There is a version of religious life that quietly teaches people to push through at all costs.
Keep davening even if you’re depleted.
Keep saying yes even if you’re unraveling.
Keep adding practices because stepping back feels like failure.
But that is not how Jewish law actually works.
Judaism was not designed to grind you down. It was designed to sustain a human being across an entire lifetime. When someone is exhausted – physically, emotionally, or mentally – halacha does not demand that they push harder. It prioritizes preservation of life and health. That principle is called Pikuach Nefesh, saving a life, and it includes mental and emotional well-being, not just dramatic physical emergencies.
Burnout is not a badge of honor. It’s a signal.
If your observance has become draining instead of grounding, overwhelming instead of steady… something needs recalibration. That doesn’t mean abandoning mitzvot. It means protecting your ability to keep them long term.
Let’s talk about what Jewish law actually allows you to pause when you’re burned out, and why doing less for a season can be the most responsible choice you make. 💙
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Transcript below.
Transcript:
If you’re burned out, Judaism doesn’t expect you to keep pushing through your Jewish life until you break.
Judaism is meant to support a human life, not overwhelm it.
When someone is exhausted, emotionally depleted, or struggling mentally or emotionally, Jewish law prioritizes protecting life and health.
It’s called Pikuach Nefesh, saving a life.
And that includes mental health, not just physical emergencies.
So here are some things that you’re allowed to step back from temporarily while you’re burned out. First, stringencies. Any stringency that you took on beyond baseline Jewish law, especially ones that you added under social pressure, they can be paused.
Doing more than required is optional. Not mandatory.
Extras that are draining rather than sustaining.
Long prayers. Lots of learning.
Or packed event schedules.
More is not always better.
If something is draining you instead of grounding you, it’s okay to do less.
Third and most importantly: doing things because you’re afraid you’ll look bad.
If you’re keeping a practice mainly because you’re worried about what other people will think- that’s not the focus right now. Eyes on your own plate, as I tell my kids.
Judaism values steadiness, honesty, and sustainability. Burnout works against all three.
If your Jewish practice is making things unlivable, something needs adjustment. And it’s okay to ask for help.
This isn’t about abandoning the mitzvot that you’ve worked so hard to build up.
It’s about preserving your ability to keep them long term.
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