Jewish Addiction Awareness Network / Resources / Blog

Blog

Recovery Journeys

Recovery Journeys and the Role of Judaism

Every recovery journey is as unique as the individual who embarks on it. Here, authors share their personal experiences with finding their way to and through recovery, and the role Judaism played in their journeys.

Read additional blog posts sharing Jewish holidays, rituals and texts 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.

Coming Out Sober

by Dubbs Weinblatt (they/them)

June 2022

A Queer Jew shares their story of confusion, alienation, self-discovery, blackout drinking, sobriety, and ultimately, joyfully embracing all aspects of their true self.

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.

Why I Finally Decided to Publicly Share My Story

by Rabbi Michael Perice

August 2021

A rabbi shares his journey from opioid addiction to recovery, and what inspired him to embrace “recovering out loud.”

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.

Being Open: An Antidote to Shame and an Act of Service

by Fay Zenoff

December 2020

A courageous story of one woman’s journey through the denial of alcoholism to confronting shame in recovery, and how her openness has helped others find hope and healing.

Rediscovering my Jewish Identity Sober

by Rachel Kessler, LCDC

August 2020

How a very special Birthright trip to Israel brought together Judaism and recovery in a life-changing way for a young woman in early sobriety.

The Necessity of Emotional Honesty

by Thomas Fransen, MSW

May 2020

After losing everything to addiction, how can one embrace the darkness with honesty and find connection with the Divine Presence?

Wandering the Wilderness: A Journey of Self-Discovery & Healing

by Jory Hanselman

March 2019

How our ancestors and history of wandering the wilderness can support growth and recovery, and reframe our attitudes toward mental health and substance use disorder.

Page 1 of 2 Next