God of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction
By Rabbi Shais Taub
Ktav
New Jersey, 2011
185 pages
Can a Jew utilize a Christian religious service to heal his life-threatening addiction?
According to Rabbi Shais Taub, we do not need to answer this question because Alcoholics Anonymous’ famous twelve-step program is not specific to any religion. With historical insight to the program’s founding and spiritual sensitivity to an addict’s many challenges, Rabbi Taub describes the twelve steps in Jewish terms and shows how they were intentionally formulated in generic terms to accommodate anyone willing to change. Additionally, Rabbi Taub describes the twelve steps as a template for spiritual growth. As a Lubavitcher chassid, he presents a mystical Judaism that fits in with contemporary spiritual terminology. Yet it seems that any stream of Jewish thought can easily incorporate the twelve steps as a means for increasing spiritual health and connection with God.
Rabbi Gil Student writes frequently on Jewish issues and blogs at TorahMusings.com.