{"id":71154,"date":"2022-12-23T07:38:26","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T12:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=71154"},"modified":"2022-12-23T07:38:26","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T12:38:26","slug":"off-the-pulpit-the-talmud-on-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-the-talmud-on-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: The Talmud on Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

\"\"

These are the words of the Mishna. The Gemara goes on to elaborate all these types of losses. Notice that the final loss is humiliation. To be injured has social implications, and some injuries are more damaging to one\u2019s social standing or self-esteem than others. In recognizing this, thousands of years ago, the Talmud acknowledges that injury to one\u2019s psyche is as real as injuries to one\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

\u201cSticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me\u201d is a questionable bromide we learned as children. But sticks and stones can break more than bones. As a society we are still making progress in healing the shame from those who have been hurt, disabled, or sidelined. The Talmud teaches us to see one another in all our human dimensions and to take the health of our minds as seriously as we take the health of our bodies.<\/p>\n

Rabbi David Wolpe is the senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Share