Ecstatic expeditions: Fischl Schneersohn's "science of man" between modern psychology and Jewish mysticism.
Transcultural psychiatry December 1, 2020 David Freis 2 citations
Fischl Schneersohn, a descendant of a Chabad dynasty, developed a 'science of man' that blended Chassidic mysticism with modern psychology into a unique psychotherapeutic approach. His upbringing in the Chabad movement and experiences across Russia, Germany, Poland, the United States, and Palestine shaped his work. Schneersohn's main text, Studies in Psycho-Expedition, universalized and secularized Kabbalistic elements, centering on a universal human need for spiritual ecstasy to treat mental disorders, neuroses, and nervousness. The article argues that this forgotten approach illuminates historical connections between religion and the psy-disciplines and informs debates on spirituality's role in psychotherapy.