FROM THE TEAM
FROM THE EDITOR
WWW.JEWISHLIFE.CO.ZA
T
he phrase mind, body and soul rolls so easily off the tongue, yet it is by no
means a given that all three make up a human being. There are those who
champion the ascetic path, where the needs of the body are all but denied and
ignored as something base and shameful. Silence, starvation and celibacy are
prized above all else in an attempt to free the soul from the pursuits of the
flesh. Then there is the approach that worships the body and the physical world
as all there is, carpe diem is the clarion call, and self-destructive hedonism its
result. The ancient Greeks worshipped the human form, making the Jewish
practice of brit milah (circumcision) both incomprehensible and reprehensible.
There are still others who prize intellect above all else, relegating emotion to
the backwaters of the unconscious, and those who believe human reason is all there is,
suffocating themselves in science and the logic of the puny human brain. There is no space in
this approach for something outside of the self, larger than the self, higher even than reason.
And then there’s Judaism… (can you tell I’m a fan?) with 613 connections between ourselves
and G-d, designed to integrate the mind, body and soul. From tefillin, (see page 10) tzitit, mikva
and bris milah to brachot that elevate the needs and desires of the body and connect the
physical to the spiritual. The body is never seen as the enemy, but as a holy temple, and we are
commanded to honour it, preserve its dignity and guard our health carefully. Every mitzvah has
a mind, body and soul component, so our focus is neither on this world alone nor the world to
come, but on the actions that are a bridge between the two. I feel very blessed to have such an
exquisite structure within which to locate myself and my life, and for the opportunity to learn so
much about this structure within these very pages and in the work I do to bring them to you.
Enjoy our annual Mind, Body and Soul edition!
It is perhaps fitting that this issue is where we say farewell to Dr Linda Friedland, who has
brought us cutting-edge medical research about the mind, body and even soul for the last six
years, as well her own unique perspective on current events (see page 12) and issues. Linda,
like many of our columnists, did so as a labour of love, even well after she left our shores for
Perth, Australia, such is her deep connection to the South African Jewish community. We will
miss her unique voice and energy dearly, though we will certainly be featuring her thoughts
from time to time. Thank you Linda!
FEATURING…
ED’S PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER
DR LINDA FRIEDLAND
AT JEWISH LIFE, I… felt inspired to share so many different aspects of health and
lifestyle issues, always integrated with the Jewish theological or philosophical
perspective. I loved being part of the inception of the magazine and have seen it
grow and develop into the world-class Jewish publication that it is. I say lehitraot
(or in Aussie speak – see ya later), as I will definitely continue to contribute
intermittently. MY REAL FORTE IS… playing with cement mixers, bobcats, diggers,
and caterpillar plastic trucks in the sand at the park! WHEN I’M NOT AT MY DESK, YOU
CAN FIND ME… at the beach or playing with trucks in the sand (with a two-year-old) or vacuuming,
mopping, cooking, washing pots and folding laundry. MY FAVOURITE DOWNTIME IS SPENT… at the beach,
cycling, long beachfront walks, and my best – on my bed with a good book and a steaming cup of
tea. I AM CURRENTLY READING… The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, the 2014 Pulitzer prize winner; as well as a
new edition of Reb Nachman’s Tales with a new commentary by (my favourite) Rabbi Adin Steinsalz. I
AM CURRENTLY WRITING… a business, leadership and performance book, as most of my work is with
execs, and I sit on the boards of some non-profits as well as some health advisory boards. MY HEROES
ARE… mothers of sons in the IDF. MY MOTTO IS… reach out, make a meani