The goal of the Eating Disorders in Jewish Communities Special Interest Group (EDJC-SIG) is to provide a space for Jewish and non-Jewish eating disorder professionals to collaborate on providing the most effective and efficient care for Jewish clients on their road to recovery and beyond. The EDJC SIG includes representatives from different stages in their clinical career, different levels of Jewish observance, as well as observance of different faiths.
The EDJC-SIG is currently planning a collaboration with the Nutrition SIG for an AED-wide webinar on Kosher Observance in Eating Disorder Treatment, presenting clear guidelines for clinicians and staff working with Jewish clients in various levels of care of how kashrus (kosher), can impact decisions made before the client enters the treatment space, as well as how to navigate these religious requirements from within the treatment space. The AED-wide webinar is expected to be held in late May, with guest speaker Aliza Wallach, RDN, who is a Jewish dietician actively working within the field of eating disorders, servicing Jewish clients on a regular basis.
In addition, the EDJC-SIG will be present at the International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED) 2026 in Amsterdam. During the individual SIG sessions, a small gathering will be held, including a small presentation about the SIG and common roadblocks faced by Jewish clients and their treatment teams alike. Currently in the works is a SIG Shabbat dinner with the Chabad of Amsterdam, on Friday, May 5. The Shabbat dinner will be held at the Chabad [house] of Amsterdam, located in the heart of Amsterdam. Pre-registration will be required; registration information will be released by early April.
Members can get involved by joining the EDJC-SIG via the special interest group page on the AED website. We meet every other month, with our next meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Our meetings review updates in the field, case discussions, and planning collaborative events within the AED and with professionals outside of the AED in the wider Jewish community. If you cannot make it, we will upload meeting notes and/or a recording to the SIG discussion board within a week of the meeting.
We hope to see you soon!