Kosher Caffeine - Local Rabbi Launches lunchtime radio show
By Shani McManus - Journal Staff Writer
Calling it an “upper for the soul,” Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui of Chabad of Palm Beach, FL is geared up to launch his new radio show, “Kosher Caffeine for your Lunch,” beginning Sept. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. on WBZT 1230 on the Am dial.
The show will be broadcast every Wednesday from West Palm Beach, and extend into North Miami Dade County on WBZT sister radio station, WIOD-610 Am. The Kosher Caffeine show will feature Jewish music, spiritual talk and humor, as well as special studio guests. An important component of the show will be in depth discussions on the “real meaning” of Kabala, Ezagui says. In fact, guests on the show will mainly talk about kabala and personal improvement, he adds.
“The major goal of the show is to educate the Jewish audience about the the personal benefit a person is able to derive from kabala, Jewish mysticism and Jewish practices in general, “he says.
Another goal is to increase Jewish awareness in the community.
“People should listen to the show, because new, exciting windows of knowledge will be opened for them, “he says. “They will discover information as to who they are, and why they are in the world.
” In addition, Ezagui and his guests will take calls from radio listeners who may have questions to ask or comments to make.
“It will be upbeat, inspiring and motivating,”he says. “That is why we are calling it caffeine for the soul. I’m hoping that while people are driving around or sitting down for lunch, they will sip some ‘kosher caffeine’ with us.”
The Sept. 14 kick off date for the show comes just in time for the High Holidays, he adds.
“We will be discussing tons of High Holiday stuff, as well as the mysticism and kabala behind, or within, the experience of the High Holidays, and how it affects a person the… coming year,” he says.
The first show will tackle, “what is Kabala?” “Are you afraid of your soul?” and “Can we Change?’ he says. At the moment, Ezagui is waiting for confirmation of the show’s first guest, who is an author of many books on Jewish mysticism.
“These days , in order to feel motivated, inspired, and fulfilled in one’s personal life and have the appropriate strength to get through life, it is imperative to study the principles of G-d, the soul, and the world,” he says.
Ezagui says he is thrilled the show will be on WBZT, which he calls “the most powerful local radio station, “ and adds, “we’re very excited to have and host what will be the only Jewish radio show hosted out of this area.”
Carol Norman, WBZT station manager at the Clear Channel Broadcasting Building in West Palm Beach, says she’s pleased to have Ezagui and the Kosher Caffeine show on board.
“(Kosher Caffeine) is an interesting radio show, and I think it’s going to be terrific,” she says. “(Rabbi Ezagui) is very smart, and he’s a very interesting personality. I think he will bring interesting facts and discussion to our radio audience.”
WBZT has a number of specialty programs devoted to different topics and age groups. Topics and programs include business, senior, art, health, a vitamin show and an alternative medicine show, Norman says. Other show feature commentary, and talk show personalities like Sean Hannity and Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
“There are different show for different age groups, but we attract a mainly 35-plus audience,” she says. “We have something for everyone. We attract an audience that wants to be informed.”
The Kosher Caffeine show is also looking for sponsors. For more information, call Rabbi Ezagui at 561-624-7004. The show can also be heard on the Web at www.wbzt.com.
