Gimmick or Panacea?
Yoga. Meditation. Immersion. All these sound curative, but can they be worse than the disease? The Avner Institute presents the Rebbe’s cautious advice to a psychologist on plans for a “kosher” healing center, and the spiritual risks involved of integrating foreign methods or ideologies.
“To attract the greatest number of Jews”
B”H
Sivan 5738
Brooklyn, NY
Dr. ———-
California
Greeting and Blessing:
Thank you for your letter upon your return from Eretz YIsroel.
I am pleased to note that you and your wife enjoyed your visit in Eretz Yisroel and were impressed with the activities of Chabad there. As I have remarked on similar occasions, it is customary to bring back souvenirs from the lands one visits that are characteristic of native features and products, etc. I trust therefore, that you too brought back with you the right souvenir from the Holy Land, namely, an extra measure of holiness, which will serve as a fitting memento of you visit. And, of course, there is always room for improvement in matters of holiness, Torah and mitzvoth, in the daily life.
In your case this is even more important, not only for your own benefit, but also for the benefit of the many who look to you for inspiration; and one is inspired not by someone else’s good thoughts and intentions, and not so much by word of mouth as by living example, which need no elaboration to a psychologist.
Kosher Alternative
Now to the main subject of our correspondence, namely, saving Jews from getting involved in avodah zarah [idolatry] through T.M. and the like by offering them a kosher alternative.
With reference to your letter, I would like to make the following observations:
Although a well-planned and systematic approach is generally required to ensure success of any project, I do not think that we can afford to delay too long the implementation of our plan through time-consuming preparations; and for two reasons: firstly, every day that the plan is not in operation means so many more Jews turning to those unholy cults and there is no other sure way of preventing or discouraging this. Secondly, and this is also a weighty consideration, every new project is provisional by nature, for it is expected that as it progresses there would be need for changes and improvements, which is common experience in various fields — medicine, science, business, etc.
I note in your letter that your discussions with your colleagues have advanced to the point of forming an ad hoc committee. I therefore believe that the stage can now be set to start immediately a pilot clinic or similar facility, to start offering actual treatment, on the basis of your and your colleagues’ professional expertise and mutual consultations. The pilot project should be set up in a way that allows for ample flexibility for modification and change as may be necessary.
As indicated, I will be able to provide the funding for the initial stage, within limitations. You will no doubt send me a tentative budget of the initial outlay, with an estimate of the period of time it may take until the setup becomes self- supporting. Indeed, I am confident that before long it will not only be self- supporting, but also profitable, considering the popularity of techniques involved. But it is important to start in a way that will not inhibit the effectiveness and development of the project, even if it costs much more.
Mystic Experience?
With regard to specifics, I do not think it advisable to use the term “mystic” for the planned healing center, since the goal is to attract the greatest number of Jews and save them from avodah zara, and the said term might discourage some. Moreover, generally mysticism connotes something that lies beyond the pale of human comprehension, while the therapeutic benefits of the techniques are quite understandable rationally. Besides, to emphasize the mystical aspect would leave the door open also, lehavdil, to non-Jewish mystical cults.
For the same reason it is advisable to be circumspect in regard to the description of the techniques to be used in the healing center. For example, you mention the use of “mikvoth,” baths. While it is not in my domain to assess the therapeutic effect of relaxation in a hot mikvah, I fear that to include a mikvah “officially” in the regimen might be suspected, by some people at least, that it is a gimmick to involve them in mitzvoth. I think that veiling in it some such term as “immersion” in hot baths and the like would entirely allay such suspicion.
As for calling the healing center . . . it is a name already in use by various organizations and journals. Another suitable name would have to be found, but there is no need to make the final decisions on this right away.
Finally, let me relieve you of any apprehension that you might be “pushing” me on this matter. On the contrary, in connection with such a vital project, “pushing” could only be all to the good, since time is of the essence, as I emphasized above.
In view of the fact that everything is by hashgocho protis, Divine Providence, it is significant that your letter and my reply were written in proximity to the yom tov of Kabbolas Ha’Torah, Shavuot, when we renew and redouble our commitment to the Torah on the basis of naaseh [we will do] before v’nishma [we will understand], with emphasis on the doing and that naaseh is the key to v’nishma.
With esteem and blessing,
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