The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, revolutionized everything we know about Hashem and how we as human beings and as Jews relate to Him. One of his most important revelations, which was developed in greatest depth later by the Alter Rebbe and the Rebbes of Chabad, is a model of the psychology of the soul.
Much has been written in both Jewish and non-Jewish literature contrasting and comparing the psychology of the Baal Shem Tov with the psychology developed by secular schools, both in terms of the models they espouse and the very purpose of understanding psychology, the “self,” in the first place. Indeed, one of the most famous non-Jewish psychologists of the 20th century, Carl Jung, in an interview on his 80th birthday, summed up his lifelong work with these words: “But do you know who anticipated my entire psychology in the eighteenth century? The Hassidic Rabbi Baer from Mezeritz, whom they called the Great Maggid. He was a most impressive man.”
From my flesh, I will see G-d” (Iyov 19:26) Understanding the psychology of the soul as taught by Chassidus is critical to understanding not only our inner world, the world around us, and how Hashem relates to us through both, but also how we can and must heal our inner and outer worlds, leading toward personal, communal, and global Redemption.
Launching for the first time in the United States, the Nefesh Academy of psychology will host an inaugural full-day workshop in Los Angeles, California on January 15, 2023.
Founded by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh in Israel in 2008, the Nefesh Academy has taught a psychological/therapeutic model for mental, emotional, and spiritual health and healing over the past fifteen years.
Nefesh Academy’s many courses develop core ideas from Chassidus, including a nine-stage system of personal transformation revealed by the Baal Shem Tov himself. Though taken entirely from the teachings of Kabbalah and Chassidus, these transformative techniques are translated into conventional language of the modern human experience. Dozens of professional therapists and over 5,000 men and women from all walks of life have already benefited from this ancient-yet-cutting-edge applied model in Eretz Yisroel.
Students of the Nefesh Academy—whether pursuing a career in therapy, a sophisticated presentation of Chassidus, or a systematic approach to applying Chassidus in their practical everyday lives—can expect to walk away from the hybrid (live and online) courses with a clear map of the “anatomy of the soul,” and a clear roadmap for navigating the ups and downs of the psyche with tools for living their best and truest “self.”
This ‘mystical’ model is thoroughly down-to-earth, demystifying relationships, self-awareness, and the path and tools to actually put into practice the healthiest version of your G-d-given purpose. It’s life changing!”
Hindel Swerdlov, Nefesh Academy graduate
Los Angeles, CA
Throughout my 11+ years of teaching Torah and psychology classes based on the teachings of the Nefesh Academy, every single student that applied this model experienced an ‘Aha! moment’ leading them to personal revelation and transformation.
Rabbi Yacov Derhi, Nefesh Academy graduate and practitioner
Hollywood, FL
Geared for beginners and scholars alike, the academy’s offerings will provide a firm and balanced foundation for those taking their first steps onto the path of Chassidic psychological exploration, as well as enable seasoned students of Chabad schools and texts to discover a clearly organized understanding of the teachings of the Rebbeim on the inner workings of the soul.
Rabbi Moshe Genuth, a senior instructor at the Nefesh Academy in Eretz Yisroel, will deliver the inaugural live lectures on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at the Residence Inn of Beverly Hills located at 1177 S Beverly Drive. Three sessions will run from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Brunch will be served.
Taught in Los Angeles or Jerusalem, weekly Nefesh Academy classes will be led by instructors with advanced experience thoroughly articulating the intricacies of the curriculum, and will be available for remote students on a dedicated online distance-learning platform.
In-person attendance of the January 15th full-day immersive workshop with brunch is $80.
Online access to the full-day workshop is $50.
Please visit www.thenefesh.org to enroll today and take part in this life-changing event!
For questions, please email info@thenefesh.org or call (802) 430-9361.
This is the first time in a long time I’m excited to sign up to a course study; I’ve heard so much about this chassidic psychology course and how relevant and meaningful it is.. Will the course eventually come to the NY area? 🙂
It’s online so you can sign up for online access to the Jan 15th event and study online when the online courses begin.