Moments for self-care, mindfulness and mental health are embedded in Jewish tradition. We have regular opportunities within Jewish liturgy to say Mi Sheberach, a prayer that seeks complete healing for ourselves and others, and this sense of completeness includes both the soul and the body. Judaism acknowledges a distinction between mental and physical health while treating them on an equal plane, recognizing that both a healthy body and a healthy mind are necessary for human beings to be complete.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there is no better time to bring mental health to the forefront than the Shabbat dinner table, an opportunity to gather with friends old and new for elevated reflection on mental health. According to the National Association of Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences a mental health condition over the course of a given year. That’s 46.6 million people annually.

This Shabbat dinner supplement is an invitation to turn Shabbat into a time and a dinner table is a place to engage in powerful conversation, connect with others, and create a community of caring and inclusivity.