Max Ariel Kohanzad
Education & Qualifications
Max has just completed his Doctorate in Jewish Mysticism from the University of Manchester, the thesis title was 'The Messianic Doctrine of the Lubavitcher Rebbe', which will shortly be published under the title 'The Unorthodox Messiah'. Max also received his Masters from the University of Manchester in 2000 in Jewish Studies.
At the same time as his PhD Max completed a BA(Hons) in Visual Art at the Univesity of Salford.
Max received his BA in Religious Studies from the Rabbinical College of America and was informally ordained 'Rabbi' in 1997 by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, and more recently by Rabbi Hillel Blesofski, and others.
Max runs a weekly informal Kabbalah discussion group
Max is also the Treasurer for Talking Matters Association - a nationwide organasation providing culturalliy specific counselling services to the OJC.
Max has also worked with the Princes Trust youth volenteer programme, helping young people of all backgrounds, into employment or further education.
Background
Max cannot help but be a complicated and colourful character full of ideas and the wisdom that seems to come from a whole lifetime of experience.He comes from an amazing and very unique family background; born in Israel, spending some time in Iran, and then moving to Hackney in London England, Max enjoyed what could only be described as a 'multicultural' upbringing.
Even his grandparents are rebels and revolutionaries, one side being lifelong vegetarians and some of the first members of CND, whilst on the other were religious Jews and Muslims who risked everything for love. Then there are his parents one a hippie the other a business man.
As a bright, enthusiastic and idealistic teenager, Max left school before finishing his 'A' Levels' at Carmel College, to explore his own religious and cultural tradition in search of a more meaningful life and identity. He dived deep into the heart of Judaism's mystical tradition, and eventually spent in excess of four and a half years in Rabbinical College.
Max, had joined the most intellectual and mystical branch of the Hassidic movement, and their Grand Rabbi (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachen Mendel Schneerson) was about to embark on the most radical redirection of Jewish Mysticism since its birth, the 'Moshiach Now (Messiah Now!) Campaign', which gave previously unimaginable importance to the Physical world, the Individual, and the practical need for happiness, fulfilment and joy.
Along with this new emphasis came some remarkable and innovative conceptual tools to help the individual realise a personal 'redemption' and bring about a completely utopian and harmonious style of living in their own lives. Being young, naive and enthusiastic Max soaked up all these newly emphasised ideas and soon became somewhat of an expert in this field, his PhD and KABBALAH Coaching are based on these profound and radical teachings.
Max Ariel Kohanzad
