And bravo to people like him who follow the rebbe’s example and are not afraid to say the truth, even when it’s not popular.

It seems that those who bothered by this feel as those their precious subject has be hurt. And perhaps that’s part of the problem.

As far as the last comment. A healthy nefesh habahemis will not come from giving it goyishe ideas. It will just make it more behemi. For someone who’s not emotionally well, they may need this, but not for healthy people. And we should not be treating everyone as if they’re sick.

1. There are any number of pesukim that make a big deal of the non-Jews recognizing Hashem in a way that they don’t now. So yes, it is most certainly a chiddush.

2. Dealing with feelings and putting them in their proper place is the polar opposite of the modern “woke” idea that feelings trump everything, including actual facts of biology and so forth.

In other words, their emotions were controlled and used by their mochin. The modern idea that has seeped into our yeshivos is that feelings by themselves are paramount and trump everything else, including the evidence of one’s eyes and ears.

Focusing on them is very different than dealing with them in their proper place. The “woke” idea is that A’s feelings outweigh everything else, such as B’s right to not have to lie, and that’s flat-out wrong and destructive.

I do not want to address this article as a whole just one point.

The fact that mental health is not the ultimate solution does not in anyway preclude increased attention paid to one’s mental and emotional state.
We are taught that a yid is comprised of two nefashos – drives. To neglect and be dismissive of either of them is not the ultimate.
Just as we cannot, and rabbi Lipskier correctly points out, satisfy ourselves with addressing mental health issues without fostering a deep connection to the oibershter, we must also not satisfy ourselves with spiritual work alone. Our vessel – the body and the Nefesh habahamis as well – must be tended to in order for holiness and spirituality to rest within us in a pnimiyusdike way.

Thank you for your article. I appreciate the complexity of this topic. There are many points that resonate as truth, and only two that I feel are not accurate.
1) “Even a goy…” -This perspective is a major contributor to why yeshiva children do not have respect for secular Jews or non- Jewish teachers. It is not a chiddush that a goy recognized G-d in today’s world. It is perhaps even a function of the non-Jews while we are in Galus.

2) “Focusing on woke topics such as feelings, self-awareness, trauma, secondary trauma, personal space, etc., are a fool-hearted attempt at helping our children. These passing fads are not the ultimate solution” – This statement is not supported by Torah and Jewish teachings. Consider the many simple and deep teachings relating to how one recognizes and controls one’s feelings: Avraham (Cheses) Yitzchok (Gevurah) and Ya’akov fear of Esav. Furthermore, Moshe becoming angry, Ahron remaining silent, and Shauli’s depression. Not to mention “Do not Covet” “Lobe thy neighbor “ and did I mention love and fear of G-d himself?
Controlling feelings are the ikur- we would be remiss not to teach our children this- Au Contraire- it is a the ultimate solution.

There are countless stories of Reb Mendel, Zalman Moishe, and other great chassidim who, not only were they aware of their emotions, but they poured their hearts out by farbrengenish and in yechidus. They utilized their pain and trauma to serve der Aybishter.

All these feelings and self awareness etc are very very important for a Yiddishe neshama. Being in touch with who you are and how to treat others and how to move forward and separate trauma from Yiddishkeit so you can continue being a frum Yid without the trauma you may have gone through is super important.