Wellness Initiative

Why Am I SO STRESSED?

Why Am I SO STRESSED? by Gary S. Katz, Ph.D.FJMC International Executive Vice President Your sleep has grown a little wonky; your appetite has either increased or decreased a noteworthy amount; small things that used to not bother you now are incredibly irritating, and you find yourself at odds with some of people in your …

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Mindful Masculinity: Mental Health and Resilience for Jewish Men

Mindful Masculinity: Mental Health and Resilience for Jewish Men A Hearing Men’s Voices session for men to begin talking about emotional wellness within the Jewish context.  As we know, Judaism is a faith which values health, both physical and emotional, as critical to the functioning of an individual. Men are often more reluctant than women …

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Suck It Up, Buttercup: A Health and Fitness Journey

Suck It Up, Buttercup: A Health and Fitness Journey by Bob Watts, Vice President I was lucky in my health journey in many ways. A weight problem had developed over the years, and when I broke my leg in early 2022, I really ballooned—up to 252 pounds with a BMI of 37.2. Diets failed me, …

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Belly Blasters

Belly Blasters If you worry about the look of your gut, it is important to strengthen your core. After age 50, men typically lose 2 to 3 percent of their muscle mass every year and the core is an area which tends to suffer. A strong core improves your balance, stability, and posture, which helps …

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Understanding Obesity: A Comprehensive Guide for Men

Understanding Obesity: A Comprehensive Guide for Men by Steven Mandel, MD and Paul Davidson, PhD Obesity is a complex, chronic biological disease characterized by an excess of body fat (adipose tissue) that can significantly impact long-term health. Medically, it is defined using the Body Mass Index (BMI); a BMI over 30 is the standard threshold. …

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The Patient’s Advocacy Guide for Men: Talking to Your Doctor about Weight

The Patient’s Advocacy Guide for Men: Talking to Your Doctor about Weight Weight issues are notoriously undertreated in men and physicians have been shown to bring up treatment options such as medications or endoscopic and surgical approaches to care less frequently with male patients. Using the 5As is a great model for discussing this with …

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Pray, Breathe, Thrive: The Health Benefits of Jewish Spiritual Living

Pray, Breathe, Thrive: The Health Benefits of Jewish Spiritual Livingby Robert E. Braitman, M.D. F.A.A.P. In the last issue of L’Chaim!, Dr. Paul Davidson outlined the healing power of spirituality and provided some of the scientific basis for this strength. Today, I’d like to focus on how Jewish life   enhances physical and emotional well-being. Jewish …

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On the Beginning of Wellness

On the Beginning of Wellnessby Jake Sheff, D.O., F.A.A.P. Editor’s Note: This was originally delivered by the author on March 13, 2026, as the D’var Torah at the Congregation Neveh Shalom Men’s Club Shabbat in Portland, OR. In this week’s Torah portion, Vayak’hel-Pekudai, we read about Moses gathering the Israelites in the desert to build …

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An Update on Lung Cancer

An Update on Lung Cancer by Dale Levy, M.D. Lung cancer is a devastating illness. While it is not the leading cancer in either men or women, it is the #1 cause of cancer deaths in both. In 2025, an estimated 226,650 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the US and 124,730 …

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Depression in New Fathers: A Hidden but Important Conversation

Depression in New Fathers: A Hidden but Important Conversation by Robert E. Braitman, M.D., FAAP The arrival of a new baby is usually imagined as a time of joy, celebration, and bonding. But for many men, the weeks and months after their child’s birth can bring unexpected emotional struggles. Depression in new fathers—often called paternal …

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