Precious lives are spinning out of control. No one is immune; no community is safe. It happens anywhere in the world. Chemical dependency, alcoholism, eating disorders, gambling, and many other addictions, when untreated, destroy people.
While serving his four-year tenure as a community rabbi in Mexico, Rabbi Eitan Eckstein first encountered the tremendous drug problem in South America’s Jewish community. Upon overcoming his initial shock, Rabbi Eckstein soon discovered that the problem was not limited to drugs, nor was it confined to the environs of South America.
Returning to Israel, Rabbi Eckstein discovered that drug use and addiction were rampant among mainstream Jewish youth. Shocked by the insidious spread of this disease and the precious lives lost in its wake, Rabbi Eckstein embarked upon a lifesaving mission. His response to the dangerous and aberrant behavior he was witnessing was the founding of Retorno Psycho-Educational Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions. Established in 1996, Retorno is recognized and supervised by the Ministry of Social Welfare and by the Ministry of Health. Located in the beautiful hills of Givat Shemesh, Retorno provides a comprehensive prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation program for children, teenagers, and adults suffering from different types of addictions.
What causes a person to lose control of his or her life and find solace in substance abuse? “Changes in society have brought change and strain on the family,” Rabbi Eckstein told the 5TJT during his recent visit to the United States. “Children today cope with more types and deeper levels of stress than ever before. They are exposed to the Internet and other media that promise happiness and fulfillment only by beautifying the body, attracting the perfect partner, or driving the right car. Children today are being bombarded by the media, at younger ages than ever before, with images that are provocative and violent. As a result, they are being forced to deal with issues for which they are neither developmentally nor emotionally ready. Too often, the results are catastrophic.”
An untreated infection spreads to the entire body. An addictive condition affects a person in many areas of his life. Treating only the addiction is like putting a band-aid on the wound without checking if the infection has spread. Retorno believes in a holistic approach. They look for the reasons that led to the addictions: family relationship, emotional expression, social interaction, and much more, and include therapies to deal with the entire range of issues.
“Drugs and addiction are not the problem; they are the solution,” Rabbi Eckstein explained. “People turn to drugs as an incorrect solution to their deep pain. At Retorno the goal is to deal with and heal the inner pain. There is no blame, only responsibility.” The essential first step in recovery is taking responsibility for one’s own life.
Retorno’s central activity is the counseling program for prevention and emotional support. The prevention programs are designated to put a finger on the pain hidden within teenage youth, to encourage them to ask for help, and then to give to it to them. The program also provides parents, teachers, and professional staff with the tools to help youth cope with their feelings. The activities take place in workshops, presentations, study days, and seminars, held both onsite and offsite. Activities focus on identifying addiction-prone youth—prevention and treatment for teenagers who are in a high-risk category.
In addition to the prevention programs, Retorno runs a psycho-educational center for the prevention and treatment of addictions, with a traditional atmosphere, emphasizing Jewish values. While provisions are made for full religious observance, nobody is compelled by the staff to observe mitzvos. To date, hundreds of patients have completed therapy successfully and returned to normal life in their communities.
During their residential treatment, youngsters study at Retorno’s therapeutic school while simultaneously preparing for their matriculation exams, often accomplishing impressive results. Most of these are students who previously failed at school and are beset with challenges including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, etc. Achieving academic success is a cornerstone of recovery and, for many, their first indication of hope for accomplishments in their adult life. The average duration of treatment is one year for teenagers, with full professional residential facilities.
Retorno also has a therapeutic treatment center for adults; both therapeutic centers target clients with severe addiction-related problems who need all-inclusive inpatient care. Patients are encouraged to connect with the traumatized inner self and learn to heal old wounds while learning to develop new, healthy behaviors and relationships. The program includes group therapy, 12-step groups, and individual therapy with licensed clinical social workers.
“At Retorno we see ourselves as family; we’re not just a rehabilitation center for addiction treatment, and this strong sense of family is especially apparent in our English-speakers’ program,” Rabbi Eckstein says. The English-speakers’ program functions in a semi-independent fashion, side-by-side with the main groups on campus. Clients follow the same daily schedule as the other clients but live in separate quarters and have their own groups and many specialized activities. These include horseback riding, hiking, off-campus trips to discover the beauty of Israel and our heritage, bicycling, fitness, meditation and tefillah, and art and drama therapy. Retorno also has an on-campus stable. Many of their clients go riding each week not only for recreation and exercise, but also as part of a revolutionary concept combining the “12 steps” and horseback riding, created by director Rabbi Eckstein.
Although recovery from dependence is the primary goal, spiritual growth is a powerful element in every 12-step-oriented recovery process. While not every patient is religious, each is required to engage in some spiritual activity, such as reading Jewish texts, meditation, or taking a regular cheshbon ha’nefesh. Patients are encouraged and helped, during the course of their recovery, to rediscover their personal relationship to Judaism. One of the unique aspects of Retorno’s treatment plan are the specially trained kollel students who learn on the premises daily, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., including three hours of daily learning with the patients.
“We place great importance on building a spiritual-ethical world for the patients . . . even in the first step of treatment,” Rabbi Eckstein explained. “Gradually, the negativity subsides, and most of the patients begin to connect with the learning, the prayers, and the kollel students. They eventually connect Judaism with the diagnostic therapy treatment and to the 12 steps.”
No man is an island. Retorno offers personalized attention to each client and his family, maintaining constant contact with the family and encouraging their input. Retorno’s concern for their clients extends to their families as well.
I asked Rabbi Eckstein why someone from abroad would come to a therapy program in Israel. “Our clients are far from their surroundings where they have previously used drugs or alcohol,” he explained. “They no longer have access to the people who supplied them with what they are trying to remove themselves from. When they are far away and nobody knows them, they are able to start to work on themselves and progress through the therapy process.”
Rabbi Eckstein adds, “Not only do they have to deal with being away from home and all it entails, but they must adjust to the monumental change of dealing with life without their drug of choice. For many, this is the first time in years that they have had to live without a mind-altering way of coping—and it is an overwhelming experience. Our unique combination of setting boundaries, love, and giving encouragement helps them to rebuild themselves into healthy, functioning, caring individuals. After many months of hard work, most are ready to return home, in a healthier way, or to begin a new life in Israel.”
Retorno’s staff of dedicated professionals delves into the souls of their residents and helps them discover what caused their pain. They provide succor to slowly, carefully, and honestly rebuild their lives. Retorno’s programs are based on the belief that no person is beyond help—and the time to provide that help is before he or she hits rock bottom.
Retorno is endorsed by a number of rabbanim, including Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, Rav Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Rabbi Zev Leff, and Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski.
For further information, please call Retorno in America at 718-285-9815 or e‑mail pinny@retorno.org. All inquiries are assured the utmost confidentiality.