Michael Mantell

Dr. Michael Mantell

Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. is a retired psychologist, best-selling author, international speaker, and a highly sought after cognitive behavioral coach whose actionable, valuable and practical work has been featured on Fox News, ABC-TV, NBC-TV, CBS-TV, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post. He has been teaching how Torah’s wisdom can lead to optimal living for many decades. You can follow him on Facebook and in other social media, where he has posted the #MantellDaily5 everyday for years.

His books, available on Amazon, include:

Parashat Ki Tisa and Parah: Do You Count Time, Or Make Time Count? 

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — What do you do when you feel vulnerable, defenseless, in danger? Like the Israelites in this week’s Torah reading, perhaps you find that your neck stiffens as you shift into an alarm reaction. Life was good when just a short while ago, the Israelites felt the presence […]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Tetzaveh, Shabbat Zachor: What Ornate Garments Teach Us About Humility

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Sixty-one years ago, when I became a bar mitzvah, I read this parasha, Tetzaveh, at Temple B’nai Abraham in Newark, N.J., under the watchful eye and heart of Rabbi Joachim Prinz. I recall the rabbi telling me how relevant the parasha was to me, since I enjoyed

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Mishpatim, Shabbat Shekalim: Leading a Life of True Religion

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In the words of Louis Nizer, the noted Jewish-American trial lawyer author, artist, and advisor to some of the most powerful people in the world of politics, business, and entertainment, “True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess.” In this week’s readings, we are

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Yitro: The Importance of ‘Do Not Covet’

Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha, Yitro, one of the six portions named for an individual, the Ten Commandments (not suggestions), the Aseret HaDib’rot, are revealed to Moses and to the Israelites in the wilderness. We may learn from this pinnacle experience that the Torah can be learned anywhere, even

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Bo: Overcoming Your Fears

When Hashem directs Moses, “come to Pharaoh,” He is saying “come to Me.” The Ba’al Shem Tov teaches in a parable that He is saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am here behind the screen. All the tests are just from me. With everything you do, you’re getting closer to Me. I am the good found in all the struggle. Come to Me and I will take you high above the darkness of this world, and then I will show you how I was really with you the whole time.” In essence he is suggesting the famous FEAR acronym “Face Everything and Rise,” rather than “Forget Everything and Run.” [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Va’eira: Facing Life’s Challenges

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Oy gevalt! Evictions, pleading to “let My people go,” magic staffs, plagues, hardened hearts…read all this and enjoy a peaceful Shabbat? By now we’ve learned that whatever happens in our lives always happens for our benefits. Let’s look at the lessons in this week’s Torah reading, the 14th

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Miketz and Chanukah: A Story of Resilience and Hope

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Miketz, comes on Chanukah and on Rosh Chodesh Tevet. Yet, Chanukah isn’t mentioned even once in all of our Torah. Recall that in last week’s parasha, Vayeishev, Joseph was thrown into a pit. Joseph prayed and Hashem answered his prayers. This week, we read

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Vayeishev: Man Thinks, God Winks

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — You’ve heard it many times, “Man plans, G-d laughs.” Or perhaps, like me, you’ve heard this version, “Mentsch tracht, Gott lacht.” I like “Man thinks, G-d Winks.” Regardless, like all of us who prefer to live without being mutchet or tcheppeht, (pressured or bothered), Jacob found that life has

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Vayeitzei: How to Strengthen Our Character Beyond Gratitude

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — “Thank you.” Here’s a question for you. Who’s the first person to have brought these words, “Thank you” to us Yehudim? Right! That’d be the mother of Yehuda (from the word hoda’ah), none other than Leah. When’s the last time you expressed genuine, heartfelt gratitude and shown

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell