New York, NY – The Renfrew Center has been the country’s leading authority on eating disorders for almost 25 years, treating women of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Recently, the Jewish community has become increasingly aware that these disorders can be life-threatening. “Eating disorders are amongst the most emotionally and devastating disorders affecting young Jewish women,” said Esther Altmann, Ph.D., Senior Consultant to The Renfrew Center.
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In response to this heightened awareness, The Renfrew Center Foundation is hosting a full day conference on June 7th at The Ramaz Middle School in New York City. Entitled “Food, Body Image and Eating Disorders in the Jewish Community,” this conference is geared towards mental health professionals as well as consumers.
Recognizing the special needs of observant Jewish women with eating disorders, The Renfrew Center has developed a customized treatment track. This breakthrough program incorporates all of the priorities and practices important to the Jewish community, including kosher dietary laws, observation of the Sabbath and holidays, prayer and religious study and home life and family life traditions.
Renfrew staff members are receiving training in the cultural aspects of Judaism that may affect treatment. This training is designed to educate clinicians about specific traditions, rituals and beliefs which can be incorporated into treatment.
“Working with the traditions and values of the Orthodox Jewish Community empowers patients to overcome eating disorders,” said Cindy Shore, Assistant Vice President of Northeast Operations for The Renfrew Center. “We are pleased to provide a program that offers women treatment while continuing to fulfill their spiritual needs.”
“Participating in Renfrew’s specialized track allowed me to conquer my eating disorder, and also brought peace and reassurance to my family and me during a very difficult time,” said Hilary Yohlin, a former Renfrew patient and an observant Jew. “I was able to focus on my health while drawing comfort from the practices that shape who I am and how I approach life’s challenges.”
About Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious health and life-threatening physical disorders that usually stem from some underlying emotional cause. They usually fall into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, or self-imposed starvation; Bulimia Nervosa, the repeated cycle of out-of-control eating followed by some form of purging; and Binge Eating Disorder, or compulsive overeating.
About The Renfrew Center
The Renfrew Center has been a pioneer in eating disorder treatment and research since 1985. Over 50,000 women have passed through its doors and The Renfrew Center Foundation has trained nearly 20,000 professionals. The Renfrew Centers accept most insurance and provide a comprehensive range of services in Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. For additional information about Renfrew’s Orthodox Jewish program or about other programs and services, call 1-800-RENFREW or visit www.renfrewcenter.com.
Stop fressing Chulent and Kugel at every kiddush, If you have food on your table at home don’t fress at a kiddush.
Down with DENIAL!
To Anon 1: you are obviously an uninformed individual. You may want to research the two most common eating disorders – anorexia and bulimia. These diseases are r”l rampant in our communities; an extension of the boys (and mothers) who only want skinny wives.
Yasher Koach to those that set this up!
As someone who was in their program, Ifind their attempt to cash in on the orthodox market appaling. Their so called frum program is exactly the same as their regular program, except their frozen kosher tv dinners and being allowed not to write on shabbos. The only thing renfrew caters to is keeping themselves in business.
Please do not take this disease lightly it is cunning baffling and insidious and a killer too.the fact is that by (intz yiddelech)food and love go hand and hand.how many times have you heard your mother say to you.I love you so much i can eat you up.
I will not get into analyzation too much here but i can tell you that children that are bulimic have mostly issues with their mother.in other words its an issue of enmeshments and crossing boundaries with conflicted feelings of love/hate closeness/automnomy to and from the mother. its a to/from issue and the bulimia personifies eating /taking in-(incorportaes mother) versus throwing up, leaves room for self—autonomy/distance .
anorexia is an issue of ultimate self control its me-i-self- versus everyone including myself.
its an introjection of zero/its a wall against any intrusion from outside.most people that suffer from anorexia have issues with their father.the father usaully is the control master who thinks that his power will define how loving his family has to be,the daughter usually uses the same tool as the father did, only the opposite way.the father used his hunger for self aggradizement by acting it out against his own while the daughter uses her hunger for self noticemnt by acting it in–into herself. nothing will hurt her,the daughter says. no one will ever hurt me again even if that means that im hurting myself by not eating a morsel.
maybe it would when we say in birchas hamuzoin “umazbiah Chai Lecul rutzoin we should think/feel of all those who suffers from eating disorders.
I think that this is a problem that the goyim have a lot more. We may have a few r”l that suffer but I know that there can not possibly be a need for an entire center
The rate of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia in the orthodox Jewish community is quite high, much higher for example than amongst African Americans.
The high rate seems due mostly to the overemphasis on excessively thin girls. How the roshei yeshivas and hence their followers became obsessed with the ultra-thin look is hard to understand, as in Europe someone who was thin was considered possibly sickly and men preferred a more full-figured look.
