Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
I received a letter from a Bat Yam reader about the role of
psychiatrists and psychologists. The writer feels we should
be going to rabbonim instead. My comment is that if your rov
is comfortable with this, that is fine. However, many
rabbonim do realize when one has gone beyond counselling, and
it is necessary to use medication. So my belief is that a rov
with access to a prescribing G-d-fearing psychiatrist is the
best option, and I do know this option exists in Jerusalem
and Bnei Brak. Another place for a frum psychiatrist
is in giving medications to impaired adults who are
disruptive due to senility.
Psychology is different. Many people — HaRav Avigdor
Miller zt"l was at the forefront — believe that
psychology is laced with secular ideas, and indeed, the first
psychotherapists such as Freud and Jung were atheists. I
believe that again if the rov is comfortable with this, he is
the best option. Where we do need a good G-d-fearing
psychologist is with the many boys and girls who are involved
in extreme behaviors and are unwilling to accept rabbinical
intervention. These are my personal beliefs. I will say that
I have grown immensely from rabbonim who have grown to know
me well and have counselled me.
I was asked to write about genetics and shidduchim.
This topic is one that I have lectured on in the past,
and my lecture is much more comprehensive than my column. In
general, I make the point that all of us are carrying some
genetic garbage of some sort, and so we should be
understanding and realize that many cases are not as bad as
they seem.
A media report said that French fries, known as "chips" in
Israel, can increase breast cancer risk. Fatty foods are a
known risk for this disease, as well as for colon cancer.
This does not mean you must cut them out fully. Consumption
should be cut down, and they should be eaten only as an
occasional treat — say for yom tov or the
like.
Another recent report said that Holocaust survivors have a
high suicide rate. One should know that suicide rates are
generally very high in the elderly who are lonely or were
previously independent and no longer are. Write me in care of
the Yated.
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. Avodart is the new medication for enlarged
prostates, from Glaxo, that can relieve this problem in a
manner that is safe and effective. Avodart can bring
independence from a catheter.
