As a Harvard-trained psychiatrist who has worked with thousands of patients struggling with bipolar disorder and substance use over the course of my career, I have some thoughts on the meeting last week between Ye (Kanye West) and Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto.
First, the facts.
Mr. West has been a prolific artist/producer in the American Hip-Hop scene for well over 20 years. Per his own admission, he has struggled with substance use and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has a rap sheet of erratic behaviors in both his personal and private life and has a long history of spewing scurrilous antisemitism and pro-Nazi statements across social media and other platforms.
Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto is a well-known Israeli rabbi of Moroccan-Jewish Heritage. He is the descendant of many holy families including Rabbi Chaim Pinto and the Baba Sali, of blessed memory, and a respected authority on Kabbalah in his own right. He is respected for his mystical advice by both Jews and non-Jews alike (including celebrities such as Lebron James) and travels between America, Morocco, and Israel.
Last week, Kanye West had a meeting with Rabbi Pinto which was held via a translator. Mr. West explained that he had said many hurtful things towards the Jewish people, and that this was due to his mental health issues. He asked to “take accountability” for his actions.
Rabbi Pinto heard this and responded, “Judaism brought to the world a way for someone, when he regrets something…to fix it.” He then gave Mr. West a blessing and hugged him.
Here are my thoughts on the subject.
1. Mental illness is complex.
Mr. West has been battling a serious mental illness for years. While I cannot legally comment on the specifics of his diagnosis, I can say that Bipolar Disorder is a complex neurological condition with severe behavioral symptoms. People with Bipolar Disorder may exhibit erratic behaviors and can be abusive or dangerous during an acute state.
2. People with mental illness do recover.
With proper treatment – medications, therapy, sobriety, lifestyle changes, etc. – most individuals with mental illness will experience a significant and meaningful recovery. For many people, the biggest barrier to getting the help they need is the stigma of mental illness: a stigma which can last long after they have overcome their illness. With this in mind, I always tell my patients: “You are not your symptoms; you are so much bigger than a diagnosis.” Consequently, we should all be wary of judging people for their behaviors and speech during episodes of acute mental illness.
3. Family members and loved ones hurt too.
Mental illness is a challenge for the patient and everyone in their circle. Family members and loved ones often experience their own traumas from dealing with the acute crises of mental health. Neighbors, colleagues, and others may struggle to understand what is happening and the need for psychoeducation – where mental health professionals explain the ins-and-outs of psychiatric illness to interested parties – exists not only for patients, but for communities as a whole. When people with bipolar disorder are acting out of control, it is painful to witness and their words and actions can be quite harmful.
4. Mr. West has expressed shame.
When a person wishes to move forward in their life and to make amends for their behaviors while acutely ill, we must work hard as individuals and as a community to facilitate this. I generally encourage my patients to focus on their own recovery and to be stabilized before addressing their past. When they are ready, I am dedicated to facilitating proper discussions between them and their loved ones to repair whatever damage has been done.
This is certainly a complex process, but it is also a necessary and a meaningful one. As a psychiatrist, I hope that Mr. West will be successful in fixing his broken relationships as part of his healing journey. This most certainly involves addressing the Jewish People, who were the inappropriate target of his erratic animosity in recent years.
5. Judaism teaches the power of repentance.
We should all be inspired by individuals who are dedicated to being better people. This applies even to our worst enemies. Mr. West’s recent meeting with Rabbi Pinto should not serve as a get-out-of-jail-free-card, but in a world where actions should speak louder than words, it is an encouraging step. As Rabbi Pinto expressed, “If you can regret it, you can fix it.”
6. What real repentance might look like for Mr. West.
Last week’s meeting is an encouraging step but to ensure that this is not a public relations move, Mr. West could publicly state what steps he plans on taking to ensure that he will not repeat his mistakes from the past. He could further take steps to ensure that his prior statements are not used by others to justify their own antisemitism. Furthermore, beyond apologizing and seeking to repair the damage done, he should focus on being a positive force by taking steps to publicly fight against antisemitism and to build bridges between his community and the Jewish People. I image that Rabbi Pinto would be available to advise him moving forwards.
7. Jews are not responsible for antisemitism.
Jews are not responsible for antisemitism. Antisemites are responsible for antisemitism, just as alcoholics are responsible for their drinking and abusive spouses are responsible for their acts of domestic violence. Victims should never be blamed as the instigators of their abusers and Jews should never be accused of inspiring Hitler, Hamas, or any other antisemites for their genocidal ideologies. This is an issue that Kanye West needs to own, not the Jews.
I wish Mr. West the best of success in his healing journey and hope that he is able to achieve a meaningful recovery. If his actions are sincere, I’m sure that the Jewish People will accept his repentance.