10 Aug Elul; Torah, Tshuvah & The 12 Steps of Recovery
Time to take inventory…
Elul- Rosh Hashanah
Torah, Tshuvah &The 12 Steps of Recovery and… Step 1
The month of Elul leads up to the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kipper and followed by Sukkot. It is an intense time of reflection and transformation for a Jew . A time of Tshuvah; a return to G-d in a rectified (spiritually purified) state.
The ‘Suggested 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous’ (the program known as A.A.) is essentially a program of Tshuvah as found in the teachings of Torah. The success of the 12 Step program, as it is in a program of Tshuvah, is dependent on ones sincerity, honesty and humility. We can see further that a Kabbalistic connection of ones recovery and ‘rectification’ is dependent on ones connection to a Higher Power, G-d, and a connection that corresponds to the sefirot , particularly the emanation (sefirot) or world of ‘Hod’, sincerity.
Maimonides who wrote the quintessential work ‘Hilchos Tshuvah’ (Laws of Tshuvah) gives commentary on the following line from Parshas Shoftim; “You shall be sincere with Havayah, your God. (duet.18:13)”, and comments that this verse of Torah is ‘inclusive of all the commandments’, making this simple line arguably the most important line in the Torah.
The verse uses the Hebrew word ‘Temim’ (temimim, temimut) or ‘Earnestness’: sincerity, simplicity, and completeness. Temimim (earnestness) is the key to having a relationship with G-d, and ones ability to nullify or humble oneself as the key to acquiring this trait. In other words, acquiring and refining the trait of humility is imperative to spiritual growth and refining ones character. Judaism, as do the 12 Steps, requires one to acquire the trait of humility if one is going to succeed in his/her spiritual growth.
An understanding reflected in the program of the 12 Steps of Recovery as in the process of Tshuvah is that to be successful in Tshuvah (rectify to recover) you must be completely honest (hod).
Elul is the optimal time to do Tshuvah. It is the most auspicious month to take personal account, and an especially good time to look at the process of personal rectification … Recovery. Although the 12 Steps are most often recognized as a recovery program for alcohol and drugs, addictions can be more than that. Addictions can be of anything that causes unmanageability in our lives. It can be substances or behaviours. The 12 Step Program can be easily adapted to help rectify anything causing unmanageability in ones life. The process of recovery can help rectify anything causing a barrier between ourselves and our relationship with our Higher Power, G-d. The 12 Steps of Recovery is a direct reflection of the process and influence of Tshuvah and Torah, and has had an elevating effect on the spiritual recovery of millions of people.
However, the souls of the various Nations were created for different purposes in creation. The mission of a Jewish neshama (spirit) requires the deeper connections for a Jewish soul that can only be acquired through an active program of Torah and the 613 mitzvot if a Jew with a Jewish soul wishes to truly rectify his addiction (aka yetzer hora or evil inclination).
The first step of the 12 Steps to Recovery is an admission, or in Torah terms we say the prayer called ‘Vidui (Ashamnu, prayers of admission-confession)’. It is here that one recognizes and verbalizes their problem.
In a continuing look at the 12 Steps of Recovery, the following is an understanding through a dissected look of the first step;
Step 1-
We admitted we were powerless over *alcohol and our lives became unmanageable.
*these steps are also effective in dealing with issues other than and not limited to alcohol. One may place here any substance or behaviour that may be causing unmanageability in ones life
We; With time and clarity the ‘We’ becomes interchangeable with the I/we as we begin to focus outwardly by aligning ourselves with a group/minion, and I /we begin to understand that I am a part of ‘a group or community’ which will accept me, and I can belong to something which is bigger than myself …I am part of something greater… I am not alone. It is essential to recovery to have a stable support network , family, community.., a congregation to support and share the path of a life of recovery in the acquiring and living of a righteous and rectified life.
The ‘We’, refers to a ‘collective’… Unity. As a group, our actions have a powerful effect on a broader scale and have still have an impact at the personal level, group/community level, national or global level.
Certainly one must take responsibility for their own actions, and in doing so, I and we contribute to the greater good.
The idea of collective responsibility may be referred to as ‘joint and several’ as ‘I am part of something greater and something greater is part of me’. In Judaism during the ‘Vidui and Ashamnu’ (Admissions) prayer we verbalize our admissions of sin in the context of both the ‘I’ and the ‘We’. We further say ‘even if not directly caused by me’ recognizing that I must have had a role in all of the world’s events. It may be that I may have been involved in a negatively impacting circumstance caused by omissions of my actions (such as turning a blind eye), that I may have been responsible somehow directly or indirectly and contributed or fueled another’s averas (sins-mistakes)… ‘I am my brother my, brother is me’… I am an individual and also part of a ‘collective, unified’ existence. This is a ‘ Torah’ perspective of responsibility.
… as we continue Step 1– We admitted we were powerless over *alcohol and our lives became unmanageable. …
The word ‘admitted’ describes the power of speech which is the beginning of transformation and re-birth. Our reality is formed with our speech.
