IMPORTANT: Healthy Jew Updates
Workshop this week, peak foraging season, new book, and schedule changes.
Hello Healthy Jews,
There’s so much going on these days at The Healthy Jew!
Today I’m going to catch you up and let you know about some changes moving forward.
Feel free to pass on the message to anyone who might be interested.
WORKSHOP! What’s Real Food and Where To Find It
On Wednesday I suggested we eat real foods (not food-like substances) instead of judging foods as bad and junk or ignoring their effect on our health.
You might be wondering how this works practically:
What exactly is real food, and where can we find it?
Which almost-real foods (and maybe even food-like substances) might Healthy Jews eat?
I’ll answer these questions and more in this Tuesday’s Healthy Jew Workshop, on March 5, at 8:30pm Israel time / 1:30 EST. (The time doesn’t work for you? Don’t worry! The recording will be published in the next morning’s edition of The Healthy Jew.)
These workshops are for paid subscribers to The Healthy Jew. So if you’re still on the free plan, now is a great time to upgrade.
Here’s what 2 Healthy Jews wrote after our first workshop, Israel Needs Healthy Jews: Finding Wellness During Wartime, which was open for all subscribers:
“I really hadn't thought about the war of wellness, and you raised some important points - it is sobering but inspiring to recognise that by living as healthy Jews with a love for life, we're fighting Hamas. Thank you very much for your insights.” — E.M. from Scotland
“Thank you for the beautiful presentation. It was so organized, meaningful, informative, inspiring, insightful and helpful! All the pictures and written topics, screen shares, were really helpful in understanding and keeping it organized.” — B.S. from Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel
(You can watch the replay here. I wanted to upload a more concise version, but that didn’t happen, as you can read about here.)
FORAGING! Peak Season is Now
Foraging season in Israel’s natural world is very long: basically straight from mid-January to mid-November when the first rains herald Natural Israel’s annual death.
But there are two peaks. The first is right now, when immense quantities of leaves and flowers proliferate all over the countryside. (The second is late summer, when the fruits, seeds, and berries are ready. But don’t worry if you’re planning a visit for July: there’s always plenty around!)
Last week, around 50 foragers joined me on 4 fantastic foraging walks. (Tuesday was municipal Election Day, so everyone was off.) Many folks went home with bags filled with fresh produce for delicious salads.
One walk was around the perimeter of Park Yarmut in Ramat Bet Shemesh. This large park sports and unusually rich variety of edible and medicinal shrubs, and is right next to an open hill that has many of the Natural Israel’s best delicacies. All right in the middle of one of the busiest English-speaking neighborhoods in the country.
The rest were in the valley behind Lupine Hill where the Jewish camp watched David square off against Goliath some 2800 years ago. Perhaps our ancestors munched here on the ancestors of the milk thistle, mustard, mallow (known in Israel as chubeza), wild garlic (far milder than the store-bought variety), Egyptian campion, nettles, and asparagus sprouts that we ate here.
Did you miss last week’s walks and want to join next time?
There will be more chances soon. (I’ll announce them here and on Whatsapp, Facebook, and LinkedIn.)
Even better: get a few families or friends together and book your own private tour, custom tailored to your group’s needs and preferences.
For more information, respond to this email or write directly to contact@healthyjew.org. Also check out my foraging webpage.
BOOK! Land of Health: Israel’s War For Wellness
After October 7, The Healthy Jew enlisted to defend the Jewish people – not to fight the war of bodies (with guns and tanks) or minds (online and in the media), but to combat fear, anxiety, stress, and negative drama. We win this war for wellness by practicing healthy Jewish living and appreciating Israel’s natural world.
Now you can read many of The Healthy Jew’s best ideas and suggestions in my new book, published together with Yeshivas Lev Hatorah: Land of Health: Israel’s War for Wellness.
The first part of Land of Health builds on my posts about the healthy body of the Jewish people – the Land of Israel.
The second part offers practical strategies for healthy living during challenging times.
Finally, Land of Health presents The Healthy Jew's mission and programs for teaching healthy Jewish living and discovering Israel's natural world.
Land of Health comes with dozens of stunning pictures of healthy living throughout Natural Israel.
The book is available in bookstores throughout Israel, on Amazon, and directly from me in Ramat Bet Shemesh.
I’m Slowing Down
On a personal note, I’ve been getting overwhelmed and scattered in recent weeks, so I’m slowing down to focus.
For the past 5 months, I’ve been writing two free weekly newsletters to help support our nation during this crisis. Beginning next week, at least for a while, The Healthy Jew will publish only on Sunday morning (7:00am Israel time, 12:00am EST). Some weeks will be Healthy Jewish posts, others Natural Israel.
Finally, I wanted to let you know that Substack, the online publishing platform that hosts The Healthy Jew, has just introduced a Private Messaging feature, so you can now contact me directly to:
submit your questions about health, wellness, or Judaism for special Q&A posts.
book your unforgettable foraging walk for your family, community, or company.
arrange to buy your copy of Land of Health in Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel.
any other comments, questions or complaints!
Of course, I’m also still here on email (by responding to this email or to contact@healthyjew.org), and continue following me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Whatsapp.
Most importantly, watch your inbox every Sunday morning for The Healthy Jew newsletter, and once a month on Wednesday for our workshop replays.
As always, feel free to bring along a friend.
Be well,
Shmuel Chaim
To everyone who asked about the link to the workshop this Tuesday - I'll send it out by email on Tuesday morning to all paid subscribers. If you don't get it then, reach out to me by email (contact@healthyjew.org) and I'll send it to you directly.