactly looking to add a volunteer job on the first day of my first job, but the thing is that the decision was not a matter of what I was looking for. It was a matter of what the Jewish community needed. Now.
Six years later, I am, to put it lightly, thrilled with the progress I have been able to play a role in. It has been the honor of a lifetime. But, similar to my decision to join the organization, it was never about my successes. It wasn’t even about the organization’s successes. It was about the Jewish community’s needs. That was what spurred the organization’s beginning, and it is as well what spurs its ending (at least for the time being). So many mental health-centered organizations catering to the Jewish community have appeared seemingly out of thin air over the past six years. It would be a silly exercise to try to name them without leaving any out. There are so many more educational programs and resources offered at schools, shuls, community centers, you name it. The pandemic probably turbo-charged the progress the Jewish community was already making in understanding the significance of mental health education.
Is there no more work Refuat Hanefesh can do? Of course not. As long as there is still one person battling mental health challenges in silence, the job is not done. But that does not change the reality that the days of nobody doing anything about the glaring hole in the Jewish community have passed. Reasonable minds can argue about what role Refuat Hanefesh still could play in the here and now and what it might be able to be reimagined into to best serve the current needs of the incredible Jewish community. Maybe the day will come when Refuat Hanefesh reactivates. For now, however, the board of directors has decided to dissolve the organization.
When this decision was finalized, my mind immediately turned to all of those who have supported and contributed to Refuat Hanefesh over the years. The volunteers, the writers, the speakers, the advisors, the donors. The most obvious action to take in order to honor and preserve their contributions was to make sure all the resources they enabled Refuat Hanefesh to create still have a home. To that end, the website will remain up indefinitely, where you can find the archives of Refuat Hanefesh’s blog, live conversations, creative contest winners, gap year conferences, and more.
It makes me sick to my stomach that I will miss at least someone, but I have to thank all of those who have directly impacted and/or made possible my journey at Refuat Hanefesh. Ariel Mintz, your decision to start this and commitment to grow it has saved lives and impacted countless people. Shanee Markovitz, your passion and determination has inspired thousands, and I am so grateful for your friendship. Noam Stein, your leadership and knowledge has taught me so much and done wonders for mental health education. Lauren Mazal Blum, your work behind the scenes enabled Refuat Hanefesh to operate effectively, your contributions often going unsung. Avi Gordon, your vision and commitment were invaluable. Akiva Clair, your creative and logistical support behind the scenes has meant a great deal to me. Thank you also Alyssa Kolatch, Andrew Waters, Aryeh Goldberg, Avital Mintz, Batya Mandelbaum, Chaim Ancier, Claire Segal, Dani Bauer, Devorah Waters, Dovid Zrirkind, Jonathan Kugel, Max Engel, Moshe Winograd, Nati Keswick-Faber, Sarah Last, Shelli Sussman, Stephen Glicksman, Talia Korn, Tamara Feldman, Taryn Simon, and Tzivia Appleman. You know how much your contributions have meant to me as much as those do who I neglected to include.
With immeasurable gratitude to everyone in the Refuat Hanefesh community,
Etan
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