Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, the rav of K’hal Zichron Yechezkel in Toms River, a noted psychotherapist and the halachic coordinator for Hatzolah of Central Jersey, sent out the following message to his kehilla and beyond in response to the awful tragedy that struck in Lakewood on Tuesday afternoon.
Listen below.
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12 Responses
Just two days after a historic visit and Kabolos ponim for the gedolim and this unprecedented tragedy! They must be connected.
What is Hashem trying to tell us???
@veshama what are talking about what connections you are trying to find. The woman is mentally ill, thats reality
Rabbi Moshe Rotberg is a true Tzadik and accomplished person in his area of expertise but this speech is just not helpful. At all.
This is ultra delicate mental health. Not physical health.
I have listened to only 1/3 and am petrified from what was already stated.
“Slice the cake” This can happen to anyone not well….Please take this down!!
You post this and no mention of the main story. What do you think anyone unaware seeing this will do??
Find a way to write the “unspeakable” in the most sensitive way (submit it to rav and/or shrink for review).
Could someone share what “tragedy” the Rav is talking about??? I searched the YWN news site and the only recent Lakewood stories deal with the fundraising trip by several Israeli Rabbonim and the event held for them on Sunday.
Rabbi Rotberg is also a licensed Social Worker so this is his area of expertise.
The next time the shidduch crisis experts start promulgating their fake narrative of the kefira age-gap hoax, keep in mind not everyone is marriage material. Not everyone is capable of caring for children. Physically or emotionally. Unfortunately, some individuals should never be allowed to get married. How many more karbanos do we need?
holtkup, you need to listen to the rest of it.
No, this cannot happen to anyone not well. He specifically says that things like this are not a one-time psychotic attack. It is a risk only to those who are unwell and LEFT UNTREATED over a long period of time.
Please realize that people DO NEED TO HEAR THIS!
They need to know that they must not ignore mental illness for fear of shidduchim, social ostracism, or dread of the unknown. They must know and insist that PPD, depression, anxiety, psychotic episodes and other manifestations of mental illness must be treated, not shoved under the rug.
Nowadays, there are many frum, experienced mental health professionals available who understand a frum client’s background and sensitivities and know how to speak the client’s language, both literally and figuratively.
It is an unspeakable tragedy, but if people hear the message, rather than ignore it out of fear, it can be an important wake-up call that will ultimately bring positive meaning to this heartbreak.
In Israel, Bayit Cham, the mental health pioneer of the frum community, has run mental health awareness workshops for parents, teachers, and rabbonim, to overcome the stigma of seeking treatment. Lakewood surely has askonim who can put together similar awareness programs, including information about early warning signals, the perils of ignoring them, and a list of local expert mental health professionals.
“Obsessive obtrusive thoughts are normal”!!!???
@not getting involved I am sorry to say that you are unfortunately nuts. The Shidduch issues are very real and they have zero to do unfortunately with this issue which is also very real. Not a single word you stated makes sense.
Would someone from Lakewood please explain what the shidduch crisis has to do with some “tragedy” on Tuesday which is not referenced in the article or on the news site.
I am frustrated nobody seems to want to share here what happened!