This summer, Jewish Addiction Community Services (JACS) and Jewish Family Services Vancouver (JFS) launched JACS Family Circle, a group that meets biweekly to provide solidarity and support for family members and loved ones of Jews experiencing addiction.
“Most people are surprised that this exists,” said Rabbi Josh Corber, director of addictions and mental health services. “But alcoholism is a family disease that affects everyone in the family differently. And, regardless of their loved one’s recovery journey, they deserve to have a life that’s happy, joyous and free.”
Nine people showed up for the first JACS Family Circle meeting, on July 28, and, depending on the needs of the attendees, the frequency may become weekly. Corber said gratitude was the main theme that emerged from the first meeting. “We received immense appreciation for the fact that this group exists now, and the attendees were happy to have this group and to have one another,” he said.
Since their Third Seder event in April, JFS and JACS have been busy launching this group and the Jewish Addiction Circle (JAC), a support group for people struggling with addiction, which follows Jewish teachings as they relate to self-care and recovery. JAC also meets biweekly. While participants don’t have to be Jewish to attend, they should be connected in some way with Judaism, or at the least, comfortable with the therapy provided having a Jewish basis.
Corber leads JAC and co-leads JACS Family Circle with Elana Epstein, a certified recovery coach.
In early July, JACS Vancouver participated in the AA International Convention in Vancouver, which was attended by more than 30,000 people. Because AA does not partner with external agencies, JACS rented a booth at “Sober City,” at the Junction Public Market, Granville Square. There, Corber interacted with convention attendees, tourists and cruise ship passengers, educating them about the work of JACS and similar Jewish organizations in other cities in Canada and the United States.
“I was able to make connections with many Jewish addicts in recovery,” he said. “There were sober Jews from small cities in the US who felt very isolated as Jews, and some of them were moved to tears when they spoke with us. Many of the people who approached us were Jewish, and many were not, but all of them were happy that we were there. Some didn’t know of any Jewish agency involved with addictions prior to meeting us.”
Corber worked hard to spread awareness of JACS’s work at the convention, and says addiction services for Jews are needed now more than ever.
“It can be difficult for people who aren’t Jewish to help us if they don’t understand the Jewish culture, though they sincerely want to,” he said. “But what we can build together will benefit the Vancouver Jewish community as well as alcoholics everywhere. The returns on our participation are hard to quantify right now but, on a world level, JACS Vancouver is now much more known. This can bring all kinds of returns, including philanthropic.”
Those interested in joining JAC or JACS Family Circle should email Corber at [email protected] for more information.
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.