06 Feb Torah & 12 Steps; A Jewish Perspective on Recovery
Inspired by the teachings of Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth
Although there are mentioned important righteous traits to acquire within the 12 step program, what some may miss from the 12 step programs is the rectified wisdom and an actionable guideline that is found in Jewish Wisdom to help bring about righteous conduct and change to a Jewish soul.
For example (but not limited to), rectifying insights from the perspective of Jewish Wisdom on recovery concepts might include;
- What is a Higher Power… G-d
- What is Humility, and how to acquire this trait
- What is Honesty
- What is Sincerity
Typically 12 step programs rely on collective consciousness of people of the program or ‘recovery room’ for the concepts and insights of topics of recovery as mentioned but not limited to those above; G-d, Honesty, Humility, Sincerity. Relying on a ‘group consciousness is then limited to the consciousness of the group. There may be a lack of what we may call according ‘ actionable rectified wisdom’.
There are many that have found an amount of recovery in the 12 step programs. For a Jew to be successful in recovery (of anything) according to a Torah definition, he must access and integrate the appropriate ‘program of recovery’ for his body, mind and infinite soul to become rectified. This may be what the 12 step followers may refer as clean and sober. For a Jewish neshama (soul) to reach a rectified state requires a Jewish neshama’s recovery to connect to the infinite, limitless wisdom of the guidelines of the 613 mitzvot; the Torah.
Although it is widely held that once an addict-always an addict, it remains possible , but unfortunately rare , that a according to Jewish wisdom , a Jew who is most astringent and mindful in the changing of those character traits that have caused his transgression(s), he can affect rectified change of his desires. This is called in Hebrew Tshuvah( the process of return to a pristine state) and Tikun (rectification).
A person that has truly rectified his yetzer hora (desire) over substance(or other detrimental behaviour) would not sit on his laurels, consumed with celebration of his ‘achievement’. That would be haughty/arrogant, contradictory to the trait of Humilty which is necessary trait of character to acquiring Tshuvah to Tikun.
A person of such merit of change may see his conquering of his yetzer hora as a having acquired a great blessing in his ways to acquire continued perfection with his next challenges.
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
lawrenceJlax@gmail.com
http://lawrencelax.com