Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman is an Assistant Professor of Jewish Education at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and an adjunct professor at YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. He graduated Yeshiva University with a BA in psychology, an MS in Jewish Education from Azrieli and Rabbinic Ordination from RIETS, before attending St. John’s University for his doctorate in psychology. Rabbi Dr. Schiffman has been on the rabbinic staff of Kingsway Jewish Center in Brooklyn, NY for close to a decade. He maintains a private practice where he utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help clients manage their thoughts, emotions and behaviors to be more aligned with their life goals. His weekly dvar Torah, which combines ideas from the Parsha with concepts from the field of Psychology, is published in the Jewish Press and on his website www.PsychedForTorah.com.
Sample Titles
TORAH & PSYCHOLOGY: MORE THEORETICAL THAN PRACTICAL
Is it All in your Mind? Head vs. Heart in Jewish Thought
Demons or Drives? Different Models of the Yetzer Hara
Sinai vs. Oker Harim: Different Approaches to Intelligence in Chazal
IQ, Grit and Talmud Torah
The Upside of Your Dark Side: Encouraging Bad Middot
The Power of Negative Emotions
The Different Paths to Happiness
Born to Be Wild? Different Perspectives on Human Nature
Resilience in the Face of Failure
Humility: An Essential & Dangerous Trait
Motivation for Mitzvot: Does it Really Matter?
Women in Tanach and Their Significance for Boys’ Education
The Challenge of Technology: Torah and Psychological Perspectives
Who’s in Charge of My Emotions? Hashkafic Ramifications of the Chiyuv Boshet
Chazal’s Approach to Humor: A Precursor to Modern Psychological Thought
Empathy: Essential & Dangerous
The Psychology of Chesed
Dreams: Meaningful or Meaningless?
Emotional Intelligence in Jewish Law and Thought
As a Man Thinketh: The Role of Thought in Religion and Mental Health
Priming for G-d: The Importance of God Consciousness
Shleimut and the Pursuit of Perfection
The Disconnect between Moral Thought and Behavior and How to Fix it
The Benefits, Challenges, and Detriments of Forgiveness: Jewish and Psychological Perspectives
Grateful Living: Torah and Psychological Approaches
Hergel: The Power of Habit
The Stages of Change and their Importance for the Yamim Noraim
TORAH & PSYCHOLOGY: MORE PRACTICAL THAN THEORETICAL
A Skeptics Guide to Shalom Bayis
Sleep Hygiene: The Key to Religious and Psychological Health
Educating our Children and Ourselves about Alcohol Use
Anger Management: Religious & Therapeutic Approaches
Stress and Anxiety Management
Conquering Procrastination and Boosting Productivity
Healthy Eating: From the Rambam to Judith Beck
Fostering a Healthy Relationship with Money
Battling Low Self-Esteem: A Radical Approach
From Apples to Marshmallows: Self-Control Failures and How to Fix Them
The Biggest Challenge in Parenting
Cognitive Behavioral Teshuva
The Rambam’s Therapeutic Guide to Assertiveness Training