Inspiration from Ethics of the Fathers about how to obtain wisdom. This advice transcends intellectual attainment and leads to complete well-being.
Posts from Professionals
Marriage Advisor at Refuat Hanefesh
Rabbi Dani Bauer, originally from Brooklyn, NY, earned a Bachelor’s of Talmudic Law at Yeshivat Sha'alvim in Israel and a Bachelor's in Psychology at Lander College for Men. He obtained Semicha at Yeshiva University and received an M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli School of Education. He graduated from Council for Relationships with a postgraduate certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Rabbi Bauer recently joined Bala Child and Family Associates, where he works in private practice and specializes in couples, families, and teens. In addition to private practice, Rabbi Bauer is also a full-time high school Rebbe at Kohelet Yeshiva High School in Philadelphia, where he has been teaching Gemara, Halacha, and Tanach since 2013. Along his journey, Rabbi Bauer also served as a rabbinic intern and youth director at the Roslyn Synagogue in Roslyn, New York.
Latest posts by Dani Bauer (see all)
- Communicating During Covid: a Look at How Covid Affects Our Relationships - January 31, 2021
- Yom HaZikaron (Rosh Hashana) – The Day of Remembrance: How Our Past Affects Our Future - September 28, 2019
- Freedom and Owning Our Insecurities - March 28, 2018
The Pesach Seder is often looked at as a model for how we should educate our children. We use experiential models that date back thousands of years and add in parts to the Seder just to get our children interested and engaged. However, many of us are troubled when we get to the part of the Read More …
Dr. Ariel Mintz grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After spending two years learning in Israel, at Derech Eitz Chaim and Shaalivm, he earned his BA in Psychology at Yeshiva Univesity in New York. He went on to obtain his MD at Oakland University William Beaumont School of medicine and trained in adult psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He completed a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and is a practicing psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio. He has received awards for his research, academic performance, and service to the Jewish community. He has a supportive and talented wife and three wonderful children. He is very passionate about destigmatizing mental illness and bringing comfort to those who are suffering.
Latest posts by Ariel Mintz, MD (see all)
- Mental Health in The Parsha: The Blessing of an Inflamed Nerve - December 3, 2020
- Mental Health in The Parsha: When Less is More - November 27, 2020
- Mind Games - February 24, 2019
Why is mental illness different from all other illnesses? Support 1) For with all other illnesses, when you hear someone is hospitalized, you visit, call or offer support. While with mental illnesses, if you hear someone is hospitalized, you pretend you didn’t hear and avoid the person for fear of not knowing what to say.
Vice President at Refuat Hanefesh
Avi J. Gordon, PsyD, grew up Toronto, Canada and is currently a pre-Doctoral Intern at Faulk Center For Counseling in Boca Rio, Florida. He is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate at Loyola University of Maryland and obtained his M.A. in Psychology from Columbia University. Avi’s clinical experiences at college clinics and outpatient mental health centers include anxiety, depressive, and personality disorders, as well as complicated grief, relationships, and various identity and developmental factors. His research interests include emerging-adult religious and spiritual identity. He is passionate about the mission of Refuat Hanefesh and spreading mental health education and awareness in an effort to ensure access to care for those who may need it. When he’s not working, he can be found rollerblading, playing music or ice hockey. Avi can be reached at avigordon@refuathanefesh.org
Latest posts by Avi Gordon, PsyD (see all)
- Thanksgiving: How To Say Thank You (When You Just Don’t Feel You Have Anything to Say Thank You For)? - November 20, 2018
- Chayei Sara: Positive Speech, Positive Mind - November 9, 2017
- The Who, What and Why of Personality Disorders - May 10, 2017
Pious Actions or OCD? With Pesach quickly approaching, everyone is getting ready in their own way. Some cook the food, some make creative representations of the plagues and some prepare Divrei Torah. Pesach can be a time that coincides with many challenges and developing “Me Time” may be necessary. Pesach can also be particularly challenging Read More …
Dr. Ariel Mintz grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After spending two years learning in Israel, at Derech Eitz Chaim and Shaalivm, he earned his BA in Psychology at Yeshiva Univesity in New York. He went on to obtain his MD at Oakland University William Beaumont School of medicine and trained in adult psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He completed a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and is a practicing psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio. He has received awards for his research, academic performance, and service to the Jewish community. He has a supportive and talented wife and three wonderful children. He is very passionate about destigmatizing mental illness and bringing comfort to those who are suffering.
