What if the essence of Judaism was never meant to be about behavior alone, but about dveykus, a deep soul-level connection to the Divine?

That is what this conversation is about.In this episode of In Search of More, I sit down with Rabbi Doniel Katz, founder of the Elevation Project, who has been on a mission to revive the spiritual technologies of Torah that most of us were never taught. Doniel is not interested in making Judaism more modern or palatable. He is trying to make it real again. To bring back the tools like meditation, breathwork, and inner refinement that our tradition always had but buried out of fear, trauma, and exile. We talk about what dveykus actually means, not a vague spiritual buzzword but a lived experience of radical presence and attachment to God.

We explore how Judaism lost that fire and how Elevation is working to restore it. Doniel has faced pushback, even being called a heretic and written off by segments of the ultra-Orthodox world who would rather preserve the image of holiness than wrestle with what holiness really demands.

Together we dig into how to navigate criticism without alienating supporters and how to stay focused on the mission instead of getting lost in endless battles.

One of the parts of our conversation that stayed with me was Doniel’s take on psychedelics. While he stopped short of claiming they are found in Judaism as some suggest, he was willing to explore the role these experiences might play in the larger search for the Divine. Hearing that from someone so rooted in Torah made me pause and consider how broad and inclusive our spiritual conversations can really be.

For me this was not only an interview but also a mirror. I walked away asking myself how much of my own energy goes into fighting battles instead of building what I set out to build. That is why I believe this episode will challenge you, not just to think differently about Judaism, but to reflect on your own search for more.

See you on the other side,

Eli

In this conversation, I sit down with Joe Farkas, a life coach and narcissistic recovery specialist, to unpack the dynamic between narcissists and codependents.I didn’t agree with everything he said. I pushed back more than once, especially on his claim that true narcissists never change. I brought up redemption. Healing. He didn’t budge. And that’s what stuck with me. His refusal to entertain hope forced me to reckon with something deeper: the kind of clarity he believes is required when dealing with a narcissist.We talked about the cycle: idealize, devalue, discard. We got into emotional addiction, spiritual gaslighting, and why so many codependents stay long past the point of knowing better. Joe doesn’t believe you heal by fixing them. You heal by finally choosing yourself.If you’ve ever given everything and still been made to feel small, this one is worth your time.See you on the other side,Eli

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