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, …
Art, Judaism, Disability and Pride are all connected by Steven Mandel MDClinical professor of NeurologyHofstra NorthwellAdjunct Professor of MedicineNY Medical College There is “outsider art” also known as “art brut“, a connection with art and disability: July Disability Pride Month Art. Through activist communities and Jewish texts, The Religious Action Center has promoted disability and …
Pride and FJMC – One Mans Story of Resilience. by Steven Mandel MDClinical professor of NeurologyHofstra NorthwellAdjunct Professor of MedicineNY Medical College Dave is a Shabbat buddy, a friendly presence, who I would often see and spend time with on Shabbat. We sat together in Shul and kiddish for many years. It was the summer, …
Jewish Pride by Rabbi Noam Raucher, MA.EdExecutive Director, FJMC International Jewish pride begins with a simple but powerful truth: to be a Jew is to belong to a people, a story, and a way of life larger than ourselves. Jewish pride is gratitude, memory, responsibility, and courage. To be proud to call ourselves Jews is …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
Rabbi Noam Raucher, MA.Ed — Executive Director, FJMC International One of my favorite songs is Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” What makes it so good is that the song refuses to wait for a special occasion. No holiday, no anniversary, no skywriting, no chocolate, no dramatic scene in the rain. It is …
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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