'Spiritual counseling' Rabbi uses Kabbalah to help heal troubled souls
By Shani McManus Jewish Journal Staff Writer
Kabbalah
is the new buzzword. It seems just about everyone is either talking
about Kaballah, taking classes in the ancient wisdom, or is teaching the
mystical philosophy - but do they really know what they're talking
about? asks Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui of Chabad Lubavitch of Palm Beach.
"These
days, spirituality has become a trend - but they really don't know what
spirituality is," he says. "Today, you have people teaching
spirituality who know nothing about Kabbalah. There's a lot of people
selling spirituality and Kabbalah - but you need to be very careful who
you study with."
"Spirituality is not just closing your eyes, and thinking you can fly; it runs a lot deeper than that."
With
the objective of helping troubled souls deal with their problems by
drawing from the Kabbalah, Ezagui has recently opened the Palm Beach
Institute for Spiritual Wellness, where in addition to offering free
workshops and lectures on how to live a better life, he will also
provide one-on-one counseling sessions for a nominal fee to those who
haven't had much success with mainstream counseling, although no one
will be turned away, he says.
"These are people who because of
depression or despair have sought the help of a psychiatrist without
results. Or maybe they have a drug problem, or rebellious children," he
says. "It's a real professional office that deals with serious
problems."
Ezagui says he has been counseling people for 18
years in his role as a rabbi, although he's quick to point out that even
though the Wellness Center is a Chabad project, it is not really
connected with religious services or the Chabad and is open to those of
all faiths.
"I'm a rabbi with many years of experience and I'm
trying to help people with the Wellness Center," he says. "Spiritual
counseling has gotten much better results than mainstream counseling. It
reaches much deeper into the essence and soul of an individual than
psychiatry. It gets down into the root of the problem."
The soul
has certain needs, Ezagui says, and if the needs of the soul are not
met, a person can suffer from a variety of symptoms such as depression
and sadness. "I address a problem deep down to the roots of the soul,"
he says. "I've been doing this for 40 years since I started studying the
Kabbalah at age 10. There hasn't been one day since then that I haven't
studied the Kabbalah. It has been so much a part of my life."
Thanks
to the study of Kabbalah, Ezagui says he has that extra sense to see
the problem that is affecting a person. "To really be successful
treating the person, you really have to care about that person," he
says.
West Palm Beach resident Bill Martell, 46, credits Ezagui with helping him cope after "two years of living hell," he says.
"He's
helped me through two deaths in my family, my own illness, and losing a
high-powered job. When I called, he was there for me. He's actually put
God back into my life," he says.
Martell has seen several
"conventional" counselors, he says, without getting the help he needed.
He adds that seeing Ezagui for counseling has helped him get through the
rough period, and says things are getting a little easier now.
"He always reminds me to push your problems out - and let God take care of them."
Former
psychologist Alan Levine of Palm Beach Gardens says the Spiritual
Wellness Center could be a very good thing, particularly for people who
are dealing with everyday problems.
"[Rabbi Ezagui] is a very
caring person and has a lot of experience," Levine says. "The nice thing
about [Ezagui's counseling], is that it gives you a spiritual
perspective."
The author of "Love, Marriage and Money," Levine
says the most important thing about counseling is having someone who can
communicate with and understand the person receiving the counseling.
"That's the bottom line," he says. The Palm Beach Institute for
Spiritual Wellness is located at 205 Worth Ave. - Suite 201. For more
information, call 561-659-7008.