Voices of Resilience
Jewish Women’s Healing Circles
A gentle, grounded space for Jewish women to come home to themselves. To rest, to feel, and to be held in shared humanity during uncertain times.
An offering by Mary Stephenson & Gilly Weinstein
The Moment We Are In
Many Jewish women are living inside a quiet strain.
It is not only the weight of current events, but the accumulated impact of history, family bonds, identity, and care for others—often held without enough space to exhale.
We are being asked to stay strong, informed, and composed, even as our bodies carry grief, fear, and fatigue that have nowhere to land.
Voices of Resilience was created as a place to set that weight down.
Not to analyze it away. Not to explain it perfectly. But to let it be met with steadiness, compassion, and presence.
A Soft Place to Land
These circles are both psychology-informed and heart-led.
We draw from body-based and trauma-aware practices while honoring the deeper, often unspoken wisdom that lives in the body and in shared experience. There is no pressure to believe anything, resolve anything, or present yourself in a certain way.
This is a space where:
Feelings are welcome before explanations.
Care comes before clarity.
And being human is enough.
To the Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Community Keepers
We feel the places where words falter. The moments you pause before speaking. The tiredness that comes from holding concern, vigilance, and love all at once.
So much is being processed faster than it can be felt.
As we move forward, we believe the healing path is not louder or sharper—but slower, warmer, and more embodied.
This is an invitation to settle into yourself, to let your nervous system soften, and to remember that you do not have to carry this alone.
How We Hold the Circle
1. Safety Begins in the Body We start by helping the body feel supported. When the body feels safer, the heart and voice follow.
Practice: Sitting with a "strong back and soft belly." Feeling your feet on the ground. Letting the breath find its own rhythm.
2. Listening with Care We practice listening as an act of devotion—to ourselves and to one another.
Practice: Listening without interruption or urgency. We listen not to fix, but to sense what is unspoken and let it unfurl in its own time.
3. Tending Before Telling We do not rush stories or insights. We tend to the feelings beneath them first.
Practice: A hand on the heart. A pause. A moment of shared stillness. Care before coherence.
4. Remembering Belonging Even in isolation, connection is already present—waiting to be felt.
Invitation: Come exactly as you are. You don’t need to be “okay.” You don’t need to explain yourself. You are welcome here.
Join the Circle
This is a recurring, drop-in space held with warmth and steadiness. You may speak or simply listen. You may come once or return again.
When: Every 3rd Wednesday at 4pm ET (Starting Jan 21, 2026)
Where: Online via Zoom
Exchange: Donation-based (pay what feels supportive)
If you are ready to join us, we look forward to meeting you!
Staying Close to the Conversation
If you feel called to this work, you belong here.
Add your name below to receive updates on upcoming circles, storytelling events, and gentle notes from Mary & Gilly.
Common Questions
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We keep the structure simple so your nervous system can relax. We usually begin with a gentle grounding practice (breathing or settling) , followed by a reflective question or theme. There is space for sharing, but also long stretches of compassionate listening. We end with a moment of integration. You won’t be taught what to feel, but invited to experience how to feel more safely.
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No. Sharing is always optional . You are welcome to listen, observe, or simply receive. We practice "consensual witnessing," which means your presence is enough. You never have to explain yourself here.
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The circle is donation-based . We trust you to contribute what feels aligned and supportive for you, if and when you are able. No one is turned away.
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This is a no-pressure space. You are welcome to drop in whenever you need a place to land. There is no requirement to commit to a series.
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Yes. These circles are for Jewish women of all backgrounds and levels of observance . We anchor in Jewish wisdom as a source of resilience, not as a set of rules. If you are longing for connection, you belong here.