Nafshi BiShe'elati: The Halakhot of Mental Health

By Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig & Dr. Shmuel Harris

In a world where mental health challenges affect countless individuals, the Torah-observant community is beginning to engage more deeply with these critical issues. In Nafshi Beshe’elati, Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig and Dr. Shmuel Harris offer an essential and trailblazing guide for those navigating the intersection of halakha and mental health.

With a blend of halakhic insight and psychological expertise, this book addresses sensitive topics such as Shabbat observance for those living with depression or OCD, and halakhic accommodations for survivors of trauma. It provides practical guidance for individuals and their families, while also equipping halakhic decisors with the tools they need to consult on these complex matters.

One of the key goals of Nafshi Beshe’elati is to help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness within religious communities. Just as those with physical ailments receive compassion and care, this work calls for those with mental health struggles to be embraced with understanding and support, empowering them to live religious lives of dignity and connection.