Mental Health & Halacha

In this lesson we will cover the concept of a Shoteh, which appears frequently in the Mishna and Gemara. What does it mean and how do we apply its meaning for practical use in our time?

In this session we will cover the term שוטה לדבר אחד (the concept of a Shoteh for a specific issue), a condition when someone’s personality is not totally taken over by his mental condition.

In this session we will cover the concept of choleh she-yesh bo sakana (a person in danger because of their condition), discussing what mental conditions define a person as being in life-threatening danger.

In this session we will cover the concept of safek pikuach nefesh, situations where one’s mental condition casts doubt as to whether he is in a life-threatening situation.

Having covered issues related to choleh she-yesh bo sakana, this session will cover choleh she-ein bo sakana, people with mental conditions which are not life-threatening.

In this session we will discuss the concept of depression in both Halachic history and ruling. Are the views and rulings of the great sages compatible with mental health conditions and situations of today?

Taking everything we have learned up till now into consideration, in this session we will discuss what the proper communal and halachic response should be to Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

In this session we will discuss how certain cases of PTSD offer different kinds of thinking when it comes to their relationship with halacha.

In this session we will cover how halachic treats anorexia, primarily with regards to halachic fasting.

In this session we will cover religious scrupulosity and how it must be handled within the context of obsessive compulsive disorder.

In this final session, we will cover halachic questions that have to do with the anxiety disorder agoraphobia and touch on a few outstanding questions regarding other mental health issues.