32 | DECEMBER 29 • 2022
S
ometimes people assume mental
health issues only happen to “other”
people, but this a myth, especially
when it comes to eating disorders and body
image issues. These issues have long been
a huge problem and particularly so for the
Jewish community. According to empirical
study, up to 24% of the female Jewish
community is at risk of developing this
devastating illness at some point in their
lives. In response to this disturbing statistic,
one Oak Park woman, Dr. Marcy Forta,
EdD, MBA, has created an organization
called Atzmi. The organization is dedicated
to supporting the mental health of Jewish
girls through programs that improve their
self-compassion, self-esteem and body
acceptance.
DISCOVERING THE NEED
The idea for such a program began
percolating in Forta’s head more than 20
years ago, when she saw up close how many
women struggled with body image issues.
For 15 years, she owned and ran a Berkley
clothing boutique, The Room Downstairs,
together with her sister-in-law, Shoshana
Forta. As women and girls shopped, Forta
would listen to their self-recriminations and
struggles.
“I noticed that many women and girls
seemed to want to hide their bodies and
were almost apologetic about how they
looked,
” Forta said.
“They’
d buy dresses in
smaller sizes, determined
to lose weight to fit into
them. Girls often didn’t
know how to relate to
their bodies, and so many
mothers were miserable
that their bodies hadn’t
returned to their pre-baby
shapes.
”
By the time the
business was sold, a seed
had been planted. Body image issues were
something Forta related to and understood
— she, too, had struggled with a painful
eating disorder as a teen.
“It spoke to me deeply,
” said Forta, who
had a background in business at the time.
She was passionate about the issue and
knew she wanted to do something, but
what?
“I felt my contribution would have the
greatest impact if I could use my business
background, personal experience and
research to work in the prevention of
these issues; helping people before these
devastating illnesses take hold,
” Forta said.
In 2015, Forta returned to school,
studied for the next five years and earned
her doctorate in education leadership in
behavioral health. Her doctorate focused
on the unique risk factors of the Jewish
Orthodox adolescent community that make
them particularly susceptible to eating
disorders and body image issues.
DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM
Forta additionally became certified in the
existing prevention programs available that
were scientifically tested and proven to be
effective. Then she made it her mission to
tailor such a program for the unique needs
of the Orthodox community.
“I developed this whole Torah-based
curriculum for girls on the topic called
the ‘My Best Self Project.
’ The focus isn’t
just on eating disorders. We reduce the
importance of outward appearance, discuss
self-compassion, emotional regulation,
boundaries, priorities and even cultivating
healthy relationships,
” Forta said. “It can
especially be so hard for young girls who
desperately want to fit in. The goal is to help
them discover their inner talent, capabilities
and beauty, what truly makes them special.
I want to help each girl
appreciate their unique
selves.
”
That’s why she called
the program Atzmi, from
the Hebrew word etzem
— meaning, “my essence,
myself.
”
The program is three-
pronged. The first part
consists of bringing the
topic to girls through a
series of four sessions,
in-school workshops for grades 8, 10 and
12. Forta provides training videos for
schools, so they can learn and run the
program on their own. She’s so passionate
about the topic and is so determined
to have it reach as many Jewish kids as
HEALTH
Atzmi works to prevent eating disorders
in the Jewish community.
Finding Your
Best Self
ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER