Jewish Federations of North America are proud to announce a major expansion of BeWell, Federations’ national initiative dedicated to supporting mental health and well-being across Jewish communities. BaMidbar and The Blue Dove Foundation, two trailblazing organizations that have shaped Jewish mental health education, awareness, and resilience, will now become part of the BeWell ecosystem. 

 

These acquisitions represent one of the most comprehensive investments Jewish Federations of North America have ever made in Jewish mental health and wellness. Their combined expertise, educational reach, and community-based approaches will significantly deepen BeWell’s capacity to serve youth and adults in every corner of the Jewish world. 

 

“The Hamas attacks on Israel—and the surge in antisemitic incidents it precipitated—have had profound psychological repercussions for Jewish communities throughout the United States,” said Shira Hutt, Executive Vice President of Jewish Federations. “There is a desperate need for mental health support and resources, and with these new expanded resources in our BeWell program, Jewish Federations are ready to answer that call.” 

 

BeWell is the only platform uniting education and engagement professionals and clinicians working in Jewish settings to address youth mental health through prevention and early intervention, training both Jewish professionals and youth to identify those who are struggling and help them access care and support. Thanks to BeWell’s efforts, over 10,000 professionals and 1,000 teens have been trained, and $1.5 million of funding have flowed into Jewish mental health initiatives. 

 

For years, BaMidbar and Blue Dove have been recognized as leaders in Jewish mental health education and engagement.  

 

BaMidbar, originally launched as the first Jewish organization focused exclusively on the mental health and resilience of Jewish teens and young adults, has delivered groundbreaking experiential and educational programming for youth, families, and the professionals who support them.  

 

BaMidbar has served as a vital resource for Jewish teens and young adults facing mental health challenges. Its evolution from a pioneering Jewish wilderness therapy program to a national provider of mental health education and clinical support allowed the organization to respond dynamically to the needs emerging during the Covid pandemic and the rise in antisemitism following October 7. In recent years, BaMidbar partnered with 22 organizations to deliver 94 educational programs for more than 2,300 Jewish communal professionals and launched outpatient clinical services in Boston that reached more than 2,000 participants. 

 

These combined resources will now be amplified through BeWell’s expansive distribution networks, professional partnerships, and the influential Resiliency Roundtable, ensuring that communities of all sizes have access to evidence-driven and culturally resonant mental health support. 

 

“BaMidbar was founded on a vision that the mental health of Jewish teens and young adults matters and deserves dedicated investment from the Jewish community,” said outgoing BaMidbar CEO Whitney Fisch. “We were the first Jewish organization focused solely on the mental health and resilience of young people. The fact that BeWell will now carry BaMidbar’s mission forward is a profound gift to our community. I am deeply grateful that BaMidbar’s work will continue to grow through Jewish Federations’ extraordinary commitment to supporting well-being in every corner of Jewish life.” 

 

Blue Dove’s work has reached hundreds of thousands of individuals through psychoeducation, community programs, and resources that connect mental wellness with Jewish identity, values, and rituals.  

 

“The power of this partnership lies in our shared mission and complementary strengths. The Blue Dove Foundation brings over seven years of Jewish mental health and wellness content, grounded in lived experience and community engagement. BeWell offers an extraordinary national platform and reach,” said Justin Milrad, President & Co-Founder, The Blue Dove Foundation. “Together, we have the opportunity to scale meaningful change, break stigma, and bring culturally rooted mental health programming to every corner of the Jewish world.”   

 

Blue Dove’s flagship offerings include: 

 

• Educational Workshops for all ages that connect mental health topics with Jewish tradition and values 
• Holiday and Ritual-Based Resources that infuse Jewish learning with pathways to wellness 
• Community Engagement Initiatives such as Mental Health Shabbat and the #QuietingTheSilence campaign, amplifying storytelling and breaking stigma 
• Practical Tools like the Jewish Mental Wellness Toolkit 

 

The integration of BaMidbar and Blue Dove into BeWell and the Jewish Federations system marks a transformational moment for Jewish communal mental health. With these expanded resources, and continuing its deep partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, Jewish Federations will continue to meet this moment with strength, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the entire Jewish community.