Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D. Where Psychology and Judaism meet
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Showing Results 40 - 49 (49 total)
Is the Wheel just a Spiel: A conversation about personal responsibility
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2021-03-01 13:48:12
A number of people have puzzled over why some observant Jews seem unconcerned about contracting COVID and/or following medical recommendations, while other observant Jews seem very concerned. I believe that a key factor relates to a discussion, within Judaism, as to the relationship between two seemingly opposing beliefs. In Jewish thought, we are given the conceptual tools, on the one hand, to feel safe and secure, and, on the other hand, …
A Fragile Process
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2021-03-05 12:15:37
Around this time of year, we spend several weeks reading about the construction of the Mishkan and its Keilim/vessels. Moshe is, early on, instructed to build the Aron. He is then told to place, in the Aron, the עדות/Edus - literally the testimony. We are taught elsewhere (Melachim 1: 8) that this includes the Luchos - the two tablets, given to Moshe, at Sinai. There are two difficulties with the above: 1. Why doesn’ …
Face to Face
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2021-10-18 14:36:34
Soon after Sukkos, we are given the opportunity to study the lives of the Avos and Imahos. Some Torah readings are immediately accessible to us; others are more complex. In two consecutive weeks of Torah reading, Sarah Imenu is taken captive by a powerful king. This, after Avraham Avinu portrays the relationship between them as being simply brother and sister. There is, though, a subtle difference between the narratives. When Sarah is taken by Ph …
Whatever it takes
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2022-01-09 14:25:44
At a recent address to a group of mental health professionals, Rav Dovid Cohen shared his perspective regarding the very disturbing events surrounding the sexual predator, Chaim Walder. Rav Dovid made more than one point, but I’d like to focus on what I believe is the most important, most essential one. Many of us have become so caught up in the question of whether Walder is evil or not, or whether he was mentally ill or not, that we …
Not Just Walder's Books: A conversation about abuse and prevention
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2022-02-23 12:20:49
It’s been only a few months since the shocking revelations about popular children’s author, Chaim Walder, first emerged. Walder was accused of sexual assault and/or child sexual abuse by tens of women and girls, the vast majority of whom he’d been entrusted with helping. Soon after the abuse was reported, some store owners stopped selling Walder’s books; Charedi media outlets took away the platforms they&rsquo …
Avos, Aretz, and the cords that bind us
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2023-11-14 10:58:48
As Israel finds itself in the second month of its war on Hamas - this, following the shocking massacre of 1,400 Israelis and the taking of more than 200 hostages - I’ve decided to share a thought, a meditation. It’s one that grounds me and brings me solace. Perhaps, you too will find meaning. There are deeply disturbing facets to the war: the gruesome murder scenes, the unbearable images of people being tortured, the heart-wren …
Confessions of a Chayal's Parent
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2024-02-14 22:19:04
My wife and I are in the unique position of living in between two distinct communities. We spent numerous years in Kollel and have been part of the larger Yeshiva community for decades. Those years and decades were deeply meaningful to us; they remain very much a part of us. We continue to cherish the friendships and connections we formed during our Kollel-plus years. My wife and I, though, also enjoyed upbringings that included a broader …
Heart and Shoulders: Why civil law matters
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2024-02-23 14:16:23
When studying the Torah, it pays to attend not just to the recorded content - be it the narratives or the Mitzvos, but also to the language that the Torah uses in conveying its content. In particular, we can tap and mine the rich veins of Biblical wisdom, when we are willing to examine the Torah’s linguistic parallels and contrasts. A case in point is the wording found in Parshas Tetzaveh, as the Torah introduces the firs …
From light to darkness
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2024-12-21 23:44:02
I recently sat with a client and listened to a recording he’d made of himself, years earlier, playing the guitar and singing the song of his favorite artist. My client and I marveled at how meticulously he’d reproduced the riffs, the tones, and the timing of the artist. My client, who is older than I am, is no longer able to play the guitar; his voice is no longer quite able to hit the notes. It was a bittersweet moment. It highlighte …