Words as speech are powerful and are the beginning to actualizing change-
Some insight into Kabbalah and Hebrew letters are valuable in understanding the power of speech. The Hebrew letter associated with speech is the letter P-ei. The word Peh is ‘mouth’. Some examples are ‘Po’ translates as ‘here-now’, and the word Pitum (not spelled the same as the part of the etrog) translates as ‘suddenly’. The name Pinchas begins with the letter Pei and we understand the important midos (character trait) of Pinchas is his taking swift and necessary action against evil in his midst. Pinchas is the quintessential embodiment of character trait of Zeal. The words Ba’al Peh translate to ‘The Oral Torah’. All these words can be associated with the act of creation with speech; ‘Creation comes forth- here and now – in the mouth, and like giving birth, our words take on life with suddenness and Zeal’.
The shape of the letter P-ei as is the Kabbalistic ‘form’ of the letter Pei is the ‘mouth’. The inside of the P-ei or the negative interior space is like a mouth. It is in the negative space or vacuum of our mouth in which words can be formed and once articulated have the potential to create positive change through the power of speech. Furthermore, the negative or white space of the inside of the letter P-ei is the letter B-eit. Beit which is representative of Creation itself as we see in the Torah, the very first letter of the Torah is Beit of the first word Bereshit (‘in the beginning of Creation’– Genesis).
There is an important and relevant understanding relating to speech; ‘G-d created the world with 10- utterances’, that is to say that the world was created by G-d ‘speaking’ Creation into existence. In summary on this idea, as we are created in His image, we too have a similar way to create a new reality, and experience re-birth or re-creation with the power of speech.
‘With speech, our words create a reality’…
… as we continue Step 1…We admitted we were powerless over *alcohol and our lives became unmanageable.
‘Were’; I/we make this deceleration referring to our past behavior as a way of beginning the creation of a new reality.
‘Powerlessness’; Where we/I believed we had the power to choose right from wrong, but through a lack of humility and arrogance, believed that we/I had the power of also choosing the consequences. I/we deceived myself. This led to a false, counterfeit understanding founded on arrogance and self will, and is a manifestation of the evil inclination (desire, yetser hora).
To admit powerlessness is to begin to understand that ‘I am not in charge’, that there is a greater power at work. When I make this admission, I begin to recognize that I am not the center of the universe. There is a power Greater than me. A Greater Infinite Power that Power is G-d.
That our Lives had become- (That our lives/my life had become); Having had a moment of reflection, a person may have a glimpse of the state of consequence of his life in the past, present and or possibly the future. Most importantly, this brings one cause to approach and reflect on the present. This can ignite a small spark or subtle introduction to a cheshbon hanefesh; a personal inventory which will be explored in depth in latter steps. It may be this spark that prompts us to address and seek answers to meaningful questions at that latter date such as what is life, what is its purpose, and how did I end up here in this state ? It is important to understand that how we got to where we are did not happen by accident.
There was a series of events in our lives, some seemingly within our control, and some seemingly beyond our control that led up to our present situation that we must take ownership/responsibility of our actions if we are to succeed. And in time, we will see that G-d sustains all, and all is for the good. G-d willing our chets (mistakes, sins) become meritorious as mitzvot.
Unmanageability; For a person to understand what unmanageability means, a person must begin to have a grasp of a reality based on ‘G-d’s perspective’. Everyone has at some time experienced unmanageability. However some are more capable of dealing with these situations in a spiritually elevating way by turning a negative situation into a positive one. We are not always so fortunate to posses these tools, but they can be acquired. With this simple statement of Step 1, (We admitted we were powerless over *alcohol and our lives became unmanageable), one can begin to recognize and thus admit ones powerlessness as one begins to understand ones own unmanageable circumstance. This gives a person an introduction to the insight into his humility, that he is not in control of the world. He may then come to know that through a healthy relationship with ourselves and G-d, we can manage and transform unmanageability, and also realize that G-d Himself may deem upon us challenging situations that although challenging, are only meant for us to succeed and bring us closer to Him, for in the curse(the challenge) is the blessing.
This perspective of the reality of ‘unmanageability’ requires objectivity. True objectivity can only be understood through the eyes of the most Objective Being… G-d Himself. This objective being, G-d, transcends time and space (and paradoxically is simultaneously inside time and space). He is not limited in any way. He is an Infinite Being. Therefore, a human being with a physical body and an infinite spirit must find a way to connect to this infinite being and integrate within himself G-ds infinity. For a Jew, it is done through prayer and meditation, and avoda or service to G-d ; through the learning and living of Torah and the 613 Mitzvot.
As I have mentioned, there is nothing in the 12 Steps of Recovery that can not be found in Torah. During the month of Elul and through the High Holidays, the Mazel (constellations) is strongest for transformation. It is time for every Jew to take account of his or her own life and accordingly make changes to rectify themselves. In doing so, through the process of successful Tshuvah shall come a Tikun; a rectification. It will bring about change in ones character, ones relationship with G-d the World and Others, and hasten the Final Redemption and the coming of Mashiach.
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The Suggested 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol*– that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3.Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
* to make these steps generic and applicable to other issues of unmanageability, one may substitute alcohol for drug or other substance or behaviour causing unmanageability (l.l.)
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling (Hnrs)
www.lawrencelax.com