by Eliyahu Federman for COLlive
Jewish law requires that one publicly apologize if one may have been publicly insensitive to someone. On May 5, 2012, the New York Post published a column of mine which was critical of “focused energy,” “human energy fields” and other psychic healing claims.
The psychic industry is a 2 billion dollar a year industry that encompasses a broad spectrum of society. These practices prey on the gullible with cold reading, placebos, and the forer effect and are not unique to any specific individual or religion.
In the piece, I highlighted Rabbi Mendel Morsow as an example, based on an interview about his work published on COLlive.com in which he says to have physically healed people through “focused energy” – in an effort to foster critical discussion around such healing practices.
My intention was to create an academic discussion around a practice that the medical community is critical of, not to point fingers at anyone specific. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and other independent medical journals have debunked “energy healing” practices.
Healing through “auras” and “energy fields” are scientific/medical claims in nature. Such claims have zero peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support them and a plethora of evidence disproving them. It is a claim about medicine within the natural order, not prayer and spirituality which transcend nature. That is why I feel it is only fair to critique and question “energy healing” practices from a scientific perspective.
But it was unfair to single out Rabbi Marosow and thus, connect him to the questionable practices of others. I’m positive that Rabbi Morosow has done good work for people in the area of counseling and emotional therapy.
I recognize my mistake in highlighting only one particular aspect of his practice, when in realty he engages in more than just “focused energy” healing of physical ailments. His practice encompasses conventional therapy, which I’m sure he has helped people with.
In retrospect, I should have also mentioned the positives of the conventional counseling work of Rabbi Morosow, but editorial guidelines are unfortunately constricting. I apologize.
The article may have also come across as critical of spirituality in general, chas veshalom. That was not my intention at all, which is why the article specifically mentioned the efficacy of the Rebbe’s blessings. I recognize that the Torah embraces healing that transcends the natural order.
–Eliyahu –Federman resides with his wife and daughter in Miami, FL. A proud alumnus of Mayanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem, he is an executive at an e-commerce firm and enjoys writing in his spare time
Very interesting indeed but its still modern medicine. With all due respect, it has nothing to do with energy healing.
i saw the clip!! very serious!!
mainstream science is very sued and agenda driven, they often intentionally suppress phenomena that contradicts the “official narrative” known as “conventional science”
case in point
Dr Bruzynsky’s (scientific discovery visavi a cure for yene machleh – attacked and mocked for years by mainstream scientists until very recently!!)
its shocking but true!
few scientists are allowed to publish scientific findings that are suggestive of supernatural implications, even if verified by the scientific method!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qG_ZWs04es
dont be so quick to trust main stream science as objective and agenda-free
Placebos are inert (non reacting) substances used for either their psychological effect (rare) or as a control in an experiment. For example 20 (ill) people receive small blue pills. Ten are receiving a drug, ten are receiving a pill without any drug at all. Neither the patients nor the doctor know which is which. This is a double blind study. If 10 people experience an effect, but only 5 received the drug we know the drug was ineffective, but the act of taking the blue pill was powerful, a fact that we know is true. Doing something will help a… Read more »
Dear comment #29, you would be right except the energy healing stuff is a claim about science not Torah! It is basically saying that this stuff has application in modern medicine. So as Federman says, it is only fair to question it using the tools of science. Whether science accepts it may be debatable but that is where the discussion lies. My personal opinion is that science discmisses it…. Just some thoughts ….
Those that ‘debunk’ energy healing and other such spiritually based practices are similar to those that debunk the creation, creator and creating of this world. As believing, spiritual Jews, it’s shocking that some would require science to validate the more spiritual practices of this world. Historically (in Judaism) there are many instances of these practices. If you open yourself up to first really getting to know firsthand about such practices (act outside of your usual dimensions and be willing to engage with some of these ‘practitioners’) you may well be amazed. I was. I’m hard to impress. Just from phone… Read more »
well said and true…..
loved the clips
very impressive!
there is alot u have to learn about before u jump to render others who disagree with u as non critical thinkers, perhaps they are right, that some of these unconventional methods are legit, perhaps!
& re the psychic twins
torah sources do predict that just before the Geula, Nevua will be gifted to even Shoitim
i dont agree with Eli’s point of view re spiritual healing though
Non-Contact Therapeutic Touch (NCTT), is an energy therapy which practitioners claim promotes healing and reduces pain and anxiety. Practitioners of therapeutic touch state that by placing their hands on, or near, a patient, they are able to detect and manipulate the patient’s energy field …. The scientific community is skeptical. Lets be honest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapeutic_touch
I have been helped in a very great way by R’ Mendel Morozow. I’m no stranger to conventional medicine, and the healing that R Mendel was able to accomplish doesnt exist in the conventional world. R’ Mendel, thank you so much for using you talents to help and heal people. People like you are hard to find. To those of you who can’t see anything beyond the scope of scientific ‘facts’, I’d like to remind you what Dr Albert Einstein said about the future of medicine: “It is possible there exist human emanations that are still unknown to us. Do… Read more »
You would be helping others if you told us the healer’s name.
