Victor Cohen
There are moments in life when the weight of pain or confusion becomes too much to carry alone, when the silent suffering becomes too much to bear. In those moments, therapy can be a lifeline – a source of clarity, hope, and healing. For countless individuals – especially teenagers – it can mean the difference between barely surviving and truly thriving, sometimes, even life and death.
Approximately 20 percent of teenagers suffer from a mental health disorder each year. Anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and behavioral/conduct problems are common challenges throughout adolescence. Emotional turmoil in teenagers often lasts beyond the moment, influencing their self-perception and relationships well into adulthood. Without appropriate support, many struggle to reach their potential, and often, untreated issues perpetuate a cycle of dysfunction that may affect future generations. Addressing mental health challenges early can prevent them from becoming deeply embedded in a young person’s identity and psychological makeup.
The emotional toll is rarely limited to the individual alone. Families often suffer alongside their child, grappling with uncertainty, stress, and heartbreak. While the need for intervention is urgent, the cost of quality mental health care is often staggering, far beyond what the average family can bear. Parents are left facing impossible choices: seek care they cannot afford, or watch their child continue to struggle without support. It is a tragic reality that, all too often, financial hardship stands in the way of healing.
That’s where Ezer LeNefesh steps in. This remarkable organization specializes in providing access to high-quality mental health care for teenage boys and girls whose families cannot afford it. Working hand-in-hand with schools and families, Ezer LeNefesh subsidizes interventions for teenagers to overcome their mental health challenges and reclaim their emotional well-being. With a network spanning over 700 schools and an astounding 80 percent success rate, the organization’s impact is as widespread as it is profound.
An Origin Rooted in Compassion and Vision
Founded in 2011 by Rabbi Chaim Epstein, zt”l, Ezer LeNefesh emerged from a deep recognition of a growing need. Rabbi Epstein, a respected figure in the Ashkenazic community and a close student of Rav Aaron Kotler, was renowned for his profound insights into emotional health. He observed that while therapy had the power to change lives, many families simply couldn’t afford it, and even when they could, there was little accountability for outcomes.
Determined to change this reality, Rabbi Epstein launched what can be likened to a “megafund” to subsidize high-quality mental health care for families in need, while implementing a system of accountability to ensure meaningful outcomes.
The initiative began with a fundraiser hosted in the office of philanthropist Ralph Herzka and quickly gained support from prominent rabbinic and communal leaders, including Rav Elya Brudny, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, the Novominsker Rebbe, zt”l,Rav Avrohom Ausbaund, zt”l, and many others. The mission was clear: save teenagers, save families, and ultimately, generations to come. Since then, the organization has gone on to help nearly 5,000 students access the support they need. Today, Ezer LeNefesh subsidizes an average of 100 therapy sessions every day.
How the Model Works – Efficiency and Oversight
What truly sets Ezer LeNefesh apart is its operational model. With a lean team of just four staff members operating on an annual budget of $4.3 million, the organization functions with remarkable efficiency. This is made possible through strategic partnerships with schools, where existing faculty members act as case managers for the teenagers in therapy. These mentors – principals, rabbis, or teachers – stay in regular contact with the student, ensuring progress and providing vital oversight.
This model eliminates the need for a large in-house staff while maximizing the reach and quality of care. Each student’s identity remains confidential, and all data is carefully anonymized. The case is carefully reviewed, maintaining both discretion and accountability.
Every case at Ezer LeNefesh undergoes a thorough review process, which includes evaluating the family’s financial situation and verifying the therapist’s qualifications. While the organization does not provide direct referrals, it maintains close relationships with respected referral networks, such as Relief Resources and SIMHA Health, to help ensure that therapists treating subsidized students are competent and appropriate for the presenting issues. In addition, Ezer LeNefesh draws on the guidance of a wide network of trusted clinicians who regularly consult on complex cases. This due diligence ensures that the care being subsidized meets the highest standards and that every dollar invested delivers a meaningful, lasting impact.
Regular follow-ups with parents, school faculty members, and case managers ensure that therapy is not just happening but that it’s working. If a student shows little improvement, Ezer LeNefesh doesn’t hesitate to reevaluate the treatment plan and pivot if necessary. This system of built-in oversight has driven the organization’s 80 percent success rate, with therapy durations generally ranging from two months to fourteen months, depending on individual needs.
