Join Rabbi Deborah Bronstein for a reading and Q&A session about her book "A Narrow Bridge: Awakening from Mental Illness". We all know someone who is going, or has gone through, a rough patch mentally or emotionally. Depression, social anxiety, separations, and addictions of all sorts seem to be the bellwether of our times. If you’ve ever wondered what you could do to support your spouse, friend, family member, or co-worker, this is the event for you.

Rabbi Deborah Bronstein knows firsthand what it is like to go through one of those
patches. In her book “A Narrow Bridge: Awakening from Mental Illness”, she talks
frankly about entering a mental hospital at 18 overwhelmed and depressed. Her book
chronicles her journey from illness to recovery with honesty, truth, pain, and humor.
Travel with her as she shares her observations and insights about herself, her condition, the staff, her fellow patients, and the world of the mental hospital through her journal entries. As her faith rekindled and her depression lifted, she found her path forward, leading her from mental illness to recovery, and with the energy and calling to enter rabbinical school.

“A Narrow Bridge: Awakening from Mental Illness” is a memoir full of candor, pain, hope, and chutzpah as Rabbi Bronstein casts off the stigma of mental illness and shares her story with us.

Comments from readers of “A Narrow Bridge: Awakening from Mental Illness”

Rabbi Deborah Bronstein is a treasure to our community here in Boulder. She is known nationally for her work on social action and compassion for those who live in the margins of society. In her years of service as the Rabbi of Congregation Har HaShem (now Rabbi Emerita) she has served with energy and wisdom making a difference for so many, including those who suffer from mental illness. Rabbi Bronstein herself suffered from a serious mental illness and she tells her story in a new memoir published last summer: “A Narrow Bridge: Awakening from Mental Illness” about which one reviewer said: "With remarkable courage, candor and compassion Rabbi Bronstein shares her personal story and in the process illuminates the inner experience of mental illness and the inner world of the psychiatric hospital."

"I recently attended a reception to celebrate the book's publication where Rabbi
Bronstein spoke about the book. I was moved by many aspects of her personal story, particularly that she received treatments for mental illness in a psychiatric hospital. The care she received was appropriate and effective. It enabled her to move her life forward and change the world for the better. I imagine a society in which every person with a serious brain disease can access the care they need, for the length of time they need it, in a setting that is appropriate, where all people affected by serious mental illness can access effective care and go on to lead productive lives. We have to keep working towards this goal. Nothing less makes any sense." -Judy Amabile, Colorado Congresswoman

"I just finished your magnificent book and couldn't wait to tell you how much I value and appreciate it and you, and the courage it took for you to share so many deep truths. At one level, I felt as though I already knew everything you shared (although I didn't at all) but because I heard your voice narrating every word. At other times, I was so sad, surprised, shocked, and hurting for you that I was glad I knew the end of the story (my blessed and whole Rabbi Bronstein) so I could get through the tough stuff! Your book is such as gift. Thank you!!!" - Sara Jane Cohen, Member Congregation HarHashem