Sacred Psychoanalysis - etheses Repository - University of ...

Cohen and Gereboff provide a detailed overview of the tensions raised by Orthodox
Judaism to psychoanalysis, before assessing the contributions of Rabinowitz and Spero that
offer a way forward through dialogue and reconciliation (Cohen and Gereboff 2004).
Other creative forms of engaging psychoanalysis and Judaism in conversation have been
developed. Merkur suggests that Hasidic influences can clearly be seen in psychoanalysis
through the influence of Jacob Freud on his son. He does not however claim that
psychoanalysis is a special form of Jewish religion (Merkur 1997). 270 Bakan’s more recent
work focuses on the links between Maimonides and Freud, finding analogous discourses
(Bakan 1997) helpfully examined by Frosh (Frosh 2006). Along with Aron, they see a vital
part of Freud’s Jewish legacy is found in the central role played by interpretation (Aron
2004). Ostow offers a reflective stance that finds parallels between psychoanalysis
emerging out of a Jewish cultic context from its early days, into a world-view that embraces
all through the use of interpretation, the place of marginality, and its location at the interface
of disciplines and cultures (Ostow 1982/1997). In his last work Ostow synthesizes Jewish
and Christian religious traditions, psychoanalytic developmental theory, mystical and
spiritual experiences and neuroscience, indicating that all have a valid role in understanding
and helping the human condition. This includes an insightful examination of demonic
spirituality, a demonic God and fundamentalism (Ostow 2007).
Cushman combines a new interpretation of Midrash texts, hermeneutics and relational
psychoanalytic perspectives to engage with issues of fundamentalism (Cushman 2007).
270 ‘In Hasidism the accidental happenings of everyday life may be treated as miracles whose symbolic
interpretations disclose divine revelations’ (Merkur 1997: 17). Hasidic Judaism is an important influence for
Eigen.
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