We are delighted to partner with JAMI, the mental health service for the Jewish Community on this Shabbat on which we read the plague of darkness. JAMI are also running a Parent Café this Sunday, 11am focussed on supporting parents managing children's anxiety, especially around the online world.
The biblical plague of darkness is referred to with an extra
word Aphela, alongside the standard term for darkness Choshech. It is a
darkness, the Torah says, that is tangible in its consuming quality. In Midrash
Tanhuma, Rav Abdimi understands the plague as paralysing, “An Egyptian who was
standing was unable to sit, while one who was sitting was unable to stand, and
one lying down could not rise.” The verses and their commentators feel as if
they describe not so much a physical phenomenon, but a psychological one.
The paralysing,
tangible quality of depression is, awfully, one I’ve seen and heard sufferers
share. It is a lethal disease.
Peer-reviewed, government-supported actions include normalisation of depression as a medical condition,
not a personal failure. As a medical condition, it can and will respond to
professional, medically trained intervention. “Lots of people experience these
feelings. They can be addressed, speaking with a GP or medical health
professional can help.” For many the combination of both medication and
therapeutic support will be more effective than either in isolation.
Social connection
and reducing isolation are also attested as a protective factor. This isn’t the
same as telling someone who is experiencing depression that they should ‘cheer
up.’ There will be many social spaces that a person experiencing depression
will feel they need to avoid. I hope the Synagogue, however can be helpful. It
won’t work for everyone every time. But if coming to Shul, sitting together or
even sitting apart is ever helpful, I couldn’t be more proud to make it clear
that this is, among so many other things, what we are here for. No need to
schmooze, no need to come to kiddush. But part of the idea of a community is to
know we are never truly alone. And if physically being the space doesn’t work,
there’s the stream. And also … me. I’m not a medical professional, but I have
resources I can share and would both want to be know and show a sense of care
that we all deserve.
As Rebbe Nachman
shared, and it does seem that the great founder of Bretzlav Chasidism experienced
both mania and depression, the world is a narrow bridge, but the most important
thing is never to give into fear.
May we all know
only brightness.
Rabbi Jeremy
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