Today I sat down with Levi Saada, founder of Hineni, who left the tech world to help men heal. We talked about how potent the medicine of improv is, what it’s like to move from an all-boys environment to meeting girls, the need to be validated, his healing journey, bringing song circles to English-speakers in Jerusalem, and men today awakening to the need for their inner journey of healing.
Levi was inspired by the word “Hineni,” translated as a soulful “Here I am,” and what it represents in terms of Presence and standing before the King. It’s a way of saying, “I may not be perfect… but at least I’m here. I’m here for the relationship. … with all of my brokenness, imperfection.”
In his community events - song circles, breathwork, and even improv - he invites people to “really show up fully as themselves.” He lamented, “If only we could create more spaces” like that. He found that the Hebrew community is more advanced than the Anglo community in terms of healing, with more of these types of events more often.
He shared with us a tool from NVC, Nonviolent Communication - the pitcher and the catcher, sharing and receiving. The role of the catcher is to listen without waiting to respond. Ask before sharing. This skill helped him to become a better listener, not taking things personally, and to be with someone’s experience - which doesn’t require agreeing with them.
Levi leads breathwork sessions for groups and one-on-one. The next steps of his journey include becoming a therapist and a coach, using IFS, meditation, and solutions-driven techniques. He will soon be traveling to LA, New York, and Miami, so if you are in any of those cities, look out for him.
He can be found on his website (LeviSaada.com), instagram (Levi Saada), or by email (LeviSaada@gmail.com)
