Over the past few years, I have seen an alarming rise in incivility within the Jewish community. Public excoriations, mass emails about clergy behavior, anonymous postings. Whether it is a small group of congregants trying to oust a Rabbi or a Rabbi publicly criticizing an institution with condemnatory language, we seem to be feeling the freedom to say whatever we think, anywhere and to everyone. Without thinking of the impact of our words. Are they harmful? Helpful? Kind? 

I am reminded that the Rabbis of the Talmud tell us that the Temple was destroyed because of our verbal cruelty and willingness to humiliate. That is how we eat ourselves from the outside in.

In my work as a psychologist, I loved seeing couples. Couples work is far and away the most challenging work for a therapist. Couples often hope that the 3rd party will take sides, support one person or position over another. But good therapists know that the real client in couples work, whether it is........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)