Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

September 15th, 2017

Our class was not all that receptive to him.  He taught us during an era in which the entertainment world placed a premium on being “cool”.  He was anything but cool. He wore his feelings – even the uncomfortable ones, like sadness and apprehension – on his sleeve.  He wasn’t anti-establishment.  He couldn’t afford to be.  As Menahel, he was part of the establishment.    Our c …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

August 25th, 2017

One lived during what could have been the best of times; the other lived through what was undoubtedly the worst of times.  One blighted the religious life of a young student, in what had been the spring of his hope; the other cast brightness on the life of a young refugee, in the winter of her despair.       Clive Hazell, professor extraordinaire, at the graduate school I attended, spoke with a delicious English accent.  …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

May 3rd, 2020

I can’t be boxed in. I may show attraction or revulsion. I broadcast power, alongside of vulnerability. I contribute, in equal measure, to comfort and tension. I am handmaiden of acceptance, but also weapon of disapproval. I can express submission or defiance, respect or disdain, connection or detachment. I am bright, when golden; dark, when guarding secrets of the grave. I am fence around wisdom, yet marker of incapacity. I accompany heart …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

February 10th, 2019

Around this time of year, we read, in Parshas TeTzaveh, G-d's instructions to Moshe, regarding the construction of the Mizbe’ach HaKetores.  In and of itself, the passage of the Mizbeach in unremarkable. What is surprising, though, is the timing and placement of this commandment.    G-d had, in the previous week’s reading, instructed Moshe to build the other Keilim that populated the Mishkan.  G-d also instructed M …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

December 16th, 2016

A few days ago, my youngest son celebrated his Bo Ba’yom – that is the very day of his becoming Bar Mitzvah.  His mother and I braved sub-zero wind chills, showed up at the Yeshiva he attends and joined him, his classmates and his Rebbeim.  There was a modest spread waiting for us.     One Rebbi asked me if I was planning to speak.  I noted that the printed protocol for these celebrations made no mention of pa …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

July 13th, 2017

This is for anyone who is about to become or who has recently become Bar Mitzvah.  Mazal Tov!  You are now an adult…well sort of.   You see, you may be counted toward a Minyan, you can read from the Torah and you can lead the Tefilot.  On the other hand, you can’t yet sell the family farm, or house, or any land for that matter.  You are also not yet fully a Bar Onshin.  This means that you will not …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

July 20th, 2017

(In our first post, we started a conversation about the ways that you are leaving childhood behind, and that you are now thinking in more grown up ways.)   There are more factors that are broadening your horizons.  Your body, has either already started or will soon start to grow rapidly.  Your hips may get thinner and your shoulders will get broader.  Yet other changes will occur.  You will likely become interested in peo …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

July 28th, 2017

(In our last post, we began to discuss the importance of connecting.   There was an understanding that we would not go into specifics, until – this – the next post. What follows is a conversation about connecting with Hashem.)   Whether you understand the story of Bereishit in its most literal sense – that everything started a little more than 5775 years ago – or whether you believe in things like the Big Ba …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

August 6th, 2017

 (This is the last post of the series.  It continues our conversation about being connected and it then it summarizes.)   Choosing connectedness also means identifying who your friends are and forging potentially lifelong relationships with them.  Choose friends who are wholesome, who are supportive of you and your growth and to whom you enjoy giving.    Invest in these friendships.  I’m speaking less abou …
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Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.

November 13th, 2016

Let's study some Torah verses that are read right around this time of year.  We would be doing so, with an eye for uncovering the nuggets of wisdom – psychological or otherwise – that lie immediately beneath the surface of the text.    Avraham has just sent away, Yishma’el, his eldest son.  Sarah had ordered that he be driven away and G-d had endorsed the plan.  Hagar, Yishmael’s mother leaves with …
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