A Gadol in our Midst

Here's a truly inspirational Rabbi - and someone who, although I have never met him personally - has changed my life, as he has done for countless other people......  and I would like to publicly thank him for it.

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski M.D. who turned 80 last October,  has just published his latest book "Gevurah: My Life, Our World, and the Adventure of Reaching 80".

Besides authoring more than 60 books, he estimates he has helped more than 40,000 people recover from substance abuse through rehabilitation at Gateway in the last 40 years. He is also recognized as having called out addiction problems in the Jewish community, as well as exposing the problems of Jewish spousal abuse, which many people are still unwilling to recognize.

“I don’t think there is any question that my constantly beating the drum has brought it out,” Twerski said of spousal abuse in the Jewish community. “There is no question that my efforts have paid off in the long run.”

While Jewish spousal abuse continues to be a problem, Twerski said, “more women are now getting help. There are more organizations and more hotlines, and there is more education among rabbis. Unfortunately, there are some [rabbis] who are still in the dark and simply don’t believe it could happen in the Jewish community.”

Rabbi Twerski's excellent book on Spousal Abuse is a life-saver and highly recommended:  "The Shame Borne in Silence" is available here.

For  the complete article on Rabbi Twerski's latest book go to:  The Jewish Chronicle