Why aren’t we asking for help? A call to Jewish mothers

There’s a certain reverence in Jewish culture for the role of the mother — the keeper of tradition, the nurturer of children, the balancer of life’s endless demands. It’s a role many of us embrace with love and purpose. But it can also become a burden we feel we must carry alone.

At NCJWA Vic’s Caring Mums, we see firsthand the transformative power of a simple act: accepting help. Our program offers free, non-judgmental, emotional support to new mothers, regardless of religion or background. Yet we notice something striking — while most of our volunteers are Jewish, most of the mothers receiving support are not.

This raises an important question: why aren’t Jewish mothers asking for help?

Jewish mothers are not immune to the emotional complexities of new motherhood. Sleepless nights, anxiety, and overwhelming self-doubt affect mothers in all communities. In fact, one in five Australian mothers experiences perinatal anxiety or depression. Mental health challenges don’t discriminate, and they certainly don’t skip the Jewish community.

So why do we keep it to ourselves?