Our Method
Practical Jewish psychology — from the wellsprings of Kabbalah and Chassidut into life itself
In 2000 (the Hebrew year 5760), Rabbi Dror Shaul and his wife, Rebbetzin Michal Shaul — emissaries of Chabad (the worldwide Chassidic movement) in Dharamsala, India — began leading original, in-depth workshops built around real processes of spiritual and emotional growth. The learning combined fascinating study of the writings of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and Chassidut (Chassidic mystical teaching) with direct, meaningful experience.
Each course offered a wealth of pure spiritual learning — from the ancient books of Kabbalah, through the classics of Chassidut, to practical guidance suited to each person's everyday life. The practice included hitbonenut (Jewish meditation), movement, breathwork, solitude and journeys in nature, painting, song, creative writing, and more.
The process the participants went through allowed them to let go, to see with fresh eyes the Divine providence accompanying their lives, and to rebuild their aspirations and their sense of meaning. The personal work and the group dynamic that formed during the learning revealed wonderful treasures in the participants' souls, giving them strength for change and growth.
Dharamsala, in the foothills of the Himalayas, is a crossroads where thousands of travelers arrive each year, mid-journey — a singular backdrop for genuine inner work. But Rabbi Dror and Rebbetzin Michal did not stop at India: every year they also led workshops in the same spirit across Israel and around the world.
That intensive, vibrant work — and the mutual enrichment with thousands of students — is what grew, step by step, into the Yichuda method. And out of it rose Yichuda College in Rehovot, Israel: a home for anyone who wants to grow emotionally and spiritually, to know their own personality, and to fulfill their mission in the world.
What is the Yichuda method?
The Yichuda method is the full body of learning and practice that Rabbi Dror Shaul and his wife developed through living, personal work with thousands of students and clients in India and Israel. It is a life-changing, balancing, and healing path that touches every area of life: a person's spiritual world, human relationships, marriage and family, personal mission, the health of soul and body — and the joy of being alive.
The inspiration and the core content are drawn from the teachings of Kabbalah and Chassidut — Chabad Chassidut in particular. The whole method rests on one teaching of the Alter Rebbe — Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad — in his foundational work, the Tanya: within every one of us dwells a Divine soul that is "an actual part of G-d above," and its task is to connect everything in this world to Divine goodness. So our aim is simple: that every detail of life — work, marriage, emotion, body — be connected to the spiritual purpose that truly fits it. Over years of emissary work, teaching, guidance, counseling, and therapy, a fascinating and original body of content took shape — accompanied throughout by the direction, counsel, inspiration, and blessing of Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh — a spiritual wealth that illuminates the lives of thousands of students each year. And all of it joins the promise the Alter Rebbe makes at the very opening of the Tanya — "in them the soul will find rest" — to bring true and everlasting healing to the human soul, with G-d's help.
Why the name "Yichuda"?
Yichuda is an Aramaic word meaning union, joining, and oneness. Kabbalah speaks of two levels of Divine oneness: yichuda tata'a, the "lower union" — oneness as it looks from within creation, where created beings still appear separate — and yichuda ila'a, the "higher union" — oneness as it is from Above, where nothing exists apart from G-d: the simple, complete, true oneness of the Creator and the created.
And that is exactly what happens in our learning: the study becomes a life experience, and life's experiences are woven back into the world of Torah. In the language of Kabbalah this weaving is called a yichud — a union — and it creates harmony and oneness across every layer of life. That is the source of our name — and the goal we are walking toward!
How does it work in practice?
The method's four paths of practice
The method weaves together four channels that work as one — mind, heart, body, and expression — so that change doesn't remain "a nice idea," but settles into the soul as a living fact:
Textual Learning — the Language of the Soul and the Map of Personality
To go through a real and lasting process of growth, a person needs to understand clearly what is happening inside them. You learn the language of Kabbalah and Chassidut, bring inner order to your insights and emotions, and refine your personal assessment through the system of the Ten Sefirot (the soul's ten powers), the twelve senses and mazalot (the Hebrew zodiac), your name, your personal Torah portion, and more. And because the Torah itself carries a power of healing and balance, every student gains the ability to learn from the sacred texts on their own.
Hitbonenut — Jewish Meditation
Hitbonenut is the Chassidic counterpart of the Kabbalistic kavanah (mystical intention): not merely thinking about an idea — but uniting with it and experiencing it. Deep study is followed by relaxation techniques, niggunim (soulful Chassidic melodies), proper breathing, and guided imagery, until the idea you learned settles into the soul as a living fact. Out of this work, Rabbi Dror Shaul wrote the book Hitbonenut in Ma'aseh Merkavah ("Contemplating the Divine Chariot") — a practical guide to Jewish meditation in the light of Kabbalah.
Movement, Breath, Voice, and Touch
According to Sefer Yetzirah (the ancient Book of Formation) and the holy Zohar (the foundational text of Kabbalah), the letters of the Holy Tongue — Hebrew — are the building blocks of all creation. In the light of Kabbalah we teach movements and postures combined with proper breathing and deep intention. Directed movement opens the body to an awareness of the Divine light and a sensitivity to it — the physical is refined, and the soul is filled with renewed strength.
Expression — Group Conversation, Writing, and Painting
Personal redemption begins when a person manages to express themselves — and another understands them, identifies with them, and loves them. The deep content is translated into practical exercises of conversation, writing, painting, and creative work, inside a group that holds you. The listening and the feedback expand the soul, and painful secrets become challenges you can hold — and change.
The Root of It All
The Yichuda method is built on the principle that G-d brings all of creation — and every one of us — into being anew at every moment. So at every moment, change is possible: to reveal your inner essence, to turn darkness into light and challenge into a ladder of ascent and growth. And the guidance comes from the purest and most exalted source — our Torah, a Torah of life, whose counsel and direction let us walk with confidence toward the longed-for destination: true happiness and joy.
Map of the Soul
12,000 students have already taken this journey with us!
Yichuda's introductory course: four weekly sessions in which you'll come to know yourself from an entirely new angle. The ten powers of the soul, a personal assessment in light of the Ten Sefirot, and practical tools for a more balanced, aware, and meaningful life. A new cohort every month.
- For beginners
- 4 weekly sessions
- A new cohort every month
Counselor Training
A profession of purpose!
A focused one-year track or an in-depth two-year track — turning your sense of mission into a lifelong profession. Comprehensive training in counseling and healing of the soul according to Kabbalah — in Rehovot or live on Zoom — with close personal mentoring, hands-on practice, and a structured toolkit for opening your own practice.
- For beginners
- One- or two-year track
- Registration is open!