Mental health issues, relationships between parents and children, visiting the ill and keeping marriage alive are all topics that Dr. Michelle Friedman will cover during her weekend of learning as part of the Caviar Scholars’ Series at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The weekend series, set for Dec. 14-16, is entitled, “Listening to Each Other and Ourselves: Judaism and Relationships.”
Dr. Friedman is the director of pastoral counseling at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the open orthodox rabbinical seminary in Riverdale, N.Y., as well as, working in a private practice. She attended medical school at New York University, completed her residency in psychiatry at Mount Sinai, and has a certificate in psychoanalysis from the Columbia University Institute. Dr. Friedman currently devotes much of her professional time to the interface of psychiatry and religious life.
“Many people struggle with disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction and marital/family distress,” she said, when discussing the most important issues facing Jewish communities. “Our community is hesitant about addressing this openly. People feel uncomfortable and sometimes scared of these issues. This reluctance can extend to reluctance about visiting or providing support for people with mental health problems, especially those who are homebound or in the hospital with psychiatric disorders.”
The relationships between parents and children will be part of the Friday night services. Services begin at 4:55 p.m.; and Dr. Friedman will speak at 5:45 p.m. No dinner will be served.
Shabbat morning, Dr. Friedman will speak about “Challenges with Mental Health (Depression, Anxiety and Dementia),” immediately after services, which begin at 9 a.m. Her program will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. A Kiddush luncheon will be served.
“The Pastoral Skills on Visiting the Sick,” will be the discussion topic held during seudah shlisheet at about 5 p.m., with services for Mincha beginning at 4:30 pm.
Sunday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. Dr. Friedman will discuss “Keeping Marriage Alive.” A light snack will be served.
As a result of her programs, Dr. Friedman hopes that there will be “more open conversation about how this community experiences challenges with mental health and talk about how members can listen to, support and help each other.” She hopes that people get “a sense of what an important Jewish value it is to extend compassion and support going through hard times. Also, how much Jewish tradition cherishes the importance of and special contribution of each person. We can do a great deal by including challenged person as well as by supporting resilience. Jews going through mental illness are still cherished members of the community. Too often they feel outside the camp, like there is no place for them.”
All events will be held at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, who was a rabbinical student in Dr. Friedman’s pastoral counseling class, said, “Dr. Friedman will teach us how, not only to reach out to others, but also how to heal others. Through kind actions and empathetic words, we can seriously improve our relationships and transform our communities. We feel blessed to have Dr. Friedman bring the rare talents combining Jewish wisdom, psychological insight, and refreshing creativity.”
Dr. Friedman has requested that a mechitza be in place during services while she is at the congregation. As a courtesy to her, there will be a mechitza during all services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, her talks will not be during services, so there will be no mechitza during the programs.
Both Jewish Family Services and The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City are co-sponsoring this event.