מגזין בלוגותרפיה מגזין לוגותרפיה ומשמעות בחיים, פילוסופיה וישום, מאמרים כתבות מחקרים ומידע מאמרים נוספים בתחום
נאומו של פרופסור דוד גוטמן בכנס בינלאומי שנערך בוינה לכבודו ולזיכרו של ד"ר ויקטור פרנקל לשנת 2024. הנאום סובב סביב 40 שנות ידידותו עם ויקטור ואלי פרנקל ומשקף את מחויבותו של גוטמן להפיץ את הלוגותרפיה בעולם. במסגרת דבריו של גוטמן הוא מספר שני סיפורים להמחשת תפקיד הלוגותרפיסט: הראשון, על מסר שקיבל פרנקל מהרב מנחם מנדל שניאורסון, שעודד אותו להמשיך בעבודתו למרות ההתנגדויות, מה שהוביל להצלחתו העולמית. הסיפור השני הוא סיפור חסידי על "מדליק הפנסים," המשמש כמטאפורה ללוגותרפיסט אשר תפקידו להדליק את "אור הנשמה" של המטופלים, במיוחד אלו החיים בריקנות רוחנית או בייאוש.
הכיתוב בבסיסו של פסלון ההוקרה שהוענק לפרופ' דוד גוטמן :
DAVID GUTTMANN THANK YOU
YOUR VOICE FILLS THE WORLD WITH MEANING
הכנס נערך מטעם הארגון העולמי:
AMES, the Global Alliance for Meaningful Encounters
ציטוט מתוך הודעת הועדה להענקת הפרס לפרופ' גוטמן: "כהוקרה על מסירותך הבלתי מעורערת, המחויבות העמוקה שלך, המאמצים הבלתי נלאים בקידום מטרות הלוגותרפיה והניתוח הקיומי. השפעתך, הן
מבחינה אישית והן מבחינה מקצועית, משמשת מגדלור, מעוררת אותנו לקיים ולקדם את המורשת הנעלה הזו. ההכרזה על הפרס צויינה באירוע בינלאומי שנערך בזום מבית ויקטור פראנקל בוינה בתחילת אפריל, והפרס יוענק ב-11 בספטמבר 2024 במעמד המשתתפים"
For presentation at AMES Vienna
Shalom. Heartfelt greetings to all my friends and colleagues, old and new. I am delighted and grateful to my good fortune of seeing you all.
I came from Haifa, Israel, especially to participate in this event, and to see my good friend Elly Frankl!
This year is the Anniversary of my 40 years of close friendship with Viktor and Elly Frankl. The three of us met in 1984 at the conference on logotherapy in San Francisco, and became instant friends. And there I made a promise to myself to spread Viktor Frankl's "spiritual child", logotherapy and existential analysis in the world as best as I can. I did so, and am doing still.
I have selected two stories, that, in my humble opinion, are relevant for the main subject of this panel.
The first story is historical. It is connected to the time when Viktor Frankl was the head of the Vienna Policlinic of Neurology. And his theory of logotherapy, of psychological healing and treatment of emotional pain, by helping people find meaning in their lives, were shunned by the loyal followers of Sigmund Freud.
Frankl was so hurt that he considered immigration to Australia where his sister lived. He worked on filling the requirements of the Australian government, when a messenger came to see him.
The messenger was sent to Frankl by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the head of the Lubavitcher Hassidic community in Brooklyn, New York. And he sent a message to Viktor Frankl. The message of the Rabbi was exactly what Frankl needed. It said to Frankl, that he should be strong and continue his work with complete resolve. No matter what, he should not give up. If he remains strong and committed, he will certainly prevail.
This message of the Rabbi is relevant today to all people, and particularly to those working in the helping professions.
And lucky for the world, Frankl gave up his plan to immigrate to Australia, and continued to practice as a psychiatrist.
In 1959 his book "Man's Search for Meaning" was translated into English, became a best seller, and propelled him into fame in the world. Today, his theory and philosophy are known all over the globe. They give hope, guidance, and resolve to millions of people to live a meaningful life.
The second story I wish to present is a Hassidic story. Frankl loved the Hassidic stories I told him during our walks in Vienna. The story I present to you is called "the lamplighter".
Before the electric bulbs were discovered and used, the streets in the cities and villages were lighted up by gas lamps. And lamp lighting was done by lamplighters. So, here is the story:
What is a Hassid? Asked a student his Rabbi. The Rabbi was silent for some time, and finally said: He is a lamplighter.
And what does the lamplighter do? asked the student. The Rabbi said:
He walks the streets to light the lamps with a long cane with fire in its head. He lights the lamp, and it spreads the light around.
The student continued to ask the Rabbi: What happens if the lamp is in the desert? Then the lamplighter should make much effort to light the lamp. He must light the lamp so that people could see that the desert is not empty, replied the Rabbi.
And what happens if the lamp is in the sea? Then the lamp lighter should take off his clothes, jump into the water and light the lamp.
Is this a Hasid? marveled the student. The rabbi said: Yes, this is a Hassid.
I don't see any lamps, complained the student. The Rabbi said: Because you are not a lamp lighter.
And how does one become a lamp lighter, asked the student.
The Rabbi said: First of all, you must refine yourself. When you will see the lamp inside you shine then you will be able to see the lamp in other people too.
The role of the lamp lighter (the logotherapist) is to care for the well-being of another human being. You have to walk the streets and to light the "lamps" – the souls of the people in your care. And when these begin to burn – they will do the rest.
The need for lamp lighters is true in the desert, meaning for people in despair, living in spiritual or existential emptiness, depressed and sad.
It is also true for people who made great strides in their education and studies, but they have no real connection to their souls, because their learning is based only on books, not on real life and personal experience in helping people in need. Therefore, these people should first to take off their garments, meaning getting rid of " their "mental junk" – as Eric Berne, the famous Swiss psychologist wrote – in order to get connected to their souls. And when they see the lamp inside the souls of other people, then they become lamp lighters, real logotherapists.
Thank you.
Professor David Guttmann, PhD.
University of Haifa, Israel
