Guard Your Eyes

How about a Torah Based 12-Step program?

Dear Rabbi Twerski,

There has been a lot of discussion lately on our forum about the 12-Step SA groups, and if there might be potential problems for frum yidden in these groups, and if there might be some way to develop a Torah based 12-Step program, what are the cons, what are the pros, and at what stage should we send someone to the groups, are they for everyone? Can they do any harm to someone who doesn't really need them? etc..etc.... The Rav can see the last page of this discussion over here. Although this is only one page, the discussion spans already 14 pages of posts (see the small numbers at the top and bottom to go from page to page)...

If the Rav has time to read a little about the what's being discussed there, at least on this one page, and the different view points offered there, then perhaps the Rav can send us some hadracha on the matter, it could be very enlightening and useful to our network.

Thank you so much.

Rabbi Twerski Responds:

Many years ago, I was asked, Why don't we have a recovery program based on Mussar? I wrote the book "Self Improvement? I'm Jewish!" with such a program, and said, "turn the page and read the 12 steps." It's the same thing.

Twerski

We Respond:

Thank you. This is true, but the questions being dealt with on the forum are a bit more complex.

At what level addiction should we send someone to the SA groups?

Is it only after he tried all the other 13 tools of the GuardYourEyes handbook and he has reached tool #14 of the handbook (which is the SA groups), or there's nothing wrong with sending someone earlier than that as well?

Are there legitimate problems/concerns with some of the groups, can they have any detrimental effect on someone's Yiddishkeit if he is not ready for them?

Do we need to give hadracha to a Jew who is joining a non-Jewish group (as far as the Christian ideas discussed there occasionally)?

Would it be possible to develop one day a strategy or program that is just as powerful and successful as the 12-Step groups, but with a Torahdik approach? In other words, a system of LIVE groups based on the 12-Steps but with a Torahdik Hashkafa, not Christian?

Rabbi Twerski Responds:

Inasmuch as there are some possible concerns about SA groups, I would not send anyone earlier than necessary, i.e. not until one has tried all the tools.

I don't think we need a Jewish SA any more than we need a Jewish AA. However, it would be very advisable for Jews in SA to have hashkafa meetings with a competent instructor at convenient intervals, perhaps monthly, or bi-weekly if possible.

Twerski

We Respond:

Thank you very much for your reply. I put it up on our site.

I will also let the relevant parties involved in this discussion know what the Rav feels.

I will ask some of the "Talmidai Chachamim" on our network who are also in SA, if they want to offer this type of Hashkafa meeting in a phone conference (at convenient intervals) for other Yidden in SA. Or does the Rav perhaps have someone to suggest for this idea?

Also if I may ask, what kind of issues these "Hashkafa meetings" address (or should it just be a question and answer discussion, with someone competent)?

Perhaps a few of us on guardyoureyes should have a phone conference with the Rav to hear what kind of issues the Rav thinks might be important to clarify in such "Hashkafa meetings"?

Thank you so much for the invaluable guidance.

Rabbi Twerski Responds:

Questions and answers allow people to bring up their concerns and issues.

A small dose of Mesilas Yesharim may be good.

I am now preparing 10 minute segments of Mesilas Yesharim for the Chafetz Chaim Foundation "chazak" program, where people call in for a chizuk message. I hope to ultimately combine them into CD. I'm sure Chafetz Chaim will permit its use.

Twerski

We Respond:

Wonderful. It should be with much Hatzlacha.

When it will be ready, please let us know and we'll ask permission to put up the audio files on our site.