Once upon a time, doctors thought vitamins and suppliments were nonsense, most, but not all have come around. Dr. Dean Edel on syndicated radio still laughs it off. Yet you take some B complex and see if it does something to you or not. It will, and you will not care about Dr. Dean Edel’s disparaging remarks to his many syndicated radio stations. Many doctors loath chiropractors, but those who are helped time and time agian, don’t care what doctors say. They don’t need to think critically, because their critical pain is gone, thanks to a non-doctor. Homeopahic remadies will… Read more »
The Rebbe gave us a brocha to see a specific “healer” who used energy transfer methods. I was skeptical until receiving the Rebbe’s clear instructions.
Whatever you do, you need siyata d’ismaya.
It is true that many in this field are chalatans but there are some that are for real including Marosov i and many others can attest to this first hand
You’re completely ridiculous. Please start learning how to critically think and not believe everything you see and hear. I bet you believe there’s magic in India, and doctors are evil people trying to hide effective homeopathic treatment from people because they want to make money. You probably didn’t vaccinate your children as well. Just so you know, there’s a whole bunch of information about how the “psychic twins” are frauds….but I can guarantee you never checked that. I think I can safely say that you heard them on this show saying “We feel an attack on the trade centers coming”… Read more »
The public apology is commendable.
I didn’t believe in these kinds of things but I know quite a few people some relatives and friends who have been helped by him. Some he sent to check tefilin and mezuzas with specific instructions and he was dead on accurate and some he worked on including children he never saw with physical and emotional issues and they there were undeniable results.
True, placebo effects are powerful, and many medical treatments, e.g. antidepressant medication, are largely effective because of their placebo effect. However, that doesn’t make it right to charge large sums of money to vulnerable individuals by claiming to do something that you aren’t doing. If Rabbi Marosov’s healing powers are placebo in nature, let him present them as such and let his would-be clients decide if they would like to pay his fee for that. Mr. Federman’s statement that “Such claims have zero peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support them and a plethora of evidence disproving them” is largely accurate. Scientific… Read more »
Mr. Federman. Your honesty and humility is an example. Although i disagree with you, thank you for the clarity and perspective.
I do believe this should be published in the post, although i cam imagine it not being posted and exitement worthy for the editors.
I have reason to be dan l’kaf zechus that you made an effort to do so.
Good luck in your promising career.
thanks much!
apologize in front of the same public audience (the NY times)
You write – “My intention was to create an academic discussion around a practice that the medical community is critical of, not to point fingers at anyone specific.” ..not sure if you are aware, but the NY Post is not typically known for a stage that fosters ‘academic discussion’!
You speak bad about him in the ny post and apologize on COL?!?!?!
wow that was nice.
human beings have great untapped powers, powers that allow the mind to change reality for the better or the opposite r”l (Tracht gut vet zain gut) amazing incontrovertible proof of powers denied by science & conventional wisdom Talmud staes that just before the Geula, Nevua will be gifted to even Shoitim see this clip @ 3:30 in to the clip! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3zooEOxWdo see also their prediction of a global shift to the world’s consciousnesses, an awakening to higher levels of spiritual knowledge & understanding of g-d, that will take place to THIS generation, this generation will be the last generation in… Read more »
There are a lot of alternative practices used by many. The reason some quacks can take advantage is because many alternative practices do work for many people. Those who are helped don’t care about the “high horse” of peer review or controled studies. Take Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT, google it) for example. With it you can find relief where DOCTORS and their scientific requirements have failed. Once you get relief, yoi are convinced. You don’t accept nor care about the jeering of “pleciebo” that the pointy-headed scientific ones could not employ, yet use as an “explanation.” The reason rabbi marozov… Read more »
Morosow for helping people and huge ahavas Israel and you for learning to be a man leaving on the side ego and having such courage to do this you are a good man. Nobody deserves to be judged based on opinions. I have relatives that heal people with natural medicine and energy out of frustration of the huge abuse of the savvy and scientific medical industry that is really TRILLIONARE no 2 billions to keep people sick with side effects and personally I don’t recover yet from the suffering of some prescribed medications for cholesterol . Also as jews we… Read more »
Leave the counseling and therapy to LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. You feel that you are a candidate suitable for the field of psychotherapy? Go to college, and earn a degree. no freeloading here.
it is such a breath of fresh air to see such articles, where ppl are stronger for apologizing for their own mistakes
“Such claims have zero peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support them and a plethora of evidence disproving them.”
This is untrue.
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that placebos and placebo-like treatments have some sort of effect in many situations.
The same applies to these “Energy Healers” for those who believe it works, in certain situations, it does.
(If you dispute this, I can supply evidence).
Good for you.
Not many would have the guts to publicly apologize. I think most would privately feel ashamed, but just hope for the whole thing to blow over.
wow.
kol hakavod
You offended him in the NY Post and you should apologize there
Much respect Eli does a lot of good work in area’s that other people are scared or to lazy to deal with. However I think getting this article posted in the NYPost if possible would be real nice.