This volume contains articles by a prominent rabbi and veteran mental health professionals who have been involved in working with and counseling people from the ultra-orthodox and religious communities for many years. The topics discussed include the different, and at times, opposing views and attitudes that rabbis and mental health practitioners hold regarding their roles in catering to the needs of the people who seek their help. Also discussed are halakhic (Jewish law) issues and controversies that arise in the practice of psychotherapy between therapists and rabbis and between rabbis themselves. Anecdotal examples are also brought describing the psychological wisdom and sophistication of rabbis and their productive and effective contribution and involvement with psychotherapists in psychological treatment. Rabbis and mental health professionals, religious and secular, as well as lay people interested in the interface of Judaism and mental health/psychotherapy, will find the book informative, enlightening and a worthwhile read.

The author, a clinical psychologist who has worked in a variety of mental health facilities in the U.S. and Israel for over half a century, has shared with us in this book case studies of unconventional psychological treatment interventions such as the use of "phantom" con­sul­tants, clergymen, humor and a projective test, in dealing with challenging cases. Several articles present innovative approaches to supervision and the creative use of a mobile chair in therapy. The interventions and rationale of the treatment of the patients, that include both adults and children with a variety of pathologies and symptoms in different formats, are clearly presented. Some unconventional ideas and suggestions presented in the book, such as the dia­lectical cotherapy treatment approach and the use of a mobile chair in the treatment room, may possibly startle and shock the conventional therapist. Several of the articles were previously published in professional journals in the U. S., UK and Israel and slightly revised. It is hoped that this volume will encourage greater open-mindedness, flexibility and creativity on the part of clinical psychology students, trainees, beginning and seasoned psychotherapists, and expand their armamentarium of psychological tools, techniques and interventions in their clinical work.

This book contains a selection of interesting and informative articles authored by orthodox rabbis and psychotherapists that are highly relevant and pertinent to religious psychotherapists, veterans and novices alike. The highly significant topics and issues discussed include the relationship between clergy and clinician, special considerations in treating the haredi patient, attitude towards and treatment of homosexuals, and responsa by prominent contemporary rabbis regarding the issue of halachic constraints and treatment options, among others. The latter contains anecdotal examples of conflicts and dilemmas that religious therapists encountered in their work that were presented by the editor to various rabbis for their halachic (religious law) rulings. Among the questions raised are: Is the therapist obligated to rebuke a patient when the latter is transgressing serious religious commandments?; Is the therapist permitted to encourage a patient to express his negative feelings towards his/her parents?; Can a therapist continue doing marital therapy after learning that the husband is a Cohen and his wife is a divorcee?; Is cross-gender therapy permissible?, amongst others. --- Religious therapists, rabbis and laymen will find the book stimulating, informative and a worth-while read.

This book contains a potpourri of articles written by haredi and religious mental health practitioners who were employed in a haredi sponsored mental health clinic that treated religious patients. The book is divided into two parts, part one addresses mental health issues and part two applies those issues in treatment cases. In part one, I found the article by a haredi psychoanalyst who described in an open and forthcoming manner the internal conflicts she faced in treating patients from the haredi community fascinating. Other interesting topics discussed in this section include rabbinic attitudes towards psychological treatment, clergy-clinician cooperation in treatment, and responsa by prominent haredi and orthodox rabbis to halachic questions raised by therapists in the treatment process. In the second part, highly creative and successful treatment interventions are described. I believe that mental health professionals, religious and secular, can gain practical insights and ideas for treatment from this book, particularly when working with a haredi and religious population. (Lynn Rothstein, Psy. D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the USA and licensed Rehabilitation Psychologist in Israel. Psychologist at the Young Women's Breast Cancer Clinic-Tel Hashomer Hospital, Ramat Gan and at Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular WellnessCenter for Women-Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem. Neuropsychologist-conducts neuropsychological and psycho-didactic evaluations, Efrat) --- I was glad to see that an English version of the previously published Hebrew book, "Psychological Treatment and the Haredi Community: Issues and Case Studies," is available for the English speaking public. I believe that mental health practitioners, rabbis and those interested in the interface between psychotherapy and Judaism will enjoy and benefit from this interesting and informative book. (Rabbi Naphtali Bar-Ilan, Community rabbi, Rehovot, Israel. Authored "Be Sanctified with Charity"; "Government and State in Israel According to the Torah," and numerous articles on psychotherapy and Jewish law.) --- Seymour Hoffman, Ph. D. is Supervising psychologist at the "Chiba" Community Health Clinic, Ma'ayenei Hayeshua Medical Center. Authored "Mental Health, Psychotherapy and Judaism," "Thinking out of the Box" Unconventional Psychotherapy and edited "Reader for Orthodox Jewish Psychotherapists: Issues, Case Studies and Contemporary Responsa" and "Rabbis and Psychologists: Partners or Adversaries." --- Hannah Bar-Joseph, Ph. D. is Head of psychological services, Ma'ayenei Hayeshua Medical Center, Bene Brak Israel. Previously was chief psychologist at the Rehovot Community Mental Health Clinic. Taught at Bar-Ilan University and the Religious Teachers' College of Jewish Studies, Moreshet Yaakov. Specializes in youth suicide prevention (therapy, lecturer, researcher)."

Rabbi Gabrielle, a young female rabbi in Washington DC, is called upon to defend an accused rapist in court, imperiling her career. She must negotiate a hostile climate both in her synagogue and in the community, while attempting to live a normal life as an attractive, unmarried woman. Here is a chance to have an internal look at the life of a clergywoman in a profession that has long been a man's proprietary domain.

Rabbi Gabrielle succeeds the senior rabbi a Congregation Ohav Shalom and in this new role must perform a funeral for her favorite Bar Mitzvah boy, now a young man recently murdered in a remote Washington DC park. This death brings her to a ghetto high school where the victim coached its struggling tennis team. An avid tennis player herself, Gabrielle attempts to keep the tennis team going and, because the police are unable to apprehend the murderer, investigates the crime. This brings her into conflict with Washington's thriving gun trade. Pursuit of the killer thrusts Gabrielle into the nation's spotlight, exactly where she doesn't want to be.

In this second volume of his long-anticipated five-volume collection of parashat hashavua commentaries, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks explores these intersections as they relate to universal concerns of freedom, love, responsibility, identity, and destiny. Chief Rabbi Sacks fuses Jewish tradition, Western philosophy, and literature to present a highly developed understanding of the human condition under Gods sovereignty. Erudite and eloquent, Covenant Conversation allows us to experience Chief Rabbi Sacks sophisticated approach to life lived in an ongoing dialogue with the Torah.