Days Of Awe And Fear: Another Case In A Psychologist's Journal.

A few years ago, immediately after Rosh Hashanah, I received a call from an askan (literally translated as an "activist," but colloquially the "can-do-man" of a community or Rebbe's "court") who worked for a well-known leader of a Chareidi group. He asked if I would be able to see a grandchild of this leader and said it was an emergency.

'Do You Have A Moment To Discuss Something With Me?'

It was late in the afternoon - well, early in the evening, and my last patient had canceled. I am grateful that I love my work, but also relish those "found" hours when someone needs to cancel, and the spot is not filled. Tags: Cathexis \| Jewish Press
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Waiting To Exhale: Israel, August 2006

We see each other in the makolet (local grocery), and though we have known one another from the neighborhood for over 30 years, we just nod. We look forlorn and use our hands and eyes, as we look heavenward to express "What-can-one-do-besides-pray?" We can't talk because we are waiting to exhale. Tags: Jewish Press \| Peace
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The Happy Non-Dyslexic: Another Case In A Neuropsychologist's Journal

Avraham L. (not his real name) came in with his mother. As things have a way of happening, my previous patient took longer than expected, and I had gone into the waiting room to tell them of the delay. The waiting room is a large area that the Neuropsychology Unit (at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem) shares with Pre-Operative Clinic.

Tags: Augmentative Language Therapy | Dyslexia | Hyper-Kinetic | Jewish Press | Puppet Children

Finding A Name For A Situation

Yossi (not his real name), aged 15, underwent three ophthalmologic surgeries within one month (in another hospital in the country). The first two were for cataracts in both eyes, and the third was for a detached retina. He had general anesthetic and was in appropriate medical/psychiatric/psychological condition after the first two surgeries. Following the third surgery, Yossi had many deficits in cognitive and motor behavior (he was unable to walk or speak and showed poor/or no memory of family members).

Tags: Cognitive Dysfunction | FAS | Foreign Accent Syndrome | Jewish Press | Language Inconsistencies

Is It Better To Have Loved And Lost Than To Never Have Loved At All?

By Dr. Judith Guedalia and Chaim K.

I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it,

when I sorrow most;

Tis better to have loved and lost,

Than never to have loved, at all.

From Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem

"In Memoriam: 27", 1850

Tags: Chaim K. | Jewish Press | Love

Partnering With Hashem To Heal The Sick

The Madrich HaCharedi, a veritable goldmine, is the Yellow Pages of goods and services of the ultra-religious community here in Israel. One gets just a taste of the chesed (mercy, love, or compassion) that abounds in this community from this unique Yellow Pages. One small example is an unusual gemach (which stands for gemilut chasadim - acts of benevolence, usually used in reference to associations giving interest-free loans). This unusual gemach listing can be found under "a" or "aleph" and is the arbes gemach.

Tags: Bikur Cholim | Jewish Press

Confusing and Converting Symptoms

I had already received four different phone messages referring this child for assessment. The parents, the Talmud Torah Rebbe, and the Rav they consulted. The forth call was from an Askan (literally ‘an operator') but in the Ultra Orthodox world, the interlocutor between the ‘professional world' and the lay members of the community. Would I please see this child who has difficulty reading, possibly ‘suffering' from an odd form of Dyslexia. Okay, I thought, that isn't so unusual here, the Neuropsychology Unit I head at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. To paraphrase the words of the Hagada, ‘why is this dyslexic different than all other dyslexics', which translates, what's the rush and why can't he wait for his turn on the patient ‘list'? Experience has taught me that, this many and varied a group exercising ‘Protexia' (use of ‘pull'/special treatment), connotes a case where there is more than meets the eye.

Consultation Across A Seemingly Great Divide.

There was a request from both the nurses and social workers of Pediatric Oncology, to see a patient. The patient was a 9 year old girl but the person "we REALLY need help with, is the brother!"

Tags: Jewish Press | Madressa | Neuropsychology | Pediatric Oncology

The Gift Which Was Too Expensive

By Dr. Judith Guedalia and Chaim K.

It has been a month and a half since the last time we met. Holidays and other constraints have gotten ‘in the way'. One example is the ‘gift that was too expensive'. We, outsiders, ‘civilians' in the army of WH or ‘Wanna-Helpers', don't understand the ‘price' of our help.

Tags: Chaim K. | Gifts | Hope | Jewish Press | Metuna

Collateral Damage

The term Collateral Damage is the military parlance for the damage and destruction of targets or personnel not considered as lawful; when it is used as a euphemism, it is defined as the inadvertent casualties and destruction inflicted on civilians in the course of military operations. In a ‘terrorist war' the collateral damage may not be obvious to the eye.

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Dr Judith Guedalia

"In Memoriam: 27", 1850