Latest posts by Ariel Mintz, MD (see all)
- Mental Health in The Parsha: The Blessing of an Inflamed Nerve - December 3, 2020
- Mental Health in The Parsha: When Less is More - November 27, 2020
- Mind Games - February 24, 2019
This coming Monday night we will sit around the table and retell the story of the Jew’s slavery in Egypt. Many commentators have asked why we bring ourselves back to days of servitude when life is so much better for us now. Isn’t it depressing to focus on the negative? They answer that reliving our Read More …
Head of Torah Content at Refuat Hanefesh
Rabbi Dovid Zirkind is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. He studied for two years in Israel at Yeshiva Kerem B'Yavneh and is a graduate of Yeshiva University where he obtained a Bachelors in Psychology. He received Semicha (Rabbinic Ordination) from the Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Theological Seminary. He has served as the Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center in Manhattan since 2012. In his role as Associate Rabbi, Rabbi Zirkind is the director of The Center's Adult Education Programming and Rabbi of its vibrant Young Leadership community.
Latest posts by Rabbi Dovid Zirkind (see all)
- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: Thoughts on Repentance - August 30, 2017
- Festival of Failures: A Fifth Question for this Year’s Seder - April 3, 2017
The art of storytelling demands a captivating structure. One time-tested method introduces a character worth following, only to have him or her fall into despair. Committed to the well-being of the character, the reader journeys with the story’s central figure from failure to success.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg is the Senior Rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue in Florida, the largest Orthodox Synagogue in the Southeast United States. He serves as Co-Chair of the Orthodox Rabbinical Board’s Va’ad Ha’Kashrus, as Director of the Rabbinical Council of America’s South Florida Regional Beis Din for Conversion, and as Posek of the Boca Raton Mikvah. He serves as Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America and as Chairman of the Orthodox Union Legacy Group. He has delivered the invocation to the U.S. House of Representatives and has been invited multiple times to meet with the President and White House staff.
Latest posts by Efrem Goldberg (see all)
- Keeping the Lessons of Robin Williams Alive - August 9, 2017
- Dealing with Depression - May 3, 2017
- Managing Expectations is the Key to a Beautiful Holiday - April 2, 2017
According to a 2013 PewResearchCenter study, though only 23% of American Jews attend religious services at least monthly, 70% participate in a Seder on Passover. The likely reason: Passover brings family together. These reunions are often filled with promise and hope of quality time that will yield lifelong memories.
Dr. Ariel Mintz grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After spending two years learning in Israel, at Derech Eitz Chaim and Shaalivm, he earned his BA in Psychology at Yeshiva Univesity in New York. He went on to obtain his MD at Oakland University William Beaumont School of medicine and trained in adult psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He completed a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and is a practicing psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio. He has received awards for his research, academic performance, and service to the Jewish community. He has a supportive and talented wife and three wonderful children. He is very passionate about destigmatizing mental illness and bringing comfort to those who are suffering.
Latest posts by Ariel Mintz, MD (see all)
- Mental Health in The Parsha: The Blessing of an Inflamed Nerve - December 3, 2020
- Mental Health in The Parsha: When Less is More - November 27, 2020
- Mind Games - February 24, 2019
In this week’s Torah portion Rashi, an 11th-century commentator, notes the frequent pauses between commands. He explains these breaks functioned to give Moshe time to understand each lesson after it was taught. Rashi expounds that if Moshe needed extra time, all the more so we need it when learning.
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Tina is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor and NYS Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 25+ years of experience working with individuals, couples, and groups.
Latest posts by Tina Kahn (see all)
- Has the Dating Process been Compromised? - March 29, 2017
- Stepparenting: A Challenge and An Opportunity - February 22, 2017
- How to make your spouse your BFF - February 8, 2017
As a psychotherapist, marriage counselor, mother and community member, I am acutely aware of the problems confronting singles in their quest to find a marriage mate. This problem is compounded tenfold for individuals with a mental health diagnosis who are taking medication. A person in such a situation is required by many rabbis to disclose all Read More …