OU Presents Eating Disorders Program, 2/26 in Brooklyn

31 Jan 2012

ORTHODOX UNION PARTNERS WITH LEADING NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT “EVERYBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY – FOOD, BODY IMAGE, AND EATING DISORDERS IN THE FRUM COMMUNITY;” FEBRUARY 26 IN BROOKLYN

The Orthodox Union will collaborate with leading national organizations in the field for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week to present a communal event addressing “Everybody Knows Somebody – Food, Body Image and Eating Disorders in the Frum Community.”

The event will take place on Sunday, February 26 from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Brooklyn at the Young Israel of Midwood, 1694 Ocean Avenue. Admission is free. Doors open at 9:00 a.m.

The OU Department of Community Services | Jewish Community Programs has conducted a wide range of programs over the past several years dealing with eating disorders in the Orthodox Jewish community.

The event is co-sponsored with NCSY | Jewish Youth Leadership, the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union; the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), the largest non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to supporting those affected by eating disorders and being a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care; and Mothers and Fathers Aligned Saving Kids (MASK), a national social service provider working with communities and families to prevent at-risk behavior, and promote emotional wellness within homes.

Topics of discussion will include:

• “Eating Disorders 101: Signs, Symptoms, and Accessing Treatment”
Ilene Fishman, LCSW and Sondra Kronberg, MS, RN, CEDRD

• “Navigating the Pressures to be Perfect: Exploring Eating Disorder Contributing Factors”
Ilene Fishman and Sondra Kronberg

• “Pressures and Stresses Contributing to Food and Body Image Challenges in the Frum Community”
Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, Rav of Khal Bnei Yitzchok in Brooklyn, and author of “Starving Souls: A Spiritual Guide to Understanding Eating Disorders”

• “What Does Recovery Look Like? Discussing Their Recovery from Eating Disorders”
Panel Discussion with Jennifer Beaudean and Ellen Domingos

According to the NEDA website, “The Orthodox Union is partnering for the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week– the largest eating disorders outreach effort in the nation, with participation from all 50 states and more than 25 other countries in 2011. This growing force of volunteers is committed to raising awareness of the dangers of eating disorders as serious, life-threatening illnesses — not choices — and the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorders. The diverse NEDAwareness Week events and activities attract public media attention on local, national and international levels.”

For further information, contact the OU Department of Community Services at {encode=”mailto:community@ou.org” title=”community@ou.org”}, or visit {encode=”http://www.oucommunity.org/” title=”www.oucommunity.org”}.

OU | Enhancing Jewish Life