What is your impression of how Judaism and/or Jewish institutions approach mental health, either historically or today?
Over the history of Judaism, there have been many layers of approaches toward mental health, both inside and outside of Jewish institutions. We'll consider several texts, instructional and anecdotal, from different eras.
First, some instructional texts from the Torah.
But take utmost care and watch yourselves scrupulously [lit. "But guard your self and guard your soul diligently"], so that you do not forget the things that you saw with your own eyes and so that they do not fade from your mind as long as you live. And make them known to your children and to your children’s children.
(18) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the LORD.
We see many examples of biblical characters (mostly men), in the Torah and among the prophets, who struggled.
David was troubled and battled deep despair. In many of the Psalms, he writes of his anguish, loneliness, fear of the enemy, his heart-cry over sin, and the guilt he struggled with because of it. We also see his huge grief in the loss of his sons in 2 Samuel 12:15-23 and 18:33.
“My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.” Ps. 38:4
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps. 42:11
Elijah was discouraged, weary, and afraid. After great spiritual victories over the prophets of Baal, he feared and ran for his life, far away from the threats of Jezebel. And there in the desert, he sat down and prayed, defeated and worn:
“I have had enough Lord, he said. Take my life, I am not better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4
But God heard his cry and advised him on how to proceed.
Jonah was angry and wanted to run away from prophecy:
“Now O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:3
“…I am angry enough to die.” Jonah 4:9
God responded to Jonah, teaching him the value of human life.
Job suffered through great loss, devastation, and physical illness:
“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” Job 3:11
“I have no peace, no quietness, I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Job 3:26
“I loathe my very life, therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 10:1
“Terrors overwhelm me…my life ebbs away, days of suffering grip me. Night pierces my bones, my gnawing pains never rest.” Job 30:15-17
Jonah confronts God, and God humbles him.
Moses was grieved over the sin of his people. In his feelings of anger and betrayal from his own people, Moses, as a leader, was about ready to quit. He came down from his mountaintop experience with God, commandments in hand, only to find the Israelites in complete chaos and sin. His heart-cry to God on their behalf was desperate:
“But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” Ex. 32:32
Throughout Moses' leadership he struggles with the people, but turns to God as his support.
Jeremiah wrestled with great loneliness, feelings of defeat, and insecurity. Jeremiah suffered from constant rejection by the people he loved and reached out to. God had called him to preach, yet forbidden him to marry and have children. He lived alone, he ministered alone, he was poor, ridiculed, and rejected by his people. In the midst of it, he displayed great spiritual faith and strength, and yet we also see his honesty as he wrestled with despair and a great sense of failure:
“Cursed be the day I was born…why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” Jer. 20:14,18
The above adapted from 7 Bible Figures Who Struggled with Depression: http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/7-bible-figures-who-struggled-with-depression.html.
Jacob struggled throughout his life:
"Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn." Gen. 32:25
"The years of my sojourn [on earth] are one hundred and thirty. Few and hard have been the years of my life, nor do they come up to the life spans of my fathers during their sojourns." Gen. 47:9
Saul suffered from terrors:"Now the spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD began to terrify him." I Sam. 16:4
He called upon David to soothe him:
"Whenever the [evil] spirit of God came upon Saul, David would take the lyre and play it; Saul would find relief and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him." I Sam. 16:23
Hannah was infertile, and her sister-wife would taunt her. Her husband didn't understand why he wasn't enough for her, and when she prayed to God for a child, the priest accused her of bring drunk.
"...Her rival, to make her miserable, would taunt her that the LORD had closed her womb. This happened year after year: Every time she went up to the House of the LORD, the other would taunt her, so that she wept and would not eat." I Sam. 1:6-7
Some questions to consider:
- In researching this topic, I found many Christian websites profiling the struggles of different biblical characters, but I had never seen such a presentation in a Jewish context. Has that been your experience? Why might there be that distinction?
- The first six vignettes above are from a Christian website - in what ways do they differ from the following three vignettes?
- How do the presentations of the struggles of female biblical characters differ from those of male characters?
The Gemara also provides examples of how to care for others.
What are the ways in which we embody these values expressed in the texts inside and outside of our communal spaces? Are they sufficient? Are there ways we could do this differently?
In the course of preparing for this discussion, I came upon many resources on Judaism and mental health.
From ritualwell.org
A Prayer of Healing for Mental Illness
By Rabbi Elliot Kukla
May the One who blessed our ancestors bless all who live with mental illness, our care-givers, families, and friends. May we walk in the footsteps of Jacob, King Saul, Miriam, Hannah, and Naomi who struggled with dark moods, hopelessness, isolation, and terrors, but survived and led our people. Just as our father, Jacob, spent the night wrestling with an angel and prevailed, may all who live with mental illness be granted the endurance to wrestle with pain and prevail night upon night. Grace us with the faith to know that though, like Jacob, we may be wounded, shaped and renamed by this struggle, still we will live on to continue an ever unfolding, unpredictable path toward healing. May we not be alone on this path but accompanied by our families, friends, care-givers, ancestors, and the Divine presence. Surround us with loving-kindness, grace and companionship and spread over us a sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace and wholeness. And let us say: Amen.