Being and Becoming

Everyone wants to know how to raise children. How to teach them. How to advise parents. How to develop teachers. How to understand the art of rearing children, creating stable families, coping with problems -- and even better, avoiding them. The list goes on and on, of course.

In short, everyone needs to know how to deal with issues so delicate and nuanced that only the wisest of counselors will do. This book distills the wisdom and experience of just such a person.

Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Mermelstein is an educator’s educator and a therapist’s therapist. He has had a long and distinguished -- and successful -- career in both professions. He has been a veteran day school and yeshivah principal, followed by many years as a psychologist. The reason for his success? He combines learning, perception, sensitivity, a sense of humor, and the ability to diagnose problems and articulate solutions. He is not doctrinaire; he knows that there are many good ways to deal with children; the trick is to know which way is right for which child, which family, and which situation.

Over the decades of his career, Rabbi Dr. Mermelstein has written prolifically on the topics of his craft, especially the Torah view of mental health and how to strengthen it. In this volume, he collects and updates his many writings. He pulls no punches. The honesty he brought to the classroom and the office are here. His understanding of people and practicality of advice are on every page. He analyzes situations and gives practical solutions -- and that is an important part of his importance to all of us.

This is truly a windfall for anyone who deals with human beings and wants to do it well. It is a valuable contribution to child-rearing and the process of education.