OCD

I've got OCD and anxiety, which is sort of making me feel very anxious about the uncertainty I'm feeling about whether I told the truth or not and whether I will be punished in the event that I did not tell the truth. I have spoken to therapists about the OCD and anxiety in general but I was wondering if a Rabbi had anything to say about my situation. Thanks in advance.

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

As your question highlights, OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, has an effect, usually, negative, on the performance of mitzvot. There are many people who are affected by this and it is being addressed more and more by poskim, halachic authorities. In fact, there are teachings from the Talmud that help us navigate the halachic issues that arise from OCD.

For example, there is the concept of “V’hevei medakdek b’mitzva kala k’vachamura” which means that one should “Be as scrupulous in observing a minor mitzva as one observes a major mitzva” in other words, we should perform mitzvot in the best possible manner with all its details and requirements.

On the other hand, there is the concept of “ein l’davar sof” which means that in some situations we don’t require a person to go through heroic efforts to ensure or worry about mitzvot. The classic example of this from the Talmud where it says that one should not be concerned about the remote possibility that a weasel may have carried “chometz” (food that is forbidden to be consumed on Pesach) from one room into another. Otherwise, there would be no end to the amount of checking and re-checking for chametz that one would be required to do before Pesach. Instead, we check once, on the night before Pesach, and we do not worry that chametz will be found or moved by an animal.

There is also the concept of “Lo nitnah Torah l’malachei hashares” which means “the Torah was not given to angels.” This passage is cited to remind us that we merely have to try our best when performing mitzvot. Nobody is perfect.

As such, if you think you told the truth go with it. Do not worry further. This is the halacha. You seem to be a person who wants to do the right thing, and therefore, it is likely you did.