Living Beyond Limits

Why are there so many Jewish psychologists?

A Rabbi once quibbled that the Hebrew name of the dream interpreter Joseph was the initials of Sigmund Freud.

It’s a good question really. Not that all Jewish psychologists religiously observant. However, is there something in the Jewish psychology, or Jewish soul, that seeks the deeper meaning behind life?

Kabbalist’s would answer yes. Not that a person need be Jewish to study it. However, the whole Jewish liturgy is interwoven with deep psychological and spiritual meaning.

Consider the Bible book of Job. If any book faces squarely the unfairness of life, then this, along with Ecclesiastes, has to be it.

Struck down with illness, financial loss, and family death the once prosperous Job begins arguing with G-d. On the one hand, he argues he must accept both good and bad from G-d, on the other he demands justice.

He even accuses G-d of moral dyslexia – or at least a Freudian slip.

“Why do you hide your face, and count me as your enemy (‘oyyeb)?” (13:24). Without the vowels, Job (‘iyyob) is identical to enemy. Hebrew was originally written vowel-less and sound very similar.

Along come his friends – comforters they are called except they offer no comfort. At best its cold comfort.

Like shrinks hovering behind Job on couich they dissect and analyze poor Job’s every move.

First, there is Eliphaz, who has read too much Skinner and like any good behaviopuralist, sets out to prove Job is suffering from faulty actions.

Then there is Goldman loving Bildad who tears into Jobs emotions.

Finally, Zophar goes for the cognitive approach. Come on Job think it out, you must have done something stupid! Hmmm…. Too much Beck?

Of course, Job is really dissatisfied with this therapy. He just wants a break.

In the background has quietly sat the younger Elihu. His name also forms the number 358 in Hebrew, as does the word for Messiah.

Hence, Ehihu is seen as a Messianic symbol. Rabbi Nachman of Breslev describes a picture of all the Jews being given a therapy session by the Messiah, explaining the purpose behind Jewish history.

Now while some Jews believe Job copped it because of a past life – possibly Abrahams father, idol worshipping Terah. Either way, Job must realize there are other things going on beyond his experience.

Elihu calms things down a tad, before the real fireworks.

The idea of a direct experience with G-d Himself is every mystics dream. Out of a wind storm comes the booming voice.

For all his complaining, Job neglects, or simply in too much awe to ask about justice.

Either way G-d never once addresses jobs demands for justice. There is a fundamental Jewish idea that the devil mentioned in Job is not a force apart from G-d, its all part of G-ds whole plan.

Perhaps this is part of the therapy.

Often circumstances are beyond our control. It is when we accept them, and can appreciate their potential for growth, that we move on renewed and excited at future prospects.

It is the, when Job gets up and prays in behalf of his friends – that is when he gets off his butt and thinks and acts in behalf of others that blessings return to him in abundance.

In Chassidic psychology the human soul is said to have five levels that match up with jobs five therapists. The first three describe the humans gut level experience. The last two are more divine.

1. Nephesh. Like the root of a flame, this is behavioral, the animal unconscious part that keeps us alive.
2. Ruach or spirit. The emotional intelligence level of our being.
3. Neshama, or mind. Refers to the cognitive intelligences.
4. Chayya begins the transcendental experience. This is the state of the complete nullification of the ego, where we begin to recognize what g-d is not- he is not defined by the universe or by our understanding. The foundation of our wills and desires.
5. Yechida is the level of universal cohesion with G-d. It is said that this is the state where thoe soul existed, merged with G-d, sublime, pure and transcendent. Here it cleaves to and reflects the original Infinite Light of the creator.

In Yechida the infinite and finite collapse, as if the G-d within me is speaking to me. At that point I can experience the divinity within all things, both supposed good and bad.

Finally, I begin to see that life is a biofeedback loop that is ultimately for my good, refining and improving me to my, and G-d’s ultimate purpose. It reminds me of the belief of life coach John Demartini that we must find our deepest values andthen find a way to us this to bering meaningto our experience.

While therapy may see a world free of divinity, Job, like any one in therapy had to see the parts of his life and then get on and do something for others.

Perhaps there are so many Jewish shrinks because the ultimate meaning of all three Abrahamic religions is to find ourselves in a service outside of ourselves.