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Dear JCOGS family,

As a young adult, I did some educational work with Jewish teens.  One year, our group was visited by the Jewish addiction recovery centre Beit T’shuvah. A staff person and a former resident of the program came to speak first hand to what those struggling with substance misuse experience throughout their lives.  That visit was a seminal moment in my life.

Yes, Jews have and do get addicted to substances.  Some of our youngest have been taken from us too soon.  The Jewish community, too, needs to face this reality that our youth are starting to use substances too young, and that the earlier one starts using substances, the more likely that individual will become dependent and struggle from substance misuse disorders later in life.

“We all have addictions,” Martina Anderson said on my call with her last week.  Martina is a harm reduction program manager for Vermont CARES, an organization that, among other things, helps tackle addiction issues and harm reduction.  “What are the things that we might be addicted to, that we might have a hard time letting go of?” she asked.  Binge watching Netflix. Online shopping.  Seemingly harmless.  But, “addiction can affect all of us so easily,” she concluded.

Drawing from Jewish tradition, Beit T’shuvah calls addiction “a symptom of a divided self; an unhealthy dependence on substances or compulsive activities to provide a temporary sense of wholeness and well-being… We believe everyone has the right to redemption… allowing all who wish to make T’shuvah.”

Wherever we are on the spectrum of addiction, whether chemically dependent or not, we have a choice to reimagine ourselves as whole and be seen that way by others: as created in the image of G-d and worthy of redemption.  One of the things I love about Judaism is our uncompromising belief that people can do t’shuvah, “return” to the best version of one’s self and make amends.

Please take a moment to review these resources aiming to help our community support one another—perhaps even you or someone in your family:

• Not sure where to start?  Watch this video to better understand why harm reduction, i.e., trying to minimize the risk factors and the negative outcomes associated with substance misuse, is so important.  If there is community desire (email eortiz@jcogs.org to express your interest), JCOGS will host a workshop through Vermont CARES to learn how we can help curb opioid overdose (including teaching you how to save a life) and how we can speak about addiction in non-stigmatizing ways.
• 170 people die every day of opioid overdoses!  Vermont is one of the states most severely impacted.  The founders of Jenna’s Promise in Johnson began their multifaceted substance misuse prevention organization after the tragic loss of their daughter to a substance use disorder.  They provide funds for those wishing to enter sober living, have built a women’s recovery house, and are creating jobs through a cafe and store.
• There is one simple, effective, and safe way of saving someone’s life in the midst of an overdose.  Watch more here and then reach out to North Central Vermont Recovery Center for more support for addiction recovery or to get some life saving naloxone (Narcan) for free.
• Want to learn more about how to prevent local youth substance misuse?  I am proud of the work of my wife Alison and the team at Healthy Lamoille Valley.  HLV hosts a monthly coalition meeting for community members.  Find out more here about how to get involved.

 
Tihiyu bri’im, stay safe, be well.  Shabbat Shalom,
 
Rabbi David

The JCOGS office is currently closed to the public in order to protect the safety of our community. You can reach us by calling

802.253.1800 (office) | 802.477.2550 (cell) or sending an email to jcogs@jcogs.org. Please contact us with any needs.