Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing and Inner Wholeness

by Estelle Frankel

In Sacred Therapy Estelle Frankel travels to the heart of Jewish mysticism to reveal how people of any faith can draw upon this rich body of teachings to gain wisdom, clarity, and a deeper sense of meaning in the midst of modern life. In an engaging and accessible style, Frankel brings together tales and teachings from the Bible, the Talmud, Kabbalah, and the Hasidic traditions as well as evocative case studies and stories from her own life to create an original, inspirational guide to emotional healing and spiritual growth.

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Self Help, Religion

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2004

About the author

Estelle Frankel is a practicing psychotherapist, spiritual advisor, and seasoned teacher of Jewish mysticism who blends depth psychology with the wisdom and healing practices of Kabbalah. She has taught Jewish studies in Israel and the U.S. for over 30 years and was ordained as a Rabbinic Pastor and spiritual guide (mashpiah ruchanit) by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. While living in Israel from 1970-1978 Estelle attended the Michlalah College for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and taught at several Yeshivas, including Neve Yerusyhalayim and Shapell (Beruriah). Estelle is currently on the teaching faculty of Chochmat Halev: Wisdom of the Heart Meditation Center, where she teaches Jewish mysticism, meditation and healing, and offers group spiritual guidance. Estelle has also been an instructor at Lehrhaus Judaica Adult School for Jewish Studies since 1978 and has been involved in organizing several symposia on Judaism and Psychology. She is a popular public speaker and chant master, and has been a keynote speaker and presenter at many professional conferences.

In addition to Sacred Therapy, Estelle is the author of numerous essays on Jewish mysticism and psychology that have been published by a variety of professional and spiritual journals including: Tikkun Magazine, Women and Therapy: A Quarterly Journal, The Responsive Community, and Parabola Magazine. Several of her essays have been selected for publication in professional and literary anthologies.

Estelle lives in Berkeley, California with her husband, Dr. Stephen Goldbart and two children, Miriam and Elan. Her hobbies include playing guitar, singing, hiking in nature, ocean snorkeling, reading poetry, and creating ritual art.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quote from this book:
A good deal of what goes on in spiritual healing is that our notion of who we think we are begins to expand. In a sense we are given new eyes, the ability to see ourselves from God's perspective, as it were; from the vantage point of the infinite. Though we may be able to hold that expanded vision of ourselves only for brief moments at a time, even so, it can have a profound effect on our identity. Instead of being overly identified with our problems and pathologies, we can also begin to appreciate our perfection and purpose. Instead of feeling isolated and alone in our pain, we can begin to experience ourselves as part of a larger whole in which our individual stories and lives reflect the larger story of which all people are a part.

When we go beyond our personal predicaments and locate ourselves within the larger story, we open doors to the sacred dimension, and our lives become pregnant with meaning, living embodiments of Torah. We come to experience our lives as resonant with a much greater matrix of meaning, in which any transition we undergo, whether it be a death, divorce, illness, or disability, may initiate us into the larger mysteries of life.

[Sharon Wragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 1995. It is still the book that has influenced my life most significantly. This book is an amazing journey.

[Larry Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

because Jesus and all the original disciples were Jewish, i find it fascinating to discover where the roots of my Christian understandings of emotional healing come from. as i read this book, i was blessed and amazed by how much i agreed with and how much of it touched my heart and helped me personally, not just in understanding Jewish spirituality, but in understanding God and me.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbelievable- I loved this book with a fiery passion and devoured it over a vacation. Right book right time. Needed it after I quit my job that meant so much to my identity and also left a relationship. One of those books that I checked out from the library then bought, as it led me to many new thoughts and I will revisit it again and again.

[Lee Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave me this absolutely extraordinary book, which I will treasure the rest of my life. Wonderful, practical insights into human life, combining therapy and ancient Jewish wisdom with practical rituals and meditations. What a gift!

[Maya G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really beautiful and practical! Added a lot to my understanding spiritual/personal development beyond individualistic, Western ideas that often get presented without alternatives in talk therapy. Loved the little folk tales. However, it became a bit scrupulous and repetitive in the second half.

[Elijah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reigning champ

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kind of basic and tries way too hard with all the "let such and such into your heart" and "heart breaks open so God can enter" metaphors. We GET it already...

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the books that you read slowly. I really loved the integration of Jewish theology and stories. She gave me much to think about and much to journal about with her meditation suggestions and the different way of seeing stories from the Hebrew scriptures and how their application is universal. I did have a little trouble remembering what the Hebrew words meant and I regret that I didn't make a list to refer to. I would read some before my meditation each morning, stopping when I needed to move something from my head to my heart. Estelle Frankel is a therapist and a spiritual director and she integrates the two disciplines beautifully.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a magnificent book. The author, Estelle Frankel is a gifted and brilliant spiritual teacher and guide. Her spiritual stories are profound and inspirational. However, for me, her tales/vignettes as a psychotherapist, especially in the first two thirds of the book, greatly weakened it. It it were not for the psychotherapy tales, it would have clearly been a 5 star book for me. However, I highly recommend it for the beautiful spiritual teachings.

[Amora Freire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly amazing! It's a must read for those interested in psychology and judaism or those who wish to enter a healing journey. With a lot of sensitivity, Estelle shares so much of jewish stories and wisdom and how those can be found inside each of us and foster spiritual and emotional growth. I'll actually read this book again.

[Patrick Aleph · Rating 1 out of 5]

its actually a fantastic book...im just not a kabbalist.

[Kye Flannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interdisciplinary, wise, practical - mysticism & metaphor, grounding.