By James D. Davis, Sun Sentinel
Meet another member of South Florida’s many-sided faith community. This week we’re talking with Rabbi Meir Kessler, co-director with wife Fruma of the Jewish Recovery Center, Boca Raton.
Title: Director of Jewish Recovery Center, Boca Raton.
Other job experience: Former rabbinical scholar in Dharamsala, India.
Other community posts: Chaplain at Palm Beach County Jail; chaplain at Caron Renaissance rehabilitation center, Boca Raton.
Education: Rabbinate, Lubavitch Yeshiva organization, Kfar Chabad, Israel.
Personal: Age: 34. Born in Brooklyn.
Family: Married to Fruma, director of Women’s Sober Home Delray Beach. Four children.
Q: Did you want to run a recovery center, rather than head a synagogue?
A: I didn’t know I was going to do this. I was a shliach [emissary for Chabad Lubavitch] in east Delray Beach and tried to develop a Chabad House. As I was working, I realized that most of the people I worked with were people in recovery. There’s a big recovery community in the Boca Raton-Delray Beach area.
Q: Is it harder than synagogue work?
A: Yes. I have to say “No” a lot. I have to do things that are counter-intuitive. Like telling a boy he has to sleep on the street for a night, so he can hit bottom and take responsibility for his actions. Like telling his parents not to enable him. It’s easier to do a wedding or a bar mitzvah than to tell someone their loved one is out of control.
Q: How do you cope?
A: The Talmud says that whoever preserves a single soul, scripture ascribes merit to them as though they saved a complete world.
Q: Did you ever want a synagogue?
A: I’ve tried a pulpit. It’s not for me, not for now. I love what I’m doing. I see change, I see growth. It’s very real.
Q: Do you have a motto or a favorite scripture verse?
A: There’s a Hebrew saying: “What happened, happened. What’s going to happen, hasn’t happened yet. And what’s happening is going by in the blink of an eye. So why worry?”
Rabbi and wife saved my life and family life….without him i have no clue were i would be…his chesed never ends and has one of the biggest hearts i know…
yasher koach to chabad of boca and the denbergs for providing a place for this wonderful program
meir is a very special man. most people dont understand the work he does.at chabad we love to criticize, against overwhelming odds (unfortauntly he battles with families that believe they are helping their loved ones but dont understand they are killing them) and very little recognition this man has saved hundreds of lives. keep up the good work meir, G-D knows what you do! and the many people you have helped.
Go Meir! Love the pic. There should be a second pic with the same angle and with you adjusting your glasses.
Lovely article. Honest straight forward. Keep up the great and most vital work. Tremendous success comng your way
Mayer, great spending time with you in Yerushaliem at the K Bar Mitzvah May you have much Hatzlacha in your very important and critical work of helping TIYEREH NESHOMOS find a life of health, happiness and success. Your AHAVAS YISROEL is an inspiration to us all. M&D S.
There’s also a frum rehab place in Israel where many people go, including Lubavitchers. It’s in beautiful surroundings away from it all… http://www.retorno.org (www.facebook.com/RetornoCenter).
pita corner!!!! YYY chaval al hazman
I personally know many young adults which Rabbi Kessler (Meir) helped change their life from rock bottom to a stable successful future. He literally save lives. It is very recommended to get in touch with him for any addiction case you know of.
Y.B.
Mayer is an awesome guy, doing the perfect thing. Go from good to great!