SERIES
THINGS I LEARNED…
While teaching everyone else
IS THERE A CONFLICT BETWEEN TORAH AND PSYchology? For a long time, many people believed there was. Freud was far from frum
and some of his core ideas about the id
didn’t exactly seem compatible with the
Yid. Today, however, as more and more
students of psychology are also students
of Torah, we are finding the two fields to
be far more compatible than people originally imagined.
In my early days in Johannesburg, back
in the 70s and 80s, there was a distinct
tension between the rabbis and the social
workers of the Jewish community. Our
attitudes and perspectives regarding helping our mutual clients were markedly different, and often we would found ourselves at odds.
26 JEWISH LIFE
ISSUE 72
I remember one case where, sadly, children had lost their parents and the question was whether they should now go to
Arcadia or to the home of a family member. The social worker argued that studies
had demonstrated unequivocally that a
family was preferable to an institution. I
agreed fully. The problem was, however,
that in this particular case, the family concerned was of a mixed marriage. I argued
that as a community we had an obligation
to be concerned for the spiritual well-being
of these children as much as we did to look
after them physically and emotionally.
Slowly, as the community’s awareness of
Torah and its appreciation of Yiddishkeit
grew, the social workers became far more
respectful and even appreciative of what a
Torah value system had to offer. And I
freely acknowledge that the rabbis, too, became more appreciative of the professionalism and expertise of the psychologists
and social workers. Putting on tefillin, for
example, is not going to cure someone of
his depression. On the other hand, a spiritually fulfilling life can go a long way in the
often elusive pursuit of happiness.
Today, thank G-d, we work together in
a beautiful, harmonious, and mutually respectful, symbiotic relationship. We just
had an outstanding Marriage Week,
where the Chev’s Social Services Department prepared a programme in conjunction with various rabbis, and was supported by all. My own Sydenham Shul is
now in its second year of a joint venture
with the same department, presenting an
‘Enrich Your Life’ series of monthly lectures, in partnership with CAJE, our College of Adult Jewish Education.
I think we have all learned that Torah
and psychology need not be seen as conflicting sciences. Indeed, from my own rabbinical perspective and experience, I would
argue that a more spiritual outlook on life
can be most rewarding and contribute to
our overall well-being, even physically. Our
ultimate happiness depends on our ability
to find a holistic approach and balance between the spiritual and the physical.
Let’s look at bereavement, for example.
Psychologists have much to offer in the
way of bereavement counselling. We are
fortunate to have a wonderful group of
well-trained people who operate under the
banner of Nechama, and they help families
cope with the traumas associated with the
lo