It’s well known that America is experiencing a deep and widespread mental health crisis, particularly among young people. According to several studies, profound anxiety about the state of the world — the climate crisis, the loss of economic opportunity, the disruptions of the pandemic and American political polarization — is one of the main drivers of this phenomenon. Concern about these issues is, of course, important — but anxiety about them often renders us powerless. Read More >

Jay brings a unique combination of backgrounds to his talks and teaching on climate anxiety: he has been a journalist covering climate change since the late 1990s, and has been a meditation teacher since the mid-2000s. In his writing and speaking on climate anxiety, he addresses both the factual and psychological elements of this emerging crisis, and offers actionable tools to address it. Read Less ^

Since the horrifying events of October 7, 2023, Rabbi Michaelson has written over fifty articles about Palestine, Israel, and antisemitism. He has been on podcasts and television shows; he has spoken on university campuses and at private gatherings of leaders. And from the beginning of this tragic period, Jay’s approach has emphasized nuance, the importance of listening to multiple narratives, and concern about the ways moral panic and extreme positions have taken hold all across the political spectrum. Read More >

Even before the war, Jay has been writing about antisemitism and Islamophobia for many years. His 2022 article responding to the antisemitic statements of Kanye West, called There are a Lot of Jews in Hollywood: Let a Rabbi Explain Why, went viral and won the 2023 New York Society of Professional Journalists Award for opinion writing. His urges a coexistence based not on agreement, but on respect for the humanity of those with whom we disagree — and the distinction between valid disagreement and bigotry. Read Less ^