'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.