G-d cures the bitterness with something that is bitter." Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmayael
Rabbi Avraham Novick
Homeword Bound Rosh Yeshiva 2008
After graduating with honours from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Anthropology in 1980, Rabbi Novick continued his academic studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
While working towards a M.A. focusing on the interrelationship between traditional healing practices and altered states of consciousness, Rabbi Novick began an apprenticeship with a medicine man from the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico.
Due to the intensity of the shamanic training, Rabbi Novick discontinued his academic studies; immersing himself fully in learning the healing ways of psychotropic plants from several traditional medicine men.
Shamanic Apprentice 1984
Completing his apprenticeship with a 7 month walk across the United States, Rabbi Novick moved to Israel where he fully absorbed himself in Torah learning for the next 10 years.
For the last 15 years, Rabbi Novick has been providing crisis counseling to adolescents who have fallen to drug abuse. For the past 7 years he has been Director and Rosh Yeshiva of a therapeutic Yeshiva High School which he founded in the Swiss Alps. This work has provided him with years of intensive hands on training in working with addiction disease. During this time period Rabbi Novick was fortunate to visit, observe, participate and teach as an honoured guest in several major drug rehabilitation facilities. In addition, he consulted and learned from many experts in the field, including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and drug addiction counselors.
Today, under the strict guidance of Gedolei HaDor, Rabbi Novick has been encouraged to drop all other projects and devote all of his energies and time to helping others heal with the aid of Iboga. Rabbi Novick donates his time and experience to help those in need decide if iboga is appropriate for their specific case. In cases where iboga is indicated, Rabbi Novick then refers the person to an appropriate iboga facilitator. Rabbi Novick works in close coordination and consultation with Sara Glatt, the most experienced Iboga Therapist in the world today. Sara supervises close to 100 Iboga sessions a year, and in full confidence says, "HaRav Novick understands the intricacies of Iboga therapy as well as anybody today."
To view a video about HOMEWARD BOUND and to read further articles about Rabbi Novick see our Rabbi Novick Library page.
- בזמן הזה יש בחינת רפואה מעין תחיית המתיים אדמור מביאלא - מאמר תחיית המתיים