A RABBI MOURNS –

August 17, 2021 – Although our community had grown close to him, I had no idea that Jeff struggled with addiction until it took his life. Who knows what opportunities may have been open to him if Jeff had been more comfortable sharing his struggles with those in our community? Did he know that I would have thought him a hero? Could he have been assured that those around him wouldn’t think of him as a bum who had fallen in with bad buddies?

Losing a loved one to an overdose is deep pain that will likely never go away. It was hard for me and my community, and I can’t even imagine the pain that Jeff’s parents and sister experience each and every day.

It was this pain — along with the inspiration and support of Jeff’s parents, Jon and Veronica Kraus — that led me to start Jeff’s Place. Located within our synagogue building, Jeff’s Place is a physical space where people in recovery meet for regular 12-Step meetings and where the broader community can attend addiction and recovery awareness events. Jeff’s Place also connects people who are struggling and looking for direction to the support they need, as well as sharing resources with those at the beginning of their treatment. To my pleasant surprise, I have found that individuals and their loved ones in the recovery community in particular welcomed more open conversation around this topic.

The recovery community taught me a lot as well; I’ve started to incorporate some of the wisdom, teachings and parallels from the 12 Steps program into my Shabbat sermons, classes and individual discussions. At first, I’d get some funny stares. But as time has progressed, I’ve found that people are increasingly willing to explore what these teachings mean for them in their own spiritual journey.

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