metro

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Lessons
Learned

Friendship House's leadership changes;
programs for addiction recovery ongoing.

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

of support for those struggling with addic-
tion or other isolating conditions. Pinson,
who was living in his native France, was
recruited by Shemtov to become the spiri-
abbi Yisrael Pinson finds it ironic
tual leader.
that his decision to resign as
Friendship House offers a variety of
director of the Daniel B. Sobel
programs that include weekly Jewish
Friendship House arose from the lessons
recovery meetings, dinner-and-learn study
he learned from the recovering addicts
sessions, sober social events, holiday par-
who were part of his life for the past nine
ties and Friday night dinners. Fellowships,
years.
such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon,
"I learned that I can't save everybody,
Yarden Blumstein
Narcotics Anonymous and Overeaters
and that people will survive without me
takes over the reins at
said Pinson, who describes himself as "one Anonymous, hold meetings throughout
Friendship House from
the week. Special issues such as gam-
of the few lucky people on Earth to expe-
Rabbi Yisrael Pinson,
bling and shopping addiction also are
rience the blessings of recovery without
who will work with
addressed.
going through the misery of addiction."
Friendship Circle.
According to Levi Shemtov, director of
Pinson is joining the development and
Friendship House and Friendship Circle,
strategic planning team of parent organi-
He celebrated with those who achieved
plans are to continue all ongoing pro-
zation and next-door neighbor Friendship
sobriety milestones, ranging from one
grams, including two Friendship Recovery
Circle, which provides programs and
week to 20 years, and he gave eulogies
Homes, which, through a grant from the
services for children with special needs
and attended funerals for those who
Jewish Fund, help recovering men and
and their families. Both are on the Meer
were
unable to recover. He witnessed
women make the transition back to soci-
Family Friendship Campus in West
tragedies
involving friends and family
ety within a safe and supportive living
Bloomfield.
members
with whom he had developed
environment. Residents also receive life
Taking Pinson's place as "Recovery
close
personal
relationships. He lent sup-
coaching and counseling from trained
Rabbi" is Rabbi Yarden Blumstein, who
port
to
those
who
recovered and those
has worked at Friendship Circle for the last therapists to help them incorporate the
who
relapsed,
helping
to find housing,
principles of recovery into their daily lives.
two years as coordinator of its boy volun-
jobs,
cars,
treatment
programs
or, in some
Blumstein has started leading the
teers. Blumstein, who is new to the field of
cases,
a
hot
meal
and
a
place
to
spend the
dinner-and-learn class and Jewish
addiction and recovery, has been prepar-
night.
He
visited
people
serving
jail or
ing for his new duties by reading stacks of recovery meeting that takes place every
prison
terms
for
drug-
and
alcohol-related
books and attending meetings of Al-Anon, Thursday night. He also is teaching an
offenses such as illegal narcotics posses-
ongoing women's lunch-and-learn class in
a fellowship for family members and
sion or drunk driving.
friends of addicts or alcoholics, recovering conjunction with Pinson's wife, Devorah,
Whenever someone returned from a
who serves as program director for the
and otherwise. As the program recom-
relapse,
a rehab center or a prison cell,
organization.
mends, Blumstein has enlisted a sponsor
Pinson
welcomed
him back into the fold,
Future plans include a weekly inspira-
to guide him through the 12 Steps.
offering
guidance
and support. Although
tional
email,
a
basketball
or
other
sports
"It's a way of life that's very positive and
the
successes
were
rewarding, the negative
league
for
people
in
recovery,
and
an
early
fulfilling," he said.
aspects
of
the
job
eventually
took their toll.
morning
breakfast
study
session.
The Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House,
"Living
with
me
forever
are
also the
"This
has
been
a
very
big
learning
expe-
which serves more than 500 recover-
many
tragedies
that
have
befallen
our
rience
so
far,
and
a
very
positive
one,'
said
ing addicts and their families, provides
community
during
my
tenure
as
Recovery
Blumstein.
"Part
of
what
I've
learned
is
a Jewish component for those involved
Rabbi: he wrote in an email explaining
that I bring a base of knowledge in Jewish
in traditional 12-step recovery pro-
his resignation to the Friendship House
spirituality,
but
beyond
that,
I'm
a
partici-
grams. The house was started by former
community "From relapses, to overdoses,
pant.
I
don't
think
meetings
should
be
led."
Detroiters Sam and Carol Sobel, who
to suicides and everything in between.
wanted to honor the memory of their son,
I must say that as much as I prepared
Both
Gratifying
And
Draining
Daniel, who died in 1993 at age 28.
myself for each and every scenario, the
Although
Pinson
did
not
personally
struggle
In the early 1990s, the Sobels, who
impact that it had on me was beyond the
with
the
disease
of
addiction,
he
was
affected
now live in Florida, met Lubavitch emis-
imaginable."
by
the
havoc
it
wreaked
on
many
of
the
saries Rabbi Levi Shemtov and his wife,
Pinson says he will remain involved
people
around
him.
Working
with
recovering
Bassie, who had recently moved to the
with
recovery-related projects such as
addicts
and
alcoholics
can
be
both
gratifying
area and were in the process of beginning
, which he found-
www.jewishrecovery.org
and
emotionally
draining,
and
Pinson
expe-
Friendship Circle. Together they developed
ed
under
the
auspices
of
www.chabad.
rienced
both
ends
of
the
spectrum.
the concept of Friendship House, a haven

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16 july 21 2,011

org. He also is launching a new organiza-
tion called Jewish Recovery International,
which will help leaders establish programs
similar to Friendship House in locations
throughout the world. He plans to use the
expertise he developed in social media
and online networking in these endeav-
ors to help Friendship Circle further its
growth.
Ellen Yashinsky Chute, chief community
outreach officer for Jewish Family Service
(JFS), is one of the local professionals with
whom Pinson has worked.
"JFS works closely with Friendship
House, and we believe that recovery
involves professional help and, most
importantly, community — and that's
what Friendship House provides:' she said.
Although most of the participants were
sorry to hear about Pinson's resignation,
Blumstein said that everyone has been
very welcoming.
"Rabbi Yarden is amazing:' said Paula
Stone of Farmington Hills, who has
attended many of the classes and pro-
grams held at Friendship House over the
past six years. "He's a very sensitive and
perceptive person. I had misgivings about
the transition, but now that it's happened,
I find that he's a brilliant speaker, a patient
and clear teacher — and a terrific cook."
Shemtov said he has already received
positive feedback about the new spiritual
leader of Friendship House.
"It's a blessing that, as it happened, we
had someone here who fit the role so per-
fectly," he said. H

