About

Every single moment has meaning in it. We can discover meaning in a situation and respond to it in a meaningful way. The action or attitude we take may be spontaneous or planned, fateful or ordinary. When we discover meaning we surrender – not in defeat but with an awesome, wondrous sense that something beyond us is guiding us, calling us forth and inviting us to become whom we were meant to be.

What is the meaning of our lives? How can we learn about, experience and know that our lives are in fact meaningful? How can we assist others to discover meaning?

Logotherapy is a therapy and philosophy of life that explores these questions.

Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and author of the best-seller:  “Man’s Search for Meaning” is the father of Logotherapy.  He developed a way to help those who suffered from spiritual and emotional pain as they struggled to find meaning in their lives. As a result of his work, many courses in Logotherapy are offered around the globe.

The writers of this blog are trained in Logotherapy and live in Israel. It’s important to us to share significant ways we have discovered truths about life through our study and training in logotherapy. We will share many thoughts and experiences with you and we invite you to participate in the discussion on topics of faith, religion, therapeutic issues, social concerns and world situations.

The aim of this exchange of ideas is to discover sources and methods for developing an attitude of hope and for garnering the courage and strength to improve or cope with whatever difficult situations life presents. In addition, we are interested in increasing our ability to provide the healing that ensues by supporting others in their search for meaning in their lives. In short, our aim is to reveal meaning in life!

Let me introduce you to some of the people in this group blog.

Dr Teria Shantall is a professional Clinical Psychologist, trained in psychoanalysis at the Tavistock in London, and was a senior lecturer and trainer of clinical psychologists at the department of psychology at the University of South Africa,  Privileged to become a student of Dr Viktor Frankl at his first training centre in the United States, she did a doctorate research on the meaning of suffering among Holocaust survivors and established the first training centre for Logotherapists in South Africa and Israel in cooperation with interested colleagues.  She has been given several awards for her work and her publications in the field of Logotherapy by the Viktor Frankl Institute for Logotherapy of the United States and is the President and Vice President of the Viktor Frankl Institute for Logotherapy in South Africa and Israel respectively.

Batya Yaniger is a Diplomate-level certified logotherapist through the Viktor Frankl Institute and a licensed social worker in Israel with a PsyD in psychology. She maintains a private practice in logotherapy (meaning-centered therapy) and is co-trainer in the English language logotherapy training program in Israel. Batya has worked successfully with people who have for a variety of reasons, lost their sense of direction in life. She listens for values and strengths that put the person in touch with who they are and what is most important to them. Logotherapy’s assumption that every life has a purpose and every situation can be made meaningful perfectly dovetails with Jewish principles of optimism and responsibility. Batya has worked with people who struggle with issues of depression, anxiety, fears and indecisiveness, helping them to access their intuitive wisdom.

Aryeh Siegel While specializing in the philosophy of logic at M.I.T. (where he received his Ph.D. in philosophy), Aryeh Siegel began a 40-year exploration into the relationship between knowledge of metaphysics and wisdom in life. While that theme played on, he has taught philosophy, deepened his Jewish knowledge and commitment, managed software development projects and grown in the Jerusalem surroundings together with his wife and family of five children. He has found his spiritual home in the teaching of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag and is using his study of coaching and logotherapy to put into practice the devotion to supporting the lives of others that is enjoined by that teaching. His website on the subject of charity is: www.joyoflife.org.il.

Haya is a pioneer in the field of spiritual energy healing through which she has been helping people worldwide for nearly two decades. After graduating with honors from Colombia University, and completing a Masters in Environmental Education at New York University, Haya chose to focus upon the inner human environment. She has dedicated herself to developing and teaching advanced  conscious transformation skills through prayer. Haya’s couselling skills are inspired by Logotherapy, the branch of psychology founded by the late Dr. Viktor E. Frankl. Haya resides in the hills of Jerusalem with her seven wonderful children and several blessed grandchildren.