Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons and Significant Others
Jewish Alcoholics, Chemical Dependents and Significant Others[1] (JACS) was "founded in 1979 by the New York Federation of Jewish Philanthropies."
Part of their work includes "a speakers' bureau and publishing a directory of resources for families in crisis."[1]
History[edit]
One of the founders of the JACS Long Island branch explained why Jewish Alcoholics, Chemical Dependents and Significant Others was formed, rather than direct people to Alcoholics Anonymous: "to an observant Jew who has to meet in a church basement ... not always going to work." Another co-founder added that even to "help save one life ... one of the highest commandments."[1]
One Jewish doctor was anonymously quoted by The New York Times as saying that:
Most 12-step programs have a religious overtone, and it's difficult for people who were raised Jewish to feel initially comfortable with mainstream ideology that is Christian-oriented.
JACS also has a unit called Teen Network,[1] and, like the parent organization, it focuses across various degrees of religiosity.[3] and several JACS members formed a group "for alcoholics who are children of Holocaust survivors."[4]
A 2001 study by JACS of residents at a Jewish treatment center reported self-identification of 10% Orthodox, 28% Conservative, 32% Reform and 30% non-affiliated.[5]
Blend[edit]
The Orthodox Union, which runs some of the Birthright Israel trips, was approached by a JACS program director with 15 years of experience to allow her to "run a trip for young Jewish addicts in recovery" and, later on she became "North American director of the OU's ... Israel Birthright" trips.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Naomi Serviss (June 13, 1999). "Helping Jews to Tackle Substance Abuse". The New York Times.
- ^ The Serenity Prayer, attributed to the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and recited at the end of A.A. meetings ... God is mentioned directly or indirectly in five of the Twelve Steps: Nan Robertson (February 21, 1988). "The Changing World of Alcoholics Anonymous". The New York Times.
- ^ Naomi Schaefer Riley (April 2, 2005). "A Push to Curb Drug Abuse Among Orthodox Youths". The New York Times.
- ^ Abby Goodnough (December 8, 1994). "The neediest cases: Recovering From Divorce and Alcohol". The New York Times.
- ^ R. C. Berman (November 15, 2007). "Chabad to Bring Chanukah Light to Recovering Substance Abusers".
- ^ in 2018 their 64 trips to Israel sent "thousands." Sharon Darack (Spring 2019). "Overcoming Addiction: The Courage to Succeed". Jewish Action (OU). pp. 53–61.