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Jewish Holidays, Rituals & Texts

Finding Wisdom and Comfort from Judaism

In these blog posts, authors explore the connections they’ve made and insights they’ve gained from Jewish holidays, rituals, and texts in helping to better understand addiction and support recovery.

Read additional blog posts sharing recovery journeys and family member experiences.

Recovery is Very Jewish

by Rabbi Aaron Spiegel

September 2022

A rabbi in long-term recovery takes a deep dive into the discomfort some Jews feel towards the components of 12-Step programs that seem Christian, dispelling some of the myths, highlighting the Jewish roots of 12-Step recovery, and sharing personal reflections.

The Torah Edict to Choose Life

by Jeffrey Agron

January 2022

How a powerful Torah quote from Deuteronomy helps one man make sense of his past struggles with substance use disorder and informs his recovery.

Judaism Supports Many Paths to Recovery

by Caren Lowrey

November 2021

A young mom shares her recovery journey, drawing parallels between Judaism, harm reduction, and why it is essential to respect multiple paths for gaining and maintaining sobriety.

From Convert to Community: Finding Support for My Recovery in the Jewish Community

by Sarah Ferguson

August 2021

One woman’s powerful story of conversion, recovery, and finding true belonging in the Jewish community on Tisha B’Av.

Finding Our Rock

by Rabbi David Wolpe

May 2021

Insights on the spiritual side of addiction and overcoming the challenge of filling the void.

Purim: No Distinction Between Haman and Mordecai?

by Beth Huppin

February 2021

Why does alcohol play such an outsized role in Purim? Digging deeper, what do our texts have to say about this and is there a more meaningful way to celebrate the holiday?

The Recovery Message of Hanukkah: Extracting Light from our Shadows

by Rabbi Marc J. Margolius

December 2020

Hanukkah and recovery show us how embracing our whole selves can help us find our light within and use it to illuminate the world.

Chanukah: The Festival of Light(s) and Hope

by Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum

December 2020

In so many ways, the story and rituals of Chanukah profoundly inspire and connect to the recovery journey.

From Chaos to Seder: Pesach, Addiction, and Removing Our Personal Chains

by Devora Shabtai, LCSW

March 2020

What does it truly mean to be free? We can learn so much from people working a Twelve Step recovery program about how to deepen our Pesach experience to find life-changing freedom.

The Rocky Waters of Forgiveness

by Marla Kaufman

September 2019

The High Holy Days, with their themes of forgiveness and teshuvah, provide powerful wisdom and inspiration for healing relationships in families affected by substance use disorder.

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