Expanding into the Sephardic Community
I had the privilege of speaking with Jack Mizrahi, Director of the Sephardic Division and a key member of the leadership team, to gain an understanding of how this life-saving initiative is being brought to our community.
Jack Mizrahi spent his formative years attending Magen David Yeshivah, followed by a final year of high school at Yeshivat Shaare Torah. He continued his learning in several different yeshivot, including Mikdash Melech in Jerusalem, Sephardic Torah Center of Long Branch, and Yeshivat Ateret Torah. After marrying at age 22, he began tutoring boys in local community schools, where his natural rapport with children led to broader involvement with at-risk youth. It was during this time that his commitment to mental health advocacy began to take shape, as he recognized the urgent and often unmet emotional needs of the teenagers he worked with.
One pivotal encounter solidified this calling. While learning at night in Yeshiva, Jack befriended a younger boy who came nightly to study. Over time, he noticed the boy’s pronounced social discomfort and persistent anxiety about how others perceived him. Ultimately, the teenager revealed struggles with mental health and a significant history of trauma. Jack took immediate action to ensure the boy received the necessary care.
To his surprise, he discovered that Ezer LeNefesh had been quietly subsidizing thousands of dollars in therapy costs. Over the course of treatment, the boy made substantial progress – his anxiety became more manageable, his social interactions improved, and he began to function more effectively both at home and in school. While some challenges remained, the therapy clearly altered his trajectory and demonstrated the critical impact of accessible care. Witnessing firsthand how financial hardship could be the primary barrier to care, Jack became increasingly involved with the organization. He saw the silent suffering of many teenage boys and girls in the community and recognized that emotional healing could not wait for financial stability.
Driven by this conviction and with the encouragement of his Rabbis, he pursued advanced clinical training, completing rotations in some of New York’s top hospitals and psychiatric facilities, including Northwell Zucker Hillside Hospital, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, and currently, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. As he completes his doctorate, he looks forward to bringing his expertise back to the community that inspired his journey.
Sephardic Division
As Jack became more deeply involved with Ezer LeNefesh, he identified a pressing need: the Sephardic community required a tailored approach that honored its distinct cultural norms, values, and sensitivities. Recognizing that effective mental health care must be culturally attuned, he established the Sephardic Division in November 2021 to bridge that gap.
The Sephardic Division’s inaugural event was hosted at the home of Eddie and Ceryse Mizrahi in May 2022 and has since become an annual gathering. These events have brought together leading psychologists, rabbinic voices, and mental health advocates – including Dr. David Rosmarin, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi David Sutton, Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman, and Rabbi Avremi Zippel – united in their commitment to teen emotional health. Under Jack’s leadership, the division has grown rapidly. They have partnered with over 36 Sephardic schools across the country, with the vast majority of cases concentrated in New York and New Jersey. To date, it has facilitated over 11,500 therapy sessions and provided critical care to more than 200 teenage boys and girls from our community.
A Brighter Future Through Healing
Ezer LeNefesh’s success is not just measured by numbers – it’s in the lives reclaimed, in teenagers restored to joy and stability, and in families brought back from the brink. Their model is as effective as it is compassionate, combining emotional sensitivity with professional excellence.
In a world that often overlooks or misunderstands mental health, especially among teenagers, Ezer LeNefesh is not just filling a gap – it’s building a bridge. A bridge from pain to healing, from silence to support, from fear to hope for the future. Ezer LeNefesh’s impact continues to grow – but so does the need. Your support can make a significant difference in a teenager’s life, providing them with access to care that fosters healing, resilience, and hope. To learn more about donation opportunities, please contact Jack Mizrahi at jmizrahi@thekeren.com.
“Mental illness is like cancer of the soul, the only difference being that when someone is sick with cancer, people organize Tehillim chats and reach out to support them, but with mental illness, that is rarely the case.” – Eddie Mizrahi
“I know firsthand… the community really has to understand that if they help this organization, they are helping our own people.” – Danny Srour
“I’ve known personally children that went for intense help through Ezer LeNefesh who today are married and running successful homes. Ezer LeNefesh success is what they are creating for years to come.” – Rabbi David Ozeri
“I know an almana that came to us recently [before Pesach]… children have trauma, three of the children need therapy… [the community] paid for her clothing and food, but who’s paying for their therapist…that’s where Ezer LeNefesh comes in.” – Rabbi David Sutton
“If we support Ezer LeNefesh, there’ll be hundreds of homes in our community that will be strong in years to come because they got the little support they needed at its most critical moment.” – Rabbi Joey Haber
Q&A with Rabbi Moses Haber, LCSW
Rabbi Moses Haber, LCSW, a licensed psychotherapist in NY and NJ, is the founder of Makor, an addiction recovery center that integrates Torah-based spirituality with evidence-based therapy. He also offers private therapy to men struggling with anxiety, OCD, financial and relationship stress, and unhealthy coping behaviors.
