Rabbi’s explosive letter exposes suicide crisis in U.S. Haredi community

A prominent figure in New York’s Haredi community has unleashed a blistering critique of what he calls a hidden "epidemic of suicides," rocking the ultra-Orthodox world in the United States with a call for urgent action. Rabbi Yitzchak Mordechai Brach, a senior leader of the "Chesed Shel Emet" Chevra Kadisha and director of the Yereim Funeral Home in Brooklyn, issued a scathing open letter this week, accusing rabbinic authorities of covering up a growing wave of suicides and failing to address a mental health crisis that he claims is claiming lives weekly.

The letter, published by Kikar HaShabbat, comes on the heels of several recent tragedies within the Haredi sector. Rabbi Brach, whose role in the Chevra Kadisha gives him firsthand insight into the community’s deaths, pulls no punches. "They tell the public stories about accidents, but we – the members of the Chevra Kadisha – know the truth," he writes. "We witness unfortunate cases every week of people ending their lives in ways that defy comprehension."

Rabbi Brach’s stark warning paints a grim picture of a community in distress, where depression and despair are driving individuals to desperate acts—acts he says are being deliberately concealed. "An aneurysm, a heart attack, a tragic mishap—these are the tales spun to shield the public from reality," he asserts. "But the harsh truth is unfolding beneath the surface, and it’s time to stop hiding."

A Call for Action Amid Denial

The rabbi’s frustration is palpable as he turns his ire on the rabbinic establishment, accusing leaders of burying their heads in the sand rather than confronting the crisis head-on. "Instead of establishing support teams and discussing solutions, the rabbis deny, erase, and invent stories," he writes. In a passionate appeal, he urges the community’s leadership to face the facts: "Come down from your high mountain, look around, and see what’s happening. This is a genuine emergency."

Rabbi Brach’s solution is clear and urgent: the immediate creation of mental health support centers in every Haredi enclave across the U.S., from Brooklyn to Lakewood to Monsey. "People are suffering from depression and losing their joy in life," he warns. "If we open treatment facilities and encourage seeking help, we can save lives." His call challenges the deep-seated stigma within the Haredi world, where mental health struggles are often taboo, and seeking professional help can bring shame to families.

A Community at a Crossroads

The letter arrives at a fraught moment for American Haredim, with significant growth in recent decades. Insulated by strict religious observance and communal norms, the community has faced mounting pressures—economic strain, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and cultural clashes with modernity—that some experts say are fueling mental health challenges. Studies have noted rising rates of anxiety and depression among Haredi youth, often compounded by limited access to secular mental health resources.

A Voice From the Front Lines

As a veteran of the Chevra Kadisha, Rabbi Brach brings a rare authority to the conversation. His organization, "Chesed Shel Emet," is one of the largest burial societies in New York, handling hundreds of funerals annually with meticulous adherence to Jewish tradition. From his perch at the Yereim Funeral Home, he’s seen the toll of these tragedies up close—bodies brought in under hushed circumstances, families grappling with unspoken grief. His letter isn’t just a lament; it’s a rallying cry from someone who can no longer stomach the status quo.