עברית
Faith
Manic Depression in Jewish Thought
Question
Hello, esteemed Rabbi. I wanted to ask about a person who suffers from a mental illness called manic depression. He experiences periods of great elevation, immense joy, and closeness to Hashem, and there are periods of decline... I wanted to ask several questions regarding this condition: There is a feeling of lack of concentration, and when hearing news or politics, the patient almost doesn’t understand anything; the words go over his head, and sometimes it is hard for him to express himself. Is a person who suffers from this illness culpable, since there is no suffering without sin...? Additionally, can a person recover from this condition? And lastly, what does this illness say about the person: is he righteous, wicked, a servant of Hashem? What must he rectify, etc.? I would appreciate a detailed response. Thank you very much.
Answer
Peace and blessings,
I did not fully understand the question. I will write what seems to me to answer the inquiries.
There are no sufferings without sin; anyone who endures any suffering, this comes to atone for sin—not sin at the time of the illness, but for prior sins, and it may even relate to previous transmigrations of the soul.
At the time of illness, when the person lacks clear awareness, he is exempt from all commandments. When he is in a good state, he definitely can pray and undertake to strengthen himself in certain matters which, with Hashem’s help, add merits to the person, and through this merit he can be completely healed.
Success,
Binyamin Shmueli
