tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post5086536023319878964..comments2024-03-29T12:21:24.976+03:00Comments on Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity: Why rabbis are typically not competent to deal with abuse casesDaas Torahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-72406824123170804372013-10-22T03:15:14.536+03:002013-10-22T03:15:14.536+03:00Ploni is confusing Spirituality and Religion - th...Ploni is confusing Spirituality and Religion - the 2 are not the same. I explore this at length in my book Addictions:Halocho, Hashkofo and Causes. The vast majority of our rabbinic leadership are perhaps very knowledgable about Religion - but sorry to say, they are clueless when it comes to Spirituality<br />2) Ploni has also taken a very simplistic view of the quoted Sefer HaChinuch. The more profound meaning of the Chinuch's words (The one that is consistent with the findings of modern medical science) can be found in Rav Shimon Schwab's zt'l Sefer on Chumash Parshas Bo on עד מתי מאנת ליענות מפני . It parallels the "conversion experience" referenced by Ploni in his post - which is NOT what is normally considered Yitzro b'yodo. Again this is more fully explicated in my book.<br />3) AA is fully congruent with Torah & Halachic Judaism. this is fully explicated in my book as well as my other publications as well as in the writings & lectures of Rav Dr. Avrohom Shia Twerski and others. Ploni refers to "Observant Judaism" - perhaps he means the Judaism as we see it practiced round about us. Indeed as this blog site is constantly and continually reminding us - the Judaism that we observe round about us is indeed in great variance to that of the Torah and Halocho.<br />4) In my book I devote an entire section quoting the latest scientific research from the Centers for Disease Control (USA Gov), Harvard University, and other studies of high scientific repute. These findings establish the the vast majority of Addicts have "injured brains" - their brain circuitry is miswired. A short summary appears on page 22.<br />I would ask Ploni to avail himself of my book before he continues stating his erroneous assertions.<br />rabbi kaganoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-75943863500762736122013-10-20T04:22:51.764+03:002013-10-20T04:22:51.764+03:00So, what's my point?
I'd have to disagree...So, what's my point?<br /><br />I'd have to disagree with the caption:<br /><br />"Why rabbis are typically not competent to deal with abuse cases"<br /><br />Actually, Rabbis SHOULD be the ones that actually help TREAT these addictions - by teaching addicts how to experience authentic, intrinsic religion.<br /><br />Please note that the word "SHOULD" is in caps. I'm not deluding myself...<br /><br />Roland listened to Jung's advice, and here's what happened next, according to Ernest Kurtz's history of A.A:<br /><br /><br />Rowland joined the Oxford Group, “an evangelical movement then at the height of its success in Europe.” In recalling to Jung this channeling of his idea, Wilson — who was linked to Rowland H. through their mutual friend Ebby T. — stressed the Oxford Group’s “large emphasis upon the principles of self-survey, confession, restitution, and the giving of oneself in service to others.”<br /><br />“Within the Oxford Group, Rowland had found “the conversion experience that released him for the time being from his compulsion to drink.” Returning to New York City, he joined and became active in the Oxford Group at its United States headquarters — the Calvary Episcopal ... of Rev. Dr. Samuel Shoemaker. Alcoholics had not been a primary interest of Oxford Group adherents in America or in Europe, but Rowland chose to devote to such sufferers his efforts at living out and promoting his own conversion experience. Thus, in August 1934, hearing that his old friend Ebby T. was threatened with commitment to an institution because of his drinking, Rowland H. intervened, and with his friend Cebra G., pledged for Ebby’s parole, leading him to the Oxford Group and so to his first period of sobriety.<br />Ploninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-62760865675132284052013-10-20T04:12:08.718+03:002013-10-20T04:12:08.718+03:00The writer of this post deals with the stupefying ...The writer of this post deals with the stupefying power of addictions. I thinkhe's only partially correct - while overcoming addictions is takes immense willpower - it would be wrong to characterize it as he does, "it is not a case of yitzra b’yodo" <br /><br />People can and do overcome addictions, and not necessarily by using approaches that typical therapists use.<br /><br />C"M Siman 34 states that Baalei Avayro become kosher as witnesses once they shown that they can withstand their temptations - addictions aren't excluded.<br /><br />Here's a case in point:<br /><br />The Sefer Hachinuch by מצות ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם, סוף פרשת שלח, compares sexual addictions to alcoholism. I'm taking the liberty of posting a letter that the famous psychotherapist Carl Jung writes concerning the treatment of a certain "Rowland H" for alcoholism.<br /><br />"Rowland H" is actually Rowland Hazard III - one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, Jung's advice obviously worked, as the popularity of AA can attest.<br /><br />Jung sees addictions as a yearning for spiritual fulfillment. Needless to say, most contemporary therapists would consider such a view pretty wacky....<br /><br />Anyway - here's the letter:<br /><br />Dear Mr. W. <br /><br />Your letter has been very welcome indeed. <br /><br />I had no news from Rowland H. anymore and often wondered what has been his fate. Our conversation which he has adequately reported to you had an aspect of which he did not know. The reason that I could not tell him everything was that those days I had to be exceedingly careful of what I said. I had found out that I was misunderstood in every possible way. Thus I was very careful when I talked to Rowland H. But what I really thought about was the result of many experiences with men of his kind. <br /><br />His craving for alcohol was the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness, expressed in medieval language: the union with God.* <br /><br />* "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalms 42:1)<br /><br />How could one formulate such an insight in a language that is not misunderstood in our days? <br /><br />The only right and legitimate way to such an experience is that it happens to you in reality and it can only happen to you when you walk on a path which leads you to higher understanding. You might be led to that goal by an act of grace or through a personal and honest contact with friends, or through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism. I see from your letter that Rowland H. has chosen the second way, which was, under the circumstances, obviously the best one. <br /><br />I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community. An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society, cannot resist the power of evil, which is called very aptly the Devil. But the use of such words arouses so many mistakes that one can only keep aloof from them as much as possible. <br /><br />These are the reasons why I could not give a full and sufficient explanation to Rowland H., but I am risking it with you because I conclude from your very decent and honest letter that you have acquired a point of view above the misleading platitudes one usually hears about alcoholism. <br /><br />You see, "alcohol" in Latin is "spiritus" and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum. <br /><br />Thanking you again for your kind letter <br /><br />I remain <br /><br />Yours sincerely <br /><br />C. G. Jung <br /><br /><br />end<br /><br />I don't think AA is fully congruent with Observant Judaism - but Jung definitely was following the right track...Ploninoreply@blogger.com