The high rate could be stopped if the roshei yeshivas emphasized to bochrim that seeking a super-thin model as a kallah is unrealistic and increases the likelihood of marrying someone with an eating disorder, AND dealing with the mothers of these boys, who often themselves insist on ultra-thin kallahs for their precious boys.
In response to ANON, I agree with you on the so called “Jewish- Orthodox” program at Renfew. I myself was a patient in their program(s) and they did not have an “frum treatment track” except for providing kosher food and not forcing you to be mechalel Shabbos. The treatment program is the exact same to that of a non-Jewish patient.
I have found the Princeton EDU program to be a lot more accommodating to frum patients as well as a lot more effective and knowledgeable in treating eating disorders in the frum community.
I know this is not a discussion about different treatment centers but I wanted to put this out there for any frum person looking into treatment for themselves/daughter/wife etc.
Anonymous, I’m sorry to say but you are so so ignorant about the reality of ED in our communities. So many frum girls (as well as boys!) are suffering from this terrible illness and I think that a lot of this would be prevented if we all were more open about the reality of this horrible disease.
A big problem is the resistance in the frum community to get the proper help and treatment because of the concerns of “ruining one’s reputation, not being able to get a shidduch” etc etc. I do agree that those are legitimate concerns but eating disorders are life threatening situations, what good is a “clean” reputation and a good shidduch if the person is dead or dying? I’m sorry to be so harsh but that is the reality of the illness.
We all need to open our eyes and accept what is right in front of our faces instead of denying that we are affected by this problem.
There happens to be an incredible frum organization called Magen Avrohom that deals with eating disorders in the frum community. Its letterhead says “education, guidance and support for families dealing with Eating Disorders” meaning that they deal with more then just the patient herself.
Its not so much a counseling office- more of a co-ordinating system.. Rav Dewick, the director, works with a fourfold plan: a nutritionist, a therapist,,a mentor and himself. The first three can either be one that you already know trust and like or he can assist you in finding one that suits your particular needs. He orchestrates the foursome forming a support team for you that works together to insure your wholesome treatment. If necessary at any time, the “team” works with hospitals, PHP (Partial hospitalization program) OP (outpatient) programs and things like that.
Rav Dewick himself also works tirelessly with families and at times even with friends, to educate them and to try to best assist them in assisting you. I find that to be one of the best elements, as parents, siblings and spouses are so crucial to a complete recovery, yet can be so detrimental in their ignorance and frustrations as well.
R’ Dewick (the director) is a Tzaddic. The caring that emanates from him is truly remarkable as is the knowledge and understanding. I would recommend that anyone that has “been there, done that” and has seen other programs fail again and again try this- as well as recommend anyone that has just begun to get involved with eating disorder treatment. This organization is for anyone and everybody dealing with an eating disorder.
Its located in Borough Park, though it has affiliates from all over the world (London, Australia, Israel, etc.) as well as catering to Jews along a wide range in the spectrum of Judaism- Modern Orthodox, Orthodox, Young Israel, Chassidish, Litvish, Lubavitch, Heimish etc.
I encourage anyone struggling with an eating disorder to call and get help ASAP! Timing is crucial in the recovery of an eating disorder. Don’t let it be too late (CH”V)!
The number is 718-222-4321 or 877-HELP EAT
can boy have it too?
Please don’t blame this on the bucherem or the mothers. We live in a 2009 society, where the internet, Hollywood and other goyishe lifestyle have a huge impact on today’s youth. And when people go out on the street or to a wedding or what have you, they will try to look the best possible for today’s standards. We must put in a greater effort in our chinuch, to show us that there are more important things in life then this. Each individual is responsible for their own behavior.
There may be anorexia/bulimia problems in the community but they are a small minority. I bet that three of four attendees, scratch that, nine of ten, will be the size 25 woman. You make one of these progrmas for men that ratio turns to 10 of 10.
The problem is every week there is Shabbos night meal, a kiddush or two with lunch. Then there’s Yom Tov and you have four or six meals…each part. Each meal is elaborate and probably three to four to five courses. Remember folks, salad is supposed to replace a course, not be incremental; and the dressings just ruin the point. Cholent and kugel and deli roll – every portion size is huge.
Eating is sewn into the very fabric of our lives; Shabbos, Yom Tov, family time – all things that seperate us from goyim but is a two edged sword. It’s time to man up and stop denying that problem.
There is a place in Montreal. It is an intensive successful program. The treatment centre is called Chatsworth 1-800-931-2999. Anonymous and discreet with utmost sensitivity towards yidden. You are not alone…