Jewish Community Recovery

The Zaakah Hotline will be open for all the upcoming holidays. Call or text to seek support.

A shared feature between recovery and Teshuvah is that of the effectiveness of the group over the individual. Research has shown that one-to-one therapy in addiction is not as effective as group meetings, much like communal prayer for forgiveness is superior to individual prayer. The most potent factor of a 12-Step meeting is that the group exerts a force that an individual cannot achieve. Jewish law states that tefillah b'tzibur, communal prayer, is far more effective than individual prayer. There are certain prayers that require a minyan, and this is where a person can be functional just by his existence. As with a minyan, just one's presence at a 12 Step meeting is functional, and one contributes to others' recovery just by attending a meeting, This contribution is crucial in emerging from the selfism of addiction. (Excerpted from Teshuvah Through Recovery by Rabbi Abraham Tweski)

It's important to recognize the distinction between controlling our emotions and suppressing them. While controlling allows us to manage our reactions, suppressing pushes emotions away without truly processing them. Let's explore the healthy balance of embracing and understanding our emotions.