By Arielle Krule LCSW, Director of Spiritual and Holistic Services, Selah   

Addiction is a challenge that affects millions in the United States, with 46.3 million people struggling with substance use disorders. In the Jewish community, however, addiction is often treated as a silent issue—something that feels isolated or exceptional. Many of us have been raised to believe that addiction doesn’t exist “in nice Jewish families” or that if it does, our family might be the rare exception. Whether it's alcohol, food, gambling, or opioids, admitting these struggles are close to us often carries a unique cultural weight in Jewish households. Yet the reality is, the rates of addiction in the Jewish community are not an anomaly; if anything, they reflect, and may even surpass, the national averages.

Through countless conversations with individuals and recent research, we’ve come to understand that addiction is not “other” in the Jewish world. It’s real, and it's present. However, the stigma around addiction can prevent those affected from seeking help, creating an environment where healing and recovery feel distant.

What is overlooked in these conversations is the wisdom and resilience that people in recovery can bring to the broader Jewish community. Those who have walked this path offer valuable insights into strength, vulnerability, and healing, often in ways that deeply resonate with the opportunities for teshuvah (return) and resilience.

As we approach Chanukah, we find ourselves in a season that holds a unique kind of symbolism. Chanukah falls at the darkest, coldest time of the year, when days are short, temperatures drop, and many of us feel the weight of seasonal fatigue, burnout, or isolation. For some, this time of year brings on “the winter blues”; for others, it can deepen existing struggles. Yet, Chanukah’s message is clear and powerful: even in the darkest times, we have the ability to create light.

This year, as we light the menorah, we have an opportunity to reflect on how the lights of Chanukah can inspire those of us facing the journey of recovery. In a season that has been challenging in so many ways, the warm, growing glow of the Chanukah candles reminds us that healing is a process—a steady, intentional effort to bring light into dark spaces, both within ourselves and our community.

Celebrating Chanukah through the lens of recovery allows us to reframe the holiday as more than just a reminder of an ancient miracle. The principles of recovery—humility, honesty, compassion, and resilience—align with Jewish teachings on how to confront challenges and rebuild. This Chanukah, as we gather, let us explore how Jewish tradition offers light to each of us in our own struggles and how we can create spaces to connect with others walking similar paths.

Please join JCFS Chicago addiction services for our annual Gift of Recovery Chanukah program, online and presented in partnership with Selah!  Selah’s Arielle Krule and Jeremy Pool, along with Chicago- and Brooklyn-area Jews in Recovery, will guide us in celebrating the light we create, the courage we bring, and the possibility of transformation. May this season be one of healing, hope, and warmth as we build stronger, more compassionate communities. All are welcome!

December 18, 6:30 – 8pm CST/7:30-9pm EST.  Register here to receive the Zoom link.