Jewish Community Programs

Addiction Recovery is all around us, freely shared and supported! We are now celebrating one another’s recovery just as we have always celebrated positive change in other kinds of physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. So…how do we support loved ones who are living addiction-free? 

Abuse does not discriminate. It impacts Jews and gentiles of every age, marital status, economic and educational level. It is important that our professional and lay leadership understand how abuse occurs throughout the lifespan and how this applies to synagogue life, including sensitivity to those who have been victims of abuse.

The sun is out, birds are chirping, flowers are in bloom and there is no doubt that summer is in full swing. When we are grieving, the outside world often feels inconsistent with what is happening inside, more often in the summer.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to call attention to the recently published Surgeon General Advisory report on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation.

JCFS Chicago addiction services, in partnership with Live4Lali, is encouraging Jewish communal organizations to hold Overdose Prevention and Reversal (Narcan) Training for staff and community members.  We all have the responsibility to know how to save a life and with Narcan, it couldn’t be easier. 

The Jewish community has come a long way in acknowledging addiction as a significant issue and in supporting community members struggling with addiction and those in recovery. JCFS Chicago and the Chicago Board of Rabbis invite you to continue this forward momentum.  

The JCFS chaplaincy program develops its services based on this cultural, religious, historical, geographical, and emotional context within the Russian-speaking Jewish community.

JCFS Chicago’s chaplaincy program is a national leader in the emerging field of Jewish community chaplaincy. JCFS’s chaplaincy serves anyone in the Chicago area Jewish community who might benefit from the services.

Overdose deaths have reached unprecedented levels in recent years, particularly due to the increased stress, isolation, and barriers to addiction treatment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news: we can learn to recognize symptoms of opioid overdose and administer the rescue drug Narcan (brand name for Naloxone), which can reverse opioid overdose symptoms within minutes.

What do Jewish chaplains do? The same as any chaplain, regardless of religious denomination. They care for the living, counsel those in need, or the most sacred work, honor the dead. Chaplains provide spiritual help and care for people who are suffering and need that type of support.