By Seymour Hoffman
The attitude of ultra-orthodox rabbis toward mental health practitioners varies from outright hostility and distrust to respect and cooperation. The former generally view psychotherapists as a threat to religion and religious values, while the latter generally relate to them as colleagues in ministering to the emotional and psychological needs of people in distress. The former group, generally, is highly vocal in its condemnation and criticism and vary from temperate, cautious criticism and advice, to ridicule and outright prohibitions against seeking psychotherapists’ counsel.
Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, z”l, a prominent Israeli haredi rabbi, author and educator wrote in an article (“Psychiatry and Religion” in “In the Pathways of Medicine,” 5 Sivan, 5749 (Hebrew)), “there is an urgent need to organize courses for practicing rabbis and educators, in order to disseminate basic knowledge of the symptoms of neurosis and psychosis and their treatment, in order that they will know to refer mentally ill people immediately to the psychiatrist. Basic knowledge will remove many prejudices.”
Below is an excerpt of an interview with Harav Shmuel Auerbach, about his father Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, ("From the Mouth of our Rabbis" (Bnei Brak 5768, pp. 120-121):
Interviewer's question: In the past, a letter of yours has been published in the name of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman against the treatment of Bnei Torah by psychological professionals ... There is also the phenomenon of the amateurs/charlatans (''chappers'') who treat people's souls without any know how whatsoever. What was the exact opinion of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, and what is your opinion?
Rabbi Shmuel's reply: [He criticizes the] American style atmosphere of weakness and frailty, which is desperately frightened of suffering ... [but on the other hand] I would like you to publicize at this opportunity ... my father's and my own clear opinion, that in a situation of a real crisis, arising from the soul within: anxieties, depressions, or any form of severe suffering, we are obligated, simply and clearly, to turn to the right professionals, psychologists and psychiatrists who fear G-d, and the [subsequent] salvation is in the hands of Hashem. It is severely forbidden to neglect one's physical and mental health ... My father, himself, sent many advice-seekers to psychological help .... “
Clergymen and clinicians have something of value to offer to each other. Therefore it is extremely important that both professions recognize the limits of their own professional competence and consider the benefits of working and consulting with eachother.
Interdisciplinary collaboration between clergymen and mental health practitioners — especially psychotherapists — in treating emotionally disturbed patients is a rare phenomenon. One explanation for this is the relative ignorance of and unfamiliarity with each other’s field and area of concern. This tends to produce anxiety, doubt, suspicion, and mutual distrust.
Bi-directional programs of education and collaboration should be developed and offered to clergymen and clinicians. By providing clergy with some basic knowledge and exposure to psychopathology and psychiatric and psychological treatment, they will develop a greater appreciation for the complexity of the human mind and psychotherapy, and will be in a better position to make more appropriate referrals and provide supportive counseling to their emotionally disordered and distressed parishioners. Likewise, a basic knowledge of religious laws, customs, values and rituals will enable psychotherapists to better appreciate the benefits of religious belief and conduct to mental health and make more effective and appropriate diagnoses, referrals and interventions in their clinical work.
In this spirit, “Nefesh Israel”, an organization comprising orthodox and ultra-orthodox mental health professionals in Israel, sponsored the publication of two books, one in English and one in Hebrew, entitled respectively, “Case Studies of Unothodox Therapy of Orthodox patients and “Psychotherapy of Ultra-orthodox patients: Case Studies” (Golden Sky Books, 2012). These books contains case studies of the psychological treatment of orthodox and ultra-orthodox patients whose presenting problems included, social phobia, religiosity, depression and obsessive-compulsive, eating and conduct disorders, amongst others.
Hopefully, members of the haredi community, especially rabbis, seminary heads, arbiters and community leaders will be sufficiently curious to read the book and as a a result will begin to appreciate the value and benefits of psychological treatment for people suffering from emotional, psychological and behavioral difficulties and disturbances. As Leah Abramowitz, M. S. W., co-chairperson of "Nefesh Israel” stated, “Nefesh Israel is all for a positive and practical approach to change misconceptions about psychotherapy among rabbinical leaders in the haredi community through education".
Seymour Hoffman, Ph. D ., is a supervising psychologist at the “Chiba” Community Mental Health Clinic in Bnei Brak, Israel. He co-edited the two books books mentioned above and also ”Psychotherapy and Judaism” (Hebrew) and authored “Mental Health, Psychotherapy and Judaism”, all sponsored by”Nefesh Israel” and published by Golden Sky Books.