Tu B'shevat Recovery Seder Returns To Skokie

The Jewish Center for Addiction at Jewish Child and Family Services is sponsoring its second “recovery seder” at Temple Beth Israel in Skokie on Sunday, January 24, the Jewish holiday of Tu b’Shevat.

Rabbi Paul Steinberg of the Elaine Breslow Addiction Institute at Beit T’Shuvah, an addiction treatment center and synagogue community in Los Angeles, will conduct the seder, a ritual meal at which food is used to convey a spiritual message. While the Passover seder symbolizing the Exodus from Egypt is best known, the Tu b’Shevat seder centers around the eating of fruit, as the Tu b’Shevat holiday is “the New Year of the trees.”

The recover seder is designed especially for Jews who have dealt with addiction or an addict.

“Tu b’Shevat merges the spiritual lessons of nature with our souls,” said Beth Fishman, Manager of the Jewish Center for Addiction. “We will enjoy a participatory afternoon of learning, sharing and experiencing the stages of redemption, renewal and recovery.”

The Jewish Center for Addiction, a program of Jewish Child & Family Services, is made possible by a grant from the JF/JUF Fund for Innovation in Health funded by the Michael Reese Health Trust. JCFS is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving the community.

The seder will take place from 3-5 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster St. in Skokie. Admission is $10. Pre-registration is required and is available online at http://www.jcfs.org/calendar/2nd-annual-tu-b’shevat-recovery-seder or by phoning 847.745.5422