News

In a world that often moves too fast, there is something profoundly grounding about slowing down to do something kind for someone else. On Monday, February 9, our community has a special opportunity to do exactly that.

Mitzvah Night, hosted by Women of the J, is more than just a gathering; it’s an evening dedicated to the Jewish concept of a Mitzvah (a good deed) that strengthens the world. This year, the heart of our efforts belongs to the Be Like Ellie Foundation, an organization born from a legacy of pure, unsolicited kindness.

To understand the mission of the night, one must grasp Ellie's spirit. At just six years old, Ellie was known by everyone who met her as a "protector." She didn’t just live in the world; she cared for it, looking out for people and animals alike with a heart far larger than her years.

After Ellie tragically passed away in an accident while playing in her backyard, her family chose to channel their grief into a movement. The Be Like Ellie Foundation was established to ensure her gift of thoughtfulness didn't end. By inspiring others to perform simple, everyday acts of kindness, the foundation proves that even the smallest gesture can have a ripple effect across a community.

For many in the Jewish community, anxiety has long been framed as a "family trait" or even a secret engine for success. We’ve been told that being "on edge" is a virtue that keeps us safe and motivated. But on Wednesday, February 11, the Boulder JCC invites the community to challenge that narrative.

Presented by the Men of the J, the program features Rabbi Caryn Aviv, Ph.D., as she discusses her groundbreaking new book, Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering.

Rabbi Aviv, the Rabbinic & Program Director for Judaism Your Way, brings a unique perspective to this topic. With a PhD in sociology and a career spanning the University of Colorado and the University of Denver, she combines academic rigor with in-depth exploration of spirituality.

Her core message is clear: Jewish anxiety is not just a trope, it is a real, inherited, and learned response to a world that has often felt unsafe. These patterns of fear, unworthiness, and shame are not personality traits; they are painful habits internalized from historical trauma and the repetitive, hateful messages of the wider world.