Mussar can only help someone strong enough to overcome their own emotional difficulties. However, severe issues, as well as clinical ones, require outside help – as we say ‘a prisoner cannot free himself from jail’. We definitely need our leaders to understand and recognize symptoms. Maybe in the old days, hundreds of years ago, there was a close relationship between Rebbe and student, where the Rebbe already knew all the issues facing the student. Today, everyone is barely a number. I’m not blaming the Rebbe’s, I just don’t think there is enough time or ability to properly connect.
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