Our “My Best Self” Project

Prevention works. 76% of children who participated in body confidence programs felt better about themselves.

Research shows that using a health promotion approach while focusing on self-esteem and positive body image supports both physical and mental health, greater levels of well-being, and a better development of potential.

To ensure a safe and nurturing environment, the My Best Self Project is designed to be used in our schools, facilitated by known trusted educators, social workers, or school mental health professionals. We provide:

  • Extensive facilitator training and prep

  • Presentation materials with thorough facilitator notes

  • Student workbooks, and supporting workshop materials

Introducing The “My Best Self” Project

Our My Best Self Project is a comprehensive program built on extensive research and implemented through the lens of Torah and Hashkafah, and endorsed by prominent Rabbonim. It is comprised of workshops for girls and supporting sessions for the influential adults in their lives, their parents and educators.

  • Girls: A series of hands-in interactive workshops at key middle and high school milestones.

  • Parents: Seminar on understanding body image and eating disorders, avoiding common pitfalls, how to help create a more health-based, positive body image focus, & how to identify if your daughter is struggling.

  • Educators: Training in our programs, how to identify and address weight bias and stigma, signs and symptoms of eating disorders, and how to create a healthier classroom dynamic.

The girls’ workshops are based on Rambam who teaches that:

“maintaining a healthy and whole body is an integral part of [one’s] Divine service”

Hilchas Deos, Chapter 4

To this end, the My Best Self Project draws from extensive sources, starting with Gemorah, Rishonim, as well as more contemporary Hashkafah and Halachic authorities, and combines these teachings with empirical research into mental and emotional health and their impact on eating disorder prevention.

Workshops are offered to the girls in the following grades:

We have designed the My Best Self Project workshops to be meaningful and impactful, without being disruptive to busy school schedules. As such, each of the workshops is comprised of 4 hands-on interactive sessions, each just one hour-long, and ideally a week apart. The total time commitment is 12 hours, just 4 hours per year, and the sessions build upon each other to improve self-compassion and body acceptance, which has been proven to significantly reduce eating disorder onset.

Topics cover include:

8th Grade

Focus is on our innate value, the practice of self-compassion, thoughts and feelings, the appearance ideal, body image, and identifying and appreciating personal strengths.

Workshop 1

  • Our innate worth

  • Self-compassion

  • Understanding the mitzvah of “Veahavta L’reicha Kamocha”

Workshop 2

  • Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

  • What is in my control and what is not

  • We are alike, but different

Workshop 3

  • The Appearance Ideal

  • Body image

  • Finding balance

Workshop 4

  • The Torah perspective on beauty

  • Identifying our strengths

  • Self-care vs. selfish

10th Grade

Focus is on understanding the value of our bodies, appearance ideal, body image, how thoughts create feelings and behaviors, and learning how to change how we feel about our bodies.

Workshop 1

  • Establishing the value of our bodies through Torah

  • The balance between our external beauty and internal beauty

Workshop 2

  • The Appearance Ideal and where it comes from

  • How our surroundings affect us

  • Our body image

Workshop 3

  • Body image continued

  • Determining our priorities

  • Effects of the Appearance Ideal

Workshop 4

  • Determining our priorities

  • Transforming negative self-talk

  • Self-compassion

12th Grade

Focus is on understanding and setting boundaries, priorities, emotion regulation, appearance ideal, body image, understanding our needs, and the fundamentals of healthy relationships.

Workshop 1

  • Non-judgmental stance

  • Understanding and determining priorities and values

  • Self-compassion

Workshop 2

  • Understanding our emotions

  • Tools to help us regulate our emotions

Workshop 3

  • Body image

  • Body beliefs

  • Shame around our bodies

Workshop 4

  • Understanding and setting boundaries

  • Establishing healthy relationships

  • Putting all our skills together

What Does It Cost?

There is no charge for our My Best Self Project itself. Participating schools are only required to pay for the cost of materials (less than $20 per student). All presentation materials, educator notes, facilitator training videos, etc., are made available at no cost (thanks to the generosity of our sponsors).

Please inquire regarding the supporting parent and educator sessions.

How Can I Help My Students?

The My Best Self Project is already in use throughout the United States and is available to Orthodox Jewish Day schools worldwide. To empower your students by helping them discover their own Best Self:

  1. Contact us: You’ll find everything you need to get started on this Getting Started page.

  2. Initial consultation: We’ll explain the program, and help you identify the appropriate facilitator (this part is critical).

  3. Prepare: We’ll ship workshop materials to you directly, and will provide access to all presentations and preparatory videos.

  4. Schedule the workshops: As explained above, there are 4 workshops for each participating grade, each requiring about 60 minutes, and ideally scheduled a week apart as well as the introductory session for parents and educators.

We look forward to working with you and your students.

Endorsements & Recommendations

The My Best Self Project has been endorsed by prominent Rabbonim. Also, see feedback and recommendations from participating schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our My Best Self Project? Here are some answers.