Last week, some 25 educators, community activists and residents of Crown Heights convened at the Besht center to discuss the challenges and dangers of substance abuse in our community.
The event, arranged by The Addiction Awareness Committee, is hoped to be a springboard for future discussion– and action.
Though various initiatives have addressed various aspects of substance abuse, last week’s gathering is the most comprehensive to date.
The panel, led by Rabbi Shea Hecht, Mr. Michael Behrman, David Schwartz and Steve Friedman addressed the gamut of issues facing today’s youth and adults.
Topics included drug and alcohol abuse and Internet addiction as well as the tools available for providing support for both addicts and their families. According to Rabbi Levke Kaplan, a local mashpia and educator, an event of this nature has been “long overdue.”
Kaplan feels that it is important to address issues of substance abuse “holistically” – addressing both the reasons behind addictive behavior as well as creating a learning environment that “engages students and focuses their energy into positive forms of expression.”
One important discussion during the evening focused on the permissive nature prevalent in the community towards reckless alcohol abuse.
Attendees noted that, despite the Rebbe’s own stance towards limiting alcohol consumption, some continue to believe that reckless use of ‘mashke’ is mistakenly deemed ‘chassidish’ behavior.
Special focus was also given to the safe and responsible use of alcohol on Purim.
The evening ended with the joint decision that educators and leaders in the community be trained in the basics of diagnosing and helping those struggling with addiction.
Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, an organizer of the event, sees this increased knowledge and training in the community to be critical.
“We all know how the Gemara praises someone who saves even a single life,” Werde says. “By recognizing the dangers of addiction, we are able to not only help those who are addicted, but their parents, siblings, spouses and friends who suffer with them.”
Was this open to the public? If not, it should have been. If it was, where was it advertized? I would have liked to be there. Alcohol drinking is out of control here & drug taking is far more common than people think. FYI it’s not just younger people, there are MANY older Balabatim in Crown Heights who are alcoholics, I personally know two & I know one druggie in his 50’s! You don’t know who has a problem.
old red wine is considered by halacha to be ideal. mashke is inherently revered in old lubavitch chassidus. making kiddush on mashke is “really” chassidish though the rebbe spoke strongly against more that 4 drinks, and sometimes even against any drinking, he also, attimes, promoted drinking – though there always seemed to be a clear line drawn between over and under 40 years old. purim, the mainly accepted halachic view and enhanced by chassidic torah, is real drunkedness (of course the holiness of the day won’t allow any promisuity as the result) to effectively undo eth culture that drinking is… Read more »
Kol hakavod. Acknowledgment is an important first step and following up with such a panel a crucial paradigm shift.
Hopefully we can help save a new generation.
lechaim boruch ato hashem shehakol niye bidvoro
The above link is a magnificent one. It taught many different things.
Lubavitch has created an entire culture around drinking, at weddings, brissin, farbrengens, vorts, l’chaims, bar mitzvahs…just about any old time is a good time to get smashed and lose brain cells. If we told you your community has become the laughingstock of the Jewish world for such a subculture and that you have to change your entire approach to such a fundamental part of that culture, would you listen then? You dress like Chasidim and drink like Irishmen. Ridiculous, no?
Wonderful to see when people are willing to take a stand and encourage others to do the same. We are as susceptible as anyone to develop addictive disorders. Thank you for the public forum. IY”H its impact will spread in scope .
Pinchas Herman, LPC, CAC
Pittsburgh, PA
Thank you Rabbi Werde and the panel for hosting this event and kudos to COL for posting. While this challenge is not a new one, the painful reality that it brings up continues to drive the masses to denial. For the families of addicts and victims of other invasive crimes, this is a must watch from Rabbi Shais Taub http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/1391560/jewish/Emotional-Sobriety.htm
Hatzlocho in your life saving efforts!!!
Shmuly
Kudos to Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, for having the foresight/courage to create this event. Substance abuse is a fact in our community. Our acknowledgement of the critical need to address substance abuse brings postive action to our community. Our efforts to face up and deal with this issue are worthwhile and to be applauded. Yasher Koach to our community.