Rabbinical Psychotherapy


Once upon a time there were no psychoanalysts in this world. In any
case there were the Rabbis. So, when somebody had some problems, he
went to the Rabbis. Today psychoanalysts have replaced the Rabbis,
but sometime the Rabbi is still more skillful than a psychoanalist,
as I'll strive to demonstrate.

Mr Aaron Friedmann had some problems when he wanted to sleep. So he
went to Dr. Freud's studio.

"Oh, herr Doctor, when I want to sleep, a lot of animals, tigers,
elephants, panthers and giraffes go up and down under my bed".

"This is terrible" Dr. Freud said "You have to begin a long, long
therapy".

The time goes by: one, two, three, four months. Mr Friedmann cannot
sleep. When he wants to sleep, millions of animals, panthers,
elephants, etc. go up and down under his bed. Dr Freud is deranged. He
uses every sort of therapy: hypnothism, conversation, but none help
his problem. Mr Friedmann abandons his Doctor.

The time goes by: one, two, three months, till Dr Freud sees
Mr Friedmann. "Mr Friedmann" Freud says "you are crazy! You abandoned
a therapy. This is very dangerous. Where have you gone?"

"Oh Herr Doctor, I'm so happy. I have no more problemes. I have just
got married"

"But your problems...what happened?"

"When I abandoned you, I went to Rabbi's house. I said 'o Rabbi,
I'm deranged. When I want to sleep, elephants, panthers, giraffes and
milions of animals go up and down under my bed'"

"What did the Rabbi do?"

"He touched his white shave and remained silent 'O rabbi' I said
'millions of animals go up and down under my bed when I want to sleep'.
Then the Rabbi said 'Do you know what you can do? Cut the legs of
your bed'

I have had no more problems"