In this conversation with Nir Menussi, I found myself reflecting on how much of my life has been about trying to reconcile two worlds: the depth of Torah and the pull of everything outside it. We spoke about the lived application of Kabbalistic ideas, and it hit a familiar nerve. For a long time, I believed I had to choose one world or the other.

Growing up, the message was clear. Everything outside of Judaism was unholy. The books, the music, the teachings. All of it. So when I started finding meaning beyond the boundaries I’d been given, I assumed it meant I had to leave Judaism behind.

For me, real healing began when I stopped separating the two.

We talked about Carl Jung and how voices outside our tradition can still stir something deeply Jewish. I’ve experienced that firsthand. Truth showing up in places I never expected. When the conversation turned to psychedelics, it got even more personal. I’ve seen them used as an escape hatch, a way to dodge pain. But I’ve also seen what happens when there’s real intention and the courage to integrate the experience afterward. The visions aren’t the healing. The healing is what comes after, when the lights are off and you’re left facing yourself.

We covered a lot. The sparks Kabbalah says are hidden in all things. How sometimes the least likely path becomes the most revealing. Nir and I didn’t align on everything. Jung felt more mutual than psychedelics. But we found shared ground in the ongoing search for G-d’s voice, speaking through all parts of life.

I hope you enjoy the conversation. And if Nir’s work resonates, check out his books and his podcast. I’ve been listening regularly, and I’m learning a lot.

See you on the other side,

Eli

In this episode of In Search of More, I sit down with Yitzchok Aharon Pinkesz, author of Kosher Astrology: A Jewish Guide to Celestial Wisdom. He makes a bold claim: a lot of suffering in the world could be eased, and we’d be living more in line with Judaism, if we understood the astrological influences on us.Astrology is often dismissed as superstition or idolatry. Pinkesz argues it has deep roots in Torah and rabbinic tradition, meant not to trap us in fate but to help us know ourselves and grow. He shares how he went from skeptical Boro Park kid to obsessively studying over 400 books and classic sources to make the case for a “kosher” astrology.We talk about the line between wisdom and misuse. He rejects fatalism and astral magic but defends astrology as a tool for mapping our strengths, challenges, and paths of growth in line with Hashem’s design. We also spend a fair amount of time on my own chart, exploring the places of tension and transformation it reveals.It’s a conversation about reclaiming lost knowledge, staying honest about risk, and asking what it really means to choose to become your fullest self.Find his book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/agcjaqmSee you on the other side,Eli

In this episode of In Search of More, I sit with Michael Benmeleh, one of the foremost personalities in the Jewish community in South Florida when it comes to bringing Torah teaching to the masses.

We spoke about his journey, from running Torah classes to creating The Lighthouse Project. It has since become something more heart-centered and expansive. He’s brought in breathwork, meditation, and a focus on deep inner work, all grounded in Jewish wisdom, especially the teachings of Rabbi Nachman.

One of the major turning points for him was a retreat in Tulum with Rav Doniel Katz. Something opened up there. A deeper relationship with God, with himself, and with his purpose to help others access real healing. Not through performing. Just through being present.

We also talked about the challenge of holding sacred space, especially when it comes to gender. He’s been thoughtful and direct about what it takes to create real containers where men and women can do meaningful work without crossing boundaries. He speaks honestly about leadership, responsibility, and what it truly means to hold space for transformation.

Toward the end, we got into some of the questions we’ve been asking ourselves about the appropriate boundaries and separation between men and women in healing spaces, and how to make those spaces safer, holier, and more accessible. We also spoke about the challenge of staying connected to tradition while opening up to new ways of speaking to the Divine, something Michael refers to as the elephant in the room in Judaism. It’s always been there, but until recently, many have pretended it’s not a part of Jewish life.

If you’re someone who’s not just looking to learn but to open, to feel, to heal, I think this one will hit home.

See you on the other side.

Eli