EP19: Ultra Orthodox

11/27/21 • 57 min

Today Dr. Death speaks with Pesach Eisen, MCH-LP, a psychotherapist and researcher focusing primarily on the intersection of religious disaffiliation and mental health. He was raised in an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish faith community, from which he departed during his 20s. In his current role at a non-profit organization called Footsteps, he offers individual and group psychotherapy to those who have left or are contemplating leaving Orthodox Jewish communities.
Both personally and professionally, he has wrestled with themes such as dignity, faith, humanity, identity, loss, meaning, morality, mortality, religion, spirituality, trauma, values, death, grief, and belief.
Pesach holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and neuroscience, as well as a Master of Arts degree in mental health counseling.
Our interview covers a lot of fascinating topics, including:

Do we really have a choice about our inherited religion if we're never taught to develop critical thinking skills or inner resources?
Can grief be managed by customs and traditions rather than allowing it to follow its natural trajectory toward healing?
Do the benefits of living in a supportive community outweigh the cost of suppressing our authentic self?
Films about Orthodox Judaism:
ONE OF USTREMBLING BEFORE G-DUNORTHODOXSHTISEL

Do we really have a choice about our inherited religion if we're never taught to develop critical thinking skills or inner resources?
Can grief be managed by customs and traditions rather than allowing it to follow its natural trajectory toward healing?
Do the benefits of living in a supportive community outweigh the cost of suppressing our authentic self?
Films about Orthodox Judaism:
ONE OF USTREMBLING BEFORE G-DUNORTHODOXSHTISEL

Previous Episode

EP 18: In the Realm of Death and Dreaming

Today we are delighted to be speaking with Johanna Lunn, director of the film In the Realm of Death & Dreaming, which is the first of four documentaries in a series entitled When You Die. In the film, Johanna asks the big question... Does consciousness continue after death, or is it lights out?

Johanna guides viewers on a personal journey to find answers by exploring stories of near death experiences, deathbed visions and mystical journeys. She also speaks with leading clinicians and researchers who have spent their careers studying these experiences and the nature of consciousness.

The documentary features: Dean Radin, PhD, Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences; Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, School of Integrative Medicine, U. of AZ; Anthony Bossis, PhD, NYU Medical Centre psilocybin trials; Penny Sartori, PhD author of The Transformative Power of Near Death Experiences; Peter Fenwick, MD, Neuropsychologist and author of The Art of Dying; Andrew Holecek, author of Preparing to Die; David Maginley, author Beyond Surviving, and others.

Johanna is an award-winning filmmaker who has worked in film and television for more than 35 years. In that time, she has helped start up a PBS station in Colorado; created a ground-breaking children’s film festival in Canada; and was Artistic Director of the Atlantic Film Festival. She was also head of CTV’s Atlantic Canadian Development Office; launched specialty channel IFC Canada; produced and directed over 150 hours of award-winning television; and directed five documentary films, one of which won Best Documentary in its class at Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival for Forgiveness: Stories for Our Time.

Watch the trailer for In the Realm of Death & Dreaming HERE.
Learn more about The Afterlife Conference HERE
SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter

Next Episode

EP 20: Thank God I'm Atheist - with Dan Beecher

Dan is one half of the brilliantly funny team that hosts the THANK GOD I'M ATHEIST podcast, which recently marked its 500th episode!
Co-host Frank Feldman wasn't available for the interview unfortunately, but Dan did a fantastic job of educating us about all things ExMo (Ex-Mormon), and the absurdities of bibical literalism, blind allegiance to faith doctrines and the "unapologetically cheesy" videos used by Mormons to convert people via Facebook.
Both Frank and Dan grew up as Mormon kids in Salt Lake City, but fled the cult-like environment as soon as they were old enough to use their critical thinking skills. Their podcast tackles the issues of the day and recasts them in an Atheist light, sharing humorous and entertaining perspectives on politics, current events, and all things religious or otherwise.
And.... Frank and Dan will be keynote speakers at our upcoming CONFERENCE ON DEATH, GRIEF AND BELIEF!

(APOLOGIES FOR SOME ROUGH SPOTS IN THE AUDIO! )