Rabbi: my struggle with mental health

A leading rabbi has spoken of a daily battle against mental illness.

Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, of Finchley Reform Synagogue, said: "I know myself what it is to be bundled into a police van handcuffed behind my back and driven for hours looking for a mental hospital to admit me. I have suffered all my life with bipolar disorder."

He was speaking at the launch of Tzelem, the first Jewish cross-denominational campaign group for social and economic justice in the UK.

Guests at the event, which was hosted in Parliament by Commons Speaker John Berkow, discussed strategies to tackle issues such as child poverty, mental health, and homelessness.

Over 60 rabbis, along with MPs Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman heard Rabbi Newman tell them that a stigma still surrounded mental illness. He said: "Those of us who know what it is must speak out. All the indications in our society show the incidents of mental ill health are rising. One in four people will encounter a mental health problem in the course of a year. Some people have to wait up to year in unimaginable stress to receive some form of help.

"I hope we can fight to remove the stigma the same way we do with physical and visible disabilities."

Mr Bercow was visibly moved. He said: "I have known Jeffrey Newman for over 40 years. I've always admired him. He was a wonderful rabbi, deeply learned, thoroughly compassionate.

"By campaigning for social justice you are asserting a rich and valued tradition within the Jewish community."

The new group plans to run three campaigns a year.

Reform Rabbi Jonathan Romain from Maidenhead proposed a law to override current legislation on food and data protection in order to make donations to the homeless easier.