I would like to point out that not all forms of meditation are Kosher.

The fact that one pays the facilitator, is by itself a very, very weak argument. One can use that for literally any paid health service. “Brushing teeth is free, getting your teeth cleaned every 6 months isn’t. That should make you think.” You can substitute that for psychotherapist, life coach, personal trainer…

The end of his article is dead wrong! While it is true that Yiddishkeit doesn’t sell us stories of perfect lives, one who is suffering should seek help. Also, the idea that Mashpiyim and Farbrengens are a form of emotional therapy is wrong, wrong, wrong!!!
They help us grow in Yiddishkeit not psychology.

One should speak to their personal Mashpia or to a Rav who actually knows what they are talking about, instead of מי שלא שמע ולא אמר לא שמעתי

Sorry i dont understand, what’s the problem with relief? Imagine applying this logic to physical medicine? No painkillers because we don’t “believe in shortcuts”.

You claim in the title that it’s rooted in avidah zarah but completely ignore that in the article itself?

The author of the article writer that breathing is free but Rashi clearly says that under stress, a person doesn’t breathe properly. You can learn from it however you wish but Rashi doesn’t agree with the author about breathing and that everyone does it the same always

In תשל”ט the Rebbe called on psychiatrists to extend their knowledge in the use of
meditation (only in a manner permitted by the Torah) in order to help thousands of Jews who need this therapy (but now become involved in
other approaches to meditation that may border on heathenism, yet, if they would know of meditation approved by the Torah, would seek it
from doctors who practice it).
[This is printed in the old Hayom Yom by Kehos on page A29 about the Rebbe’s genealogy] I don’t know why the new blue Hayom Yom didn’t include the Rebbe’s genealogy from SIE.

That’s for people who unfortunately really need it. Otherwise for the most part almost all spiritual ills can be cured by our very own holy Torah. As Rabbi Braun elaborated on so profoundly in this article. The video is at the bottom.
https://anash.org/dont-fall-for-new-age-therapies-its-all-in-chassidus/

That’s for people who unfortunately really need it. Otherwise for the most part almost all spiritual ills can be cured by our very own holy Torah. As Rabbi Braun elaborated on so profoundly in this article. The video is at the bottom.
https://anash.org/dont-fall-for-new-age-therapies-its-all-in-chassidus/

To be clear, I’m not saying breathwork doesn’t work. All I’m saying is, Rashi doesn’t say it. I don’t like it when people read their shitos into things. Have your shitos, don’t blame them on Rashi

You’re not dismissing people’s pain or the value of regulation. You’re questioning systems that quietly create dependence and replace Torah, mashpiim, and real community with paid “journeys.” That distinction is critical and often ignored.

Your perspective comes from decades of watching movements evolve, not theory. In a time when everything is repackaged as wellness, your voice is an important anchor for our community.

Thank you for your continued leadership and vigilance.

Breathwork is not endorsed. The specific people giving the modalities are endorsed. Who they learned from and where the sources of their knowledge is from.

Just because one practitioner is given a hechsher for breathwork does not mean another will receive the same hechsher.

People have been doing this for years in crown heights. Now bh there is a central place with a rav overseeing it. Thank people who see missing pieces and do something about it instead of trying to destroy them!

Rabbi Osdoba and Rabbi Braun both met extensively with Neshamos and the rav they appointed to oversee “breathwork” support groups and other modalities in the healing center. It’s not Breathwork’s that’s the problem, it’s who the practitioners learned from and where their sources are from. How does one make statements like this without speaking to the rabbanim of the community?

Secondly unfortunately it’s come to a point where we need to offer “kosher healing” because so much out there is problematic. The people fighting it are clearly not receiving the calls of pain, hopelessness, and frustration of a system that’s is not helping their situation. We are not meant to remain in challenge, we are meant to DO to over come challenge. And kosher healing is one way. Lchaim to those in pain may Moshiach come and there be no more!!

From ‘primal therapy’ of the 70’s which had you cry & scream to relive your journey through the birth canal, to hypnotherapy & new-age yoga meditation, to crystal healing, to the new breath-work craze, … the fads all come & go.

Sadly, some frum yidden (and even Chabad chassidim) jump on the bandwagon; believing the promises every new “wellness trend” offers.

Your article remind us all where the promise for growth & wellness really lies – our authentic unadulterated Torah.

They claim that “Crown Heights Rabbonim” have endorsed them. Which Rov? Which methods did he endorse? For whom?

Show it to me in writing and then I’ll believe you.

Breath work alone, has not worked for me. But when I went for therapy and coaching, this helped me heal allot.

If breath work comes as a supplement to the therapy then maybe it can be helpful. This is my experience, but everyone is different.

Breath work is not the issue.

It’s the lack of emotional health and honesty that unfortunately exists in so many frum families.

Instead of finding problems with potentially problematic ways of healing trauma, why not focus on addressing the reason that so many people in our community have trauma in the first place?

Teach young parents how to raise children in an emotionally healthy way, and then the children won’t search for ways to heal themselves.

Bombshell….

If some basic breathing techniques help people who are suffering with anxiety and other sorts of issues, helps them let go of previous traumas and move on in life instead of being “Stuck” – Then what’s thy problem with that?

If it can change your nervous system and make you an all round better person, someone who’s more calm, more present more happy and more real, isn’t that what torah wants? – and like you said yourself, “breathing is free” and its been around since day one.

There’s nothing new about it, that should make you look at it as a cult of some sort, just better techniques on how to breath to help regulate your emotional state and make you feel better overall.

Please answer me Rabbi Shea Hecht