Torah

Tzivia Appleman
Tzivia Appleman
Tzivia Appleman graduated from the HANC High School class of 2017. She spent the following year studying in Israel at MMY and is currently in its Shana Bet program. Afterwards, she will be attending NYU. Tzivia is from Plainview, New York and is the former Regional President of New York NCSY. She's a passionate Jew who loves to write and take down the stigma!
Tzivia Appleman
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The following is a piece from the Refuat Hanefesh column “Struggling Together: Mental Health in The Torah”. In this column, Tzivia Appleman draws on her time studying in Israel, as well as her passion for enhancing society’s mental health views, to propose ways we can understand the emotional state and struggles of the characters and leaders of Read More …

Tzivia Appleman
Tzivia Appleman
Tzivia Appleman graduated from the HANC High School class of 2017. She spent the following year studying in Israel at MMY and is currently in its Shana Bet program. Afterwards, she will be attending NYU. Tzivia is from Plainview, New York and is the former Regional President of New York NCSY. She's a passionate Jew who loves to write and take down the stigma!
Tzivia Appleman
Latest posts by Tzivia Appleman (see all)

The following is the introduction to a Refuat Hanefesh column “Struggling Together: Mental Health in The Torah”. In this column, Tzivia Appleman draws on her time studying in Israel, as well as her passion for enhancing society’s mental health views, to propose ways we can understand the emotional state and struggles of the characters and leaders Read More …

How do we avoid getting dragged into the same arguments every year at the Seder? How do we not take offense to the same annoying joke made at our expense each year?

Tzivia Appleman
Tzivia Appleman
Tzivia Appleman graduated from the HANC High School class of 2017. She spent the following year studying in Israel at MMY and is currently in its Shana Bet program. Afterwards, she will be attending NYU. Tzivia is from Plainview, New York and is the former Regional President of New York NCSY. She's a passionate Jew who loves to write and take down the stigma!
Tzivia Appleman
Latest posts by Tzivia Appleman (see all)

Akeidat Yitzchak is commonly categorized as the epitome of the Jewish faith. As the story famously goes, Avraham was told to sacrifice his son, even though paganism clearly goes against monotheistic logic. The confusion strengthens as this was Avraham’s own son, which not only goes against his moral values, but also his personal emotions. By Read More …

Avi Gordon, PsyD
Avi Gordon, PsyD
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
Avi Gordon, PsyD
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  This week’s Torah portion (Chayei Sara) begins with “And this was the life of Sara, she lived…” and continues to explore some relevant details of Sara’s life. Commentators explain that this introduction to the new section of the Torah immediately follows Avraham’s attempt to sacrifice Yitzchak discussed in the previous Torah portion. Sara died Read More …

A sobering look at the life-changing effects parents can have on their children’s success even in the most hopeless situations.

It’s the season of guilt for past misdeeds with the day of atonement quickly approaching. But, is this actually helpful for repentance?

Ariel Mintz, MD
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Ariel Mintz, MD
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.
Ariel Mintz, MD
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This week’s Torah portion (Ki Teitzei), encourages us to not turn a blind eye towards the loss or destruction of another person’s possessions, even if that person is not a friend. Rather, one should act assertively to help save or recover those valuables. The Talmud extends this principle further to include saving one’s life.   Read More …

An unorthodox approach from Rabbi Breslov and the Torah’s teachings as to how to imbue yourself with empathy towards other people