Podcast Episode

The Living Jewishly Podcast

More than Four Cops of Wine: Jews and Addiction

Apr 19, 2022 Episode 74

Living Jewishly / Randy Eckler

“To me, addiction is a cancer. Because I don’t believe that cancer can be beaten. I don’t believe that addiction can be beaten. But it CAN be put into remission.”

— Randy Eckler

How do you solve a problem that you aren’t ready to admit exists?

When it comes to alcohol and substance addiction, the problem of denial isn’t confined to the person suffering the addiction. Denial can affect their friends, their family… and their religious community.

The stereotype that Jewish people do not drink or do drugs may seem like a positive one, but it masks the very real issues that many Jews face. It makes it more challenging for them to step forward and ask for the help that they need, as well as for the people around them to acknowledge their struggles.

This episode of the Living Jewishly Podcasts is an instalment of Crossing the Sea, a podcast about Judaism and mental health. In this episode, Dr. Elliot Malamet speaks with David Kaufman, an addictions counsellor at the Jewish Addiction Community Services, and his client, Randy Eckler, about the nature of addiction and Randy’s personal struggle with addiction and path to recovery.

Randy’s story is not a happy one, but it’s valuable one.

“I hit rock bottom three times… there’s nothing that I could do to take anything back that I’ve done. All I can do is be a better person, be a better example.”

— Randy Eckler

This‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

The root causes and symptoms of addiction and how they are misunderstood
The recovery process, including the four important steps
How Randy emerged from hitting rock bottom three times to become a teacher who is helping others overcome their own addictions

‌

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:52 Introduction

02:13 Jewish sobriety myth

04:21 Root issues of addiction

05:42 Degrees of personal responsibility

07:23 Keys to recovery

10:00 Rock bottom & bringing the bottom up

11:03 Randy’s story

18:14 The recovery experience

21:28 Parenthood & enabling addiction

27:00 Randy’s experience hiding use