Jewish anxiety isn't just a punchline or a family trait—it's a real, inherited, and learned response to living as a Jewish person in an often unsafe world. Many of us have been taught to see this anxiety as a virtue or a motivator for success. Still, the truth is, these persistent patterns of fear, unworthiness, and shame are painful habits we pass down and internalize from the wider world's repetitive, hateful messages. Join Rabbi Caryn Aviv as we discuss her new book "Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering".

In this powerful book talk, we’ll move beyond the stereotype to explore:

• The Reality of Jewish Anxiety: Discover how historical trauma, community dynamics, and external pressures contribute to a stress response that is deeply ingrained in the Jewish experience.

• The Transmission of Fear: Learn how we unconsciously pass these anxiety patterns to the next generation through the stories we tell, the way we remember the past, and even how we celebrate holidays.

• A Path to Freedom: Hear why Jewish anxiety is not inevitable. We'll explore the profound wisdom and simple, practical tools of Jewish spirituality that offer a choice: how to release deeply held patterns from our minds and bodies.

About Rabbi Caryn Aviv

Rabbi Caryn Aviv is the Rabbinic & Program Director for Judaism Your Way. Before becoming a rabbi, Caryn earned a PhD in sociology from Loyola University Chicago in 2002. She taught, mentored students, and published research in Jewish Studies and sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Denver. Caryn will discuss her new book "Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering" (February 2026).  

Join us to learn how to cultivate awareness, curiosity, compassion, and courage to finally calm down, suffer less, and choose to live with more joy, despite the uncertainties and hatred in the world.

This program is presented by the Men of the J and the Women of the J and is open to everyone with anxiety.

Wednesday, February 11 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm | $10

Register Here

Need Financial Assistance?

Registration for this event opens on Amilia, Boulder JCC's new registration portal, on Tuesday, November 11. Activate or create a new account to browse our 2026 programs on Amilia (all 2025 will still be hosted on JConnect during this transition).