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The minyan as a psychological support system

S Scheidlinger¹

¹Albert Einstein College of Medicine, N.Y., USA.

Psychoanalytic Review

|August 1, 1997

Summary

The Jewish minyan, a weekly prayer group, offers significant psychological support, combating loneliness and bolstering self-esteem. This communal ritual provides mental health benefits, especially during life stressors like grief, and fosters a sense of continuity and meaning.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Sociology
Religious Studies

Background:

Religious institutions provide vital support for developmental changes and personal growth.
The minyan, a Jewish weekly prayer group, is examined for its non-liturgical psychological dimensions.
Traditional Western emphasis on individualism is shifting towards communalism and cooperation.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the psychological support system and small group dynamics of the minyan.
To understand the minyan's role in maintaining personal identity and self-esteem.
To examine the minyan's preventive and restitutive mental health functions, particularly during grief.

Main Methods:

Psychoanalytic principles and general psychology as a theoretical background.
Analysis of the minyan as a small group and psychological support system.
Exploration of the minyan's non-liturgical, interpersonal functions.

Main Results:

The minyan gratifies affiliative needs, counters loneliness, and enhances self-esteem.
It provides crucial mental health support, acting preventively and restoratively during life stressors.
The minyan may symbolize a nurturing mother group, fulfilling a universal need for psychological union.

Conclusions:

The minyan serves as a vital psychological support system, offering community and meaning.
Its ritualistic structure aids in managing life stressors and grief, promoting mental well-being.
The minyan exemplifies communal values, anticipating a societal shift towards cooperation and altruism.

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