Contact:RabbiMosesHaber@gmail.com | 718-564-9345
Q: What are the common issues you see people in the community struggling with?
Teenagers and young men often turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms – like vaping, marijuana, or doom-scrolling – in response to stress, anxiety, financial insecurity, career pressure, shifting life goals, and the prospect of getting married. These struggles are often rooted in low self-esteem and lack of identity, leading to “future-tripping,” or paralyzing worry about life’s direction.
Common coping behaviors include substance use, gambling, inappropriate online content, and illicit relationships. While not always addictive, these often mask deeper, untreated mental health issues. Misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment often has adverse results.
Q: What are some practical tips you would give people who are grappling with those issues?
Having a Rabbi who is educated in mental health concepts can have a meaningful impact, especially since Rabbis are often the first person someone turns to in a crisis. I have found that when a Rabbi and a therapist work in partnership to support the client, the results are very promising.
There’s no shame in seeking help. Thankfully, more people in our community are beginning to recognize the value of therapy, but it may take some time to find a therapist whose style suits them. You may need to “date” a few therapists before finding the right fit. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all – some therapists focus on healing past trauma, others help clients stay grounded in the present, and some guide future planning.
Q: How has Ezer LeNefesh impacted your work?
Therapy can be costly and hard to access. Many of my clients wouldn’t be able to afford care without the help of Ezer LeNefesh. Their support has enabled people to access life-changing—and in some cases, life-saving – treatment for themselves and their relationships.
Q: What is it like working with Ezer LeNefesh? My experience has been excellent. The process is simple, communication is clear, and payment is prompt. Most importantly, client confidentiality is always respected.
Q&A with Sonny Cohen, LCSW
Sonny Cohen, LCSW, is an OCD and anxiety specialist in private practice in Brooklyn. Most recently, he led an OCD clinical consultation group for therapists at Sephardic Bikur Holim. He can be reached at sonnytherapy@gmail.com
Q: What are the common issues you see people in the community struggling with?
As an OCD specialist, some of the most common challenges I see are difficulties with scrupulosity, or Religious OCD, which typically involves compulsive behaviors in performing mitzvot. I also work with forms of OCD that are less visible, where the compulsion is more mental, like a relentless game of inner ping-pong.
The work in helping clients get better involves psychoeducation: learning to identify how the obsessive-compulsive cycle develops and is reinforced, and how to disrupt it.
It’s gratifying to work with this population because, when left untreated, life can be extremely challenging. Yet, with Hashem’s help, proper treatment can allow the client to regain control of their life.
Q: What are some practical tips you would give people who are grappling with those issues?
The gold standard treatment for OCD is known as ERP, exposure and response prevention. First and foremost, make sure that your therapist is well-trained in ERP. OCD is unique in the respect that “normal” therapy can actually set the client back.
Secondly, educate yourself on ERP. The brain learns what to fear through experience. Exposures are about challenging ourselves by seeking out the very situations that trigger us. They teach the brain, through new experiences, that feeling not OK is actually OK.
Lastly, open up selectively to others who can empathize with you. Allowing others into our lives helps us feel understood, accepted, and supported, relieving the shame that often accompanies OCD.
Q: How has Ezer LeNefesh impacted your work?
Ezer LeNefesh has been an irreplaceable partner for both my clients and me. It’s no secret that psychotherapy is costly and often ongoing, putting it out of reach for many struggling families. That’s where the Ezer LeNefesh steps in – seamlessly assisting clients’ families by funding a large share of each session.
Q: What is it like working with Ezer LeNefesh? A pleasure. Their onboarding process for clients is quick and easy. Likewise, for me, the billing is painless; they pay their portion promptly, often the same day I invoice.