60 | APRIL 14 • 2022
PASSOVER
F
or those in recovery from
alcoholism or drug addic-
tion, certain traditions
can be challenging. On Purim,
Jews are expected to drink until
they cannot distinguish between
wicked Haman and righteous
Mordechai. On Passover, we are
instructed to drink four cups of
wine during the seder. A new
Haggadah helps recovering
addicts meet these challenges
and find new meaning in the tra-
ditional seder.
The Four Cups: A Recovery
Haggadah is edited by Rabbi
Shais Taub, author of the
Jewish recovery classic G-d of
Our Understanding, and coor-
dinated by Rabbi Nechemia
Schusterman, co-direc-
tor of Chabad in Peabody,
Massachusetts. Using anecdotes
and personal stories from alco-
holics that Taub collected over
several years, the Haggadah
exemplifies the distinct connec-
tion between the exodus from
Egypt and the journey from
addiction to freedom.
“Only a slave can understand
freedom,
” said Rabbi Benny
Greenwald, director
of The Daniel B.
Sobel Friendship
House, a program
of Friendship
Circle of Michigan.
“
Addiction is a form
of enslavement.
”
The Four Cups
is interspersed with commen-
tary based on the Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) “Big Book.
”
The section on “Searching for
Chametz (leavened food items)”
is augmented with remarks
on “Revealing Our Defects of
Character,
” part of the personal
inventory process in Steps 4 and
5 of the 12 Steps of AA.
Greenwald explains that
chametz, such as bread made
with yeast, represents the ego,
an inflated view of the self.
Conversely, matzah is considered
the bread of faith and healing, a
symbol of humility. To achieve
inner freedom, it is necessary to
remove the “hot air” and fill the
space with spiritual, not material,
pursuits.
“Matzah is filling, physically
and spiritually,
” Greenwald said.
“Having faith and humility are
the first steps in leaving ‘Egypt’
.
”
The book provides a recov-
ery-oriented perspective on
the four sons described in the
Haggadah — the wise one, the
wicked one, the simple one and
the one who does not know how
to ask. While the traditional text
outlines the best way to respond
to each child, The Four Cups adds
the following explanation:
“When it comes to the child who
doesn’t know how to ask, we are told
the parent is supposed to initiate by
telling them the story of our redemp-
tion.
“We know that there are those
who still suffer, who aren’t even able
to reach out for help.
“When we suspect that we are
talking to such a prospect, we do not
wait for them to initiate. Rather, we
tell them the story of our miraculous
redemption, and we hope that it will
resonate with them — if not now,
then perhaps with the passage of
time.
”
“When we help a newcom-
er, it’s important to recognize
where they are and tailor our
answers according to the person,
”
Greenwald said.
He takes the allegory a step
further and describes a fifth
child, one who does show up for
the seder. While this child may
be suffering from alcoholism or
another form of addiction, we
should reach out with an offer of
help and a message of hope.
“My addiction led to five years
in prison,
” said Jim.* “Before,
I couldn’t relate to the story of
Passover because I never expe-
rienced slavery or persecution.
Now I know how it feels to be
a slave to something I couldn’t
break free of on my own.
”
Taub and Schusterman hope
the new Haggadah will help
increase awareness about addic-
tion and reduce the stigma
attached to the disease and those
who suffer from it.
The Four Cups: A Recovery
Haggadah can be purchased
at https://fourcups.org/ or at
Amazon.com.
*Names have been changed to
protect anonymity.
A new Haggadah for recovering
alcoholics brings a new perspective
to the traditional seder.
From Addiction
to Freedom
Rabbi
Benny
Greenwald
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Resources:
The Daniel B. Sobel
Friendship House
provides support and
guidance to individuals
and families struggling
with addiction, isolation
and other life crises.
Contact Rabbi Benny
Greenwald at benny@
friendshipcircle.org
or (248) 788-8888,
ext. 206, or visit www.
friendshipcircle.org/
friendshiphouse/
Alcoholics Anonymous
S.E. Michigan
(248) 541-6565
www.aa.org
Narcotics Anonymous
Michigan
(877) 338-1188
www.na.org
Al-Anon, support for
friends and family
members of individuals
struggling with addiction
(248) 888-8586
www.al-anon.org
Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org, www.
oagreaterdetroit.org
Gamblers Anonymous
(313) 792-2877
www.gamblersanonymous.
org
Suicide Hotline
(800) 784-2433
Michigan Crisis 24/7
Helpline
Call or text 844-44MICAL
(844-446-4225)
Chat is also available.
at Michigan.gov/MiCAL