I am writing to you to consider making a donation to the AZ House, a residential recovery center for men, in Jerusalem, which is fully subsidized and free for its residents.
Upon emigrating to Israel, I was interested in doing service in the recovery community. Through the Jerusalem District Intergroup, I “discovered” the AZ House, a residential addiction recovery program established in 2016 in Israel by Eric Levitz, Yehuda Freedman, and Moshe Zalman Olive. It was established in response to the growing rise in substance addiction in the Jewish community. It aimed to provide a much-needed service with a proven track record of treating individuals with addiction. The program is based on the successful model and philosophy introduced by Jack Mullhal in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1991, who wanted to create a therapeutic community where individuals struggling with addiction could focus solely on their recovery with the support of peers and knowledgeable staff. The program emphasizes the importance of work and household responsibilities in the recovery process and incorporates the 12 steps, as taught by Alcoholics Anonymous, into daily meetings and group sessions.
After contacting Shmuli Weissler, Director of Outreach, in October 2021, I was asked to write an assessment of the program offered at the AZ House, entitled “Statistical Analysis of Addiction Recovery 2023”, which you can read at https://www.azhousejerusalem.com/statisticalanalysis2023. Simply put, I am impressed and grateful to know that such an opportunity exists here.
I mentioned to Shmuli that the AZ House means a lot to me. My older son started snorting heroin in order to dull the pain from his unfolding divorce. His inability to see his own children put him in a very dark, hopeless place, and the pain finally ended when he committed suicide. In contrast to that, here at the AZ House are young men who are recovering and who are experiencing the joy of being able to live life on life’s terms.
After the publication of that article, my connection to the AZ House has led to my leading group discussions twice a month.
Here is a short video featuring a number of residents who describe how their lives were changed by joining the program at the AZ House.
What Happens at the AZ House?- Short Version (youtube.com)
If you are so inclined, please follow this link to make a donation: https://causematch.com/AZhouse24/168868
Thank you.
Yours in recovery,
Stan Eisen
Addictions and Recovery 