There I was in a shul, ma'ariv had approached and we had started shema. I said it as any normal person would say it. The guy a few seats next to me was a different story; he was going at the shema for approximately 10 minutes, as the books title, he was praying with fire. I was in middle of ending my shemonah esray, when this guy finished his shema. I didn't need to be a doctor to diagnose this guy, he has Shema OCD. He didn't just need to say every word once, but 7 or 8 times. I don't understand why one would have such a behavior? Does this guy know some sort of kabbalistic segulah, or something, that says to repeat every word of shema till you've had enough? Do you have any clue what it is, or is it just the symptoms of Shema OCD? I know I have been going on and on about OCD and Jews, but maybe its really true.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
DO YOU HAVE SHEMA OCD?
Thought of by Mikeinmidwood at 10:46 PM
Labels: Frummies, Jewish Practices, Jewish terms, Jews, Mike, Observations, Personalities, Stories, weird
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17 people gave their 2 cents:
According to some psychiatrist, whose lecture on OCD I've attended, OCD is somewhat more prevalent in religious Jewish community and may disguise itself as dikduk hamitzvot...
Sally- Any challenge that Hashem gives us can be used for the positive. You can look at it as disguising itself as dikduk hamitzvot or you can look at it as channeling OCD in a positive application.
re Shema OCD- I can definitely imagine what your talking about. Sometimes I say a word and Im not sure if I pronounced it right and I say it again. But 7-8 times? wow!
Sally Hazel
I thought I was onto something.
David
Yeah 7 or 8 is OCD, not dikduk hamitzvot
David - channeling OCD traits in a positive application is commendable. However, when someone cannot complete a mitzva/function because s/he can't get the mitzva 'just right' is dysfunctional...
Sally Hazel
Ooh, another backing statment, Im on a roll.
We learned about this in school, and I had to admit that I've never said a shma properly in my life, and have to repeat a life times worth of shma's....
definitly not ocd, but don't be lax
How about OCD natilas yadaim.
How about OCD" did I eat 'nuff cholent" ?
Altie
One time you can be yotze with, not needed excessive amounts.
Moshe
Have seen that.
Jacob Da Jew
Have yet to see that, but have heard stories of downing bowls in seconds.
I'm a chronic sufferer of l'chaim OCD.
Moshe
You suffer from it, and I enjoy it.
Actually Sally, the research on the subject does not show significantly more prevalence.
Rather in religious communities (jews, muslims, etc...)
OCD will manifest itself in religious activities, not more prevalent. (i wrote a research paper on the subject)
However, what MIM experienced is sadly OCD, and coincidentally not according to Halacha
Harryer Than Them All
I didnt experience it, I saw it happen, there is a difference.
just a btw, why do you like the pop up comment thing? why not embed it? (would make life easier for me)and perhaps would give you more hits.
Any case, could be the guy was being very emotional, maybe he just ran into a near death experience and felt moved to daven to Hashem with Kavannah and spend time on every word.
They say by repeating words a bunch of times it will go into your head, maybe he was trying to hypnotize himself to believe "Hashem Echad..."
No, I've seen this too, specially by BTs.
I tried embedded but the comment system shuts down and its impossible to comment, so I stopped.
That's a shame...maybe you were using IE at that time :-p
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