Does “Dry January” mean hope for a less snowy winter? Although the family shoveler might welcome the idea, that’s not it. Does Dry January mean only telling jokes with a wry delivery? Another welcome concept for those of us who fondly remember Bob Newhart! But that’s not it either. Dry January is a global movement in which individuals and communities abstain from alcohol for one month. While the first “Sober January” was initiated in 1942 by the Finnish government as a war-related resource-saving measure, Dry January now supports the many individuals who question the role alcohol plays in their lives or who seek to reduce the harm of their alcohol use. Those who have participated in Dry January report health benefits, financial savings, increased productivity and feelings of overall well-being. The US saw a dramatic increase in alcohol use during the covid lockdowns of 2020-21 and rates of alcohol use have stayed high in the years since. Perhaps in response, hundreds of thousands of individuals participated in Dry January in 2022. 

Synagogues and other communal organizations can participate in Dry January in two ways. Synagogue leadership can encourage individual and family participation by educating about and sharing resources for Dry January. Support for Dry January participants would include having grape juice and other non-alcoholic drinks available whenever alcohol is served for ritual or recreational purposes during the month. This sends an important message that your community is an ally to individuals and families who wish to be alcohol-free for this time period.   

Alternatively, synagogues can choose to participate in Dry January communally by only serving grape juice for ritual purposes and refraining from serving wine or other alcohol on-site during the month of January. Choosing venues and themes that focus away from alcohol for fundraisers and sponsored social gatherings also demonstrates the community’s commitment to being alcohol-free for this period of time. Please contact Beth Fishman, Program Manager of Addiction Services at JCFS Chicago, for resources or with questions about Dry January.

Sample E-Blast Encouraging Community Members to Participate in Dry January:   

Dry January is a national movement that encourages individuals and communities to pause the use of alcohol to see what benefits may accrue. Those who have participated in Dry January report health benefits, financial savings and increased feelings of well-being. We encourage participation in Dry January 2024 for individuals and families in our community who wish to experience an alcohol-free period of time.  We commit to having grape juice and other non-alcoholic options available whenever alcohol is served at synagogue during January to support your participation in Dry January. For resources about and support for your Dry January experience, please contact Beth Fishman, PhD, Program Manager of Addiction Services at JCFS Chicago. 

Sample E-Blast for Synagogues Participating in Dry January: 

Dry January is a national movement that encourages individuals and communities to pause the use of alcohol to see what benefits may accrue. Those who have participated in Dry January report health benefits, financial savings and increased feelings of well-being. We will be supporting those in our own community who want to experience a period of alcohol-free time by participating in Dry January 2024. To do so, our synagogue will serve only grape juice during kiddush and Oneg and will serve only non-alcoholic drinks at other synagogue-sponsored functions this coming January. We also encourage you to consider doing the same for your own synagogue-related gatherings.