Delray Beach, FL – Jewish Recovery Center Offering Support, Inspiration And More At 4th Annual Shabbos Retreat

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    Delray Beach, FL – Ten years ago a Crown Heights rabbi and his wife set off for shlichus in East Delray Beach, Florida, completely unaware that theirs would be perhaps one of the most unconventional Chabad outposts in the world.

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    As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/1DaOkNK), Rabbi Meir and Frumi Kessler, quickly discovered that they were living in what the New York Times described as one of the largest communities of recovering addicts in the United States and that many of their congregants were, in fact, going through the recovery process. Embracing their new reality, the Kesslers opened the Jewish Recovery Center in Boca Raton eight years ago, working closely with many addiction programs in the area.

    Four years ago, the JRC hosted its first Shabbaton and since then the annual weekends have grown larger each year.

    “We had about 250 people last year and are expecting about 300 this year,” Rabbi Kessler told VIN News. “We continue to grow, both fortunately and unfortunately, exposing the fact that there are a lot of problems but it also shows that people are interested in solutions, not in putting their heads in the sand as world crumbles. They are facing their problems head on, courageously looking at themselves and becoming better.”

    This year’s Shabbaton, sponsored by Caron Renaissance which works hand in hand with the Jewish Recovery Center, will be taking place March 13th through 15th at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Boca Raton and will offer workshops, family support groups, recovery meetings and well known speakers including Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, Rabbi Shais Taub and Rabbi Dov Greenberg.

    Rabbi Kessler noted that while the annual weekend is an extremely popular event, he is continuing to add more features to better serve all participants, including additional therapists and a greater number of clinical elements.

    “We are addressing the overeaters more this year because there has been a big demand for that,” said Rabbi Kessler. “We will also be offering support for those who need to maintain special regimens such as gluten free and sugar free diets. We will also be having a special track this year for parents of loved ones who are battling addiction so that they can participate in solution oriented conversations. We have had a big response from the frum world and are looking forward to facilitating hopefully bringing chiyus and an energy that will last.”

    Rabbi Kessler noted that while there is a perception that dealing with an addiction is a sign of weakness, nothing could be farther from the truth.

    “People who come to us shouldn’t feel that they are less because, in fact, the opposite is true,” remarked Rabbi Kessler. “Someone who is willing to look at their problems and be brutally honest in the spirit of changing should be applauded because not everyone has the ability to do that. People who are should be looked up to for having the courage to facing their issues constructively.”

    To find out more about the Jewish Recovery Center’s retreat visit them online at www.JewishRecovery.com.


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    9 years ago

    We have increasing addiction in Monsey by the week. Parents are in denial here.