Battling the ‘Ten Plagues’ of modern times

Each year as we gather family and friends together to recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt, we enjoy the rich traditions of Passover.

Some families debate the commentaries. Others look for relevancy in the more than 2,500-year-old chapter of our peoples’ history.

I look around our Jewish community — and our metro-Milwaukee community — and I see relevancy everywhere.

No, we are not slaves, and I certainly am not saying that current conditions are curses sent by G-d, as were the Ten Plagues inflicted upon the ancient Egyptians in the Passover story.

But from the perspective of Jewish Family Services, it is all too easy to see the “Ten Plagues” of modern times.

• Communication Problems — Spouses have difficulties resolving conflict. Teenagers rebel. Older adults feel that no one listens.

Communication gaps can be bridged with the help of professional counseling. Finding the right therapist is important to working through these issues. Ask a friend, consult your insurance company or look for places that offer a sliding fee scale for services.

• Stress — Job loss, foreclosure, illness, workplace pressures and family problems are causing dramatic increases in stress for individuals of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Milwaukee community is equipped with resources to provide emergency assistance with food, shelter, medical care and transportation should you find yourself in a difficult situation and need assistance.

• Anxiety — Untreated, anxiety can lead to physical illness, work disruption, family violence, and more serious mental health issues. In the past two years, JFS has seen a 37 percent increase in the use of its mental health services.

Recognizing that you need help and dealing with these issues sooner, rather than later, will help reduce the negative impact on your life and your loved ones.

• Divorce — With half of all marriages ending in divorce, this “plague” affects many in our community.

Understand that there are many ways to find support – be it with others who are going through the same situation or individual counseling. If there are children involved, help them work through their confusion and try to make the separation and divorce process as conflict-free as possible.

• Drug and Alcohol Use and Abuse — The Jewish community is not immune to these issues. Educating our children, teens and families about how drug and alcohol misuse can lead to health problems, physical/mental harm and crime can help to prevent substance abuse and its negative effects.

• Depression and Suicide — Work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, depression and suicide. JFS will host a Community Mental Health Education Project conference on May 13, entitled “The Many Faces of Depression, Hope and Health.” It is free and open to the public.

Breakout sessions will focus on raising awareness of signs of depression and specific tools for intervention. Emphasis will be on different age groups and their specific vulnerabilities to depression.

• Aging — The elderly have unique and ever-changing emotional and practical needs. The goal is to preserve dignity and resist the urge to “parent our parent.”

Finding a qualified care manager to work with the family to help navigate decision making on important topics such as finding and coordinating the safest living arrangements, ensuring that the senior is eating properly, taking their medication and making doctor’s appointments is important to optimize health and well-being.

• Basic Human Needs — There are many services and programs available through the local and federal government that can assist individuals with access to food, shelter and medical care. Many not-for-profit organizations in Milwaukee can assist with this process, even if English is not your first language.

• Economic Hardship — The current economic downturn has affected people who never expected to face such severe financial challenges. Working through issues with a credit counselor, tax attorney or accountant can help you manage the funds you have and help create a more stable financial future.

• Inadequate Housing — As a community, we need to ensure that those less fortunate due to a developmental or physical disability, chronic mental illness, age or income have access to safe, affordable and appropriate housing.

As I look around our Jewish community and the greater Milwaukee community-at-large, I see people struggling under the yoke of problems often not of their own making. Passover reminds us of our mission to support our communities in dealing with the challenges that plague us.

If you are suffering from one or more of these “plagues,” JFS can help you, via its many services and programs.

In everything we do, we will always be guided by Jewish values of chesed (loving kindness) and tzedekah (righteousness, justice) which have required us to care for those among us in need, not as a burden but as a mitzvah (obligation).

Sylvan Leabman is president and chief executive officer of Jewish Family Services, Inc., a partner in serving the community with the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. For more information, call 414-390-5800 or visit www.jfsmilw.org.