Connecticut Jewish Ledger

ORANGE — A physician, psychologist and a hospital medical worker are meeting one evening in the classroom of a local synagogue. But this group of men and women is not there for the Talmud or Kabbalah class; this is the weekly New Haven-area meeting of JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically dependent persons and Significant others).

JACS, a voluntary, mutual help group founded in 1979, helps dispel the myth that there is “no such thing” as Jews who are alcoholic or chemically dependent.

When Gary (pseudonyms are used throughout this article), now in his early 50s, finished yeshiva high school, he went off to college. While Gary continued following the mitzvot (Jewish commandments), he began to drink alcohol and use drugs “on and off.”

“I remember going to the all-night Shavuot learning and smoking marijuana with my friendsit didn’t seem problematic at the time, as long as we were transferring fire (permitted on holidays, but not Sabbaths) and not lighting a match. It didn’t seem problematic at the timeto keep mitzvot and smoke pot!” This habit went on for 15 years.

Following a stint in rehab, Gary attended a retreat where he reports being the only Jew.

“I realized that a heightened spiritual condition was necessary for me if I was going to fight this.” Fortunately, a monk sent (by his order) to work with alcoholics as their spiritual advisor, turned Gary on to JACS.

“When I went on my first JACS retreat in the Catskills more than 20 years ago,” reports Gary, “most of the people were secular Jews. Now, most of the people are charedim, ultra-Orthodox Jews from various Chasidic sects.”

While Ben, also in his early 50s, is not himself an alcoholic or substance user, he went to his first Al-Anon meeting 20 years ago at the suggestion of a friend and mental health professional. “My family was a dysfunctional Jewish family, and I found that the group met my needs. I learned that I could have a relationship with God daily, every minute if I choose,” reports Ben, who began to grow uncomfortable with the recitation of “The Lord’s Prayer” at the end of meetings. Ben wondered if a group existed which would also meet his Jewish needs. He was relieved to discover JACS.

“There is something pretty amazing closing a meeting with the Shema and not the Lord’s Prayer!”

Sherry, a group member in her early 40s, reports that, despite her somewhat observant home and Hebrew school training, she “got in with the wrong crowd” in high school. Four years ago, Sherry began attending Al-Anon, which met some of her needs.

“I recently attended a JACS weekend and it was so spiritually uplifting. We were all people who somehow underwent this incredible gift of experiencing terrible experiences: abuse (alcohol, drugs, emotional, spiritual, physical, etc), pain, loss of faith, etc., and yet we found that we were given another opportunity to start over and have the unity, the understanding, the identification with one another. There was a feeling of belonging, and safety within this framework of people who you didn’t even know. I met so many baal teshuvot [sic]…women who were turning their life over to the care of G-d, as they understood him…It was and is very empowering. I always knew that there were people like me somewhere out there.”

Alcohol: Drug of Choice
It is difficult to determine the number of Jews battling chemical dependency. A 2001 JACS study, “Characteristics of a Population of Chemically Dependent Jewish Men and Women,” was published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases. The study, of 379 individuals who were part of the JACS database, showed that while 71% of respondents reported using more than one substance, alcohol tends to be the drug of choice for chemically dependent Jews. Also, the study shows a relatively large proportion of women substance abusers, and the study does not support the hypothesis that alcoholic Jews suffer from lack of education, poor income, alienation, or loss of religious conviction.

While JACS has been a source of support for so many Jews around the world, it is likely that many Jews with chemical dependency issues are still not attending meetings.

The JACS New Haven group meets on Sunday nights from 8-9 p.m. at Temple Emanuel, 150 Derby Ave. (Route 34 and Dogwood) in Orange. Contact jacsnewhaven@aol.com or call 203-988-3601.

Where to Go for Help
There are 64 JACS groups in 21 states, and there are additional groups in Israel and four other countries.

The national JACS organization may be contacted via their website at http://www.jacsweb.org or via email jacs@jacsweb.org or at 212-397-4197.

There is a JACS meeting each week in Stamford [Monday nights at 8:30 n Open “Pathways to Life” at Jewish Family Services - 111 Prospect Street, Stamford n contact Netta Stern at (203) 921-4161 ext. 122 nettastern@ctjfs.org. Congregation BEKI in New Haven hosts weekly AA meetings on Thursdays at 8pm Visit http://www.beki.org for more details (go to “Tiqun HaOlam n Social Action Projects” and follow the link for “AA Meeting”).