Arnie
Goldfein and Rabbi
Nahum
Simon, Co-Executive
Directors of
Rodfei Shalom
Fellowship, Inc.
Events for ALL Jews
ALL 12 Step recovery
programs
COMBINING RECOVERY
(Heart) AND
SPIRITUALITY (Soul) WITHIN
JUDAISM
RECOVERY NEWSLETTER
– 1/23/08
Hi Everybody,
Recovery marches
on!!! We are still
getting some
wonderful feedback
from our January 6th
Spiritual Day with
Rabbi Abe. I am
still amazed as how
the day helped me
grow and, even more
so, I love when I
hear how our events
help others. From
one participant: " I
just wanted to let
you know how moved I
was by the whole day
with Rabbi Twerski.
I have never felt so
much of a place of
belonging at a
meeting before. It
was my first time at
one of these events
and I have never
said the Shema
before at a
meeting". From
another: "You saved
my life last week, I
am still shaking
about how wonderful
a day it was. When
is the next event??"
The CD's of the
speaker's are
selling like
hotcakes!!!! I am
amazed how many
orders we have
received for both
Rabbi Abe's and
Rabbi Nahum's CD's.
For all those
interested, the CD's
of the speakers,
Rabbi Abe and Rabbi
Nahum, are available
for sale.
The CD's cost $12.95
each. BUT WAIT!!!
(I've always wanted
to say that!!) You
can save if you
order both for only
$21.95 plus
shipping. S&H is
$3.95 for individual
CD's and both for
$4.95 for domestic
orders via USPS.
Additional shipping
charges for UPS or
foreign orders will
apply. To order,
simply contact me
via this email
address or give a
call at
718-261-4049.
Now here's a story
of recovery.
Amazingly, Iris
called to tell me a
friend of hers gave
her a copy of the
Rabbi Abe CD and she
wanted to pay for
it!! I want to
remind everyone that
honesty is an
integral part of the
program and any
unauthorized copying
of the CD's is
dishonest, illegal
and just not right.
The profits go
towards bringing
those in need to our
events.
Please help us
spread the word!!!
This is our only
affordable means of
communications.
Visit our website:
www.rodfeishalom.org
1)
NEW, NEW,
NEW!!!! We are
pleased to invite
you to join us for
an email Listserv
discussion group for
all those recovering
from addiction to
share their
experience,
strength, hope and
Spirituality with
other Jews in
recovery. There are
no requirements to
be a part of the
discussion, so long
as postings meet the
guidelines that have
been established.
Just send your name,
email address and a
short paragraph
introducing yourself
to
rodfeishalom@bellsouth.net.
We will then receive
a return email with
instructions on how
to sign into the
group and begin
receiving messages
from all the
discussion
contributors.
2) Our
weekly call-in
meeting
continues on
Wednesday nights,
from 9:00 PM – 10:00
PM EDT, for the
meeting and ½ hour
or so afterwards for
fellowship. To join
us, simply dial
218-486-1300 and
enter the
participant bridge
code of: 933051.
Please join us and
share your wisdom
and experience.
Please note: If you
have unlimited long
distance this is a
FREE call!! If
you are new to
call-in meetings,
may I suggest you
give it a try. It
truly is a wonderful
experience and we
offer a lot of love
and support as well
as sharing and
fellowship. It's
also a great way for
you to get some of
our event
information.
3)
Midwest Retreat
Update:
As we have
mentioned, our
Midwest Spiritual
Retreat Recovery
Weekend, with the
gracious support of
The Jewish Healing
Network of Chicago,
is set for the
Perlstein Retreat
Center in Lake
Delton, WI (about 70
minutes from
Madison, WI). The
food is Glatt Kosher
and under the
supervision of the
CRC. The event will
take place March 7 –
March 9, 2008, and
promises to be
wonderful. If the
Florida retreat was
any indication of
what this event will
be like – you can
look forward to a
warm, exciting,
growth-filled
weekend, in a safe
environment.
We are getting the
message out to as
many people we can.
Attached you will
find the beautiful
flyer the JHNC
created as well as
our
brochure/registration
form. Please
remember, that this
event has limited
space and we are
limiting the event
to 125 people.
Please register
early to ensure a
spot. We prefer a
small and intimate
format as it allows
people to get to
know each other and
the sharing is more
heartfelt.
Registrations have
already started
coming in and I get
that warm,
fulfilling sensation
when the work we are
doing has results.
What miracles!!!!
Feel free to print
out a few copies and
pass them out to all
your friends,
acquaintances,
others in recovery,
etc.
We have received
inquiries about
transportation to
the event. The
closet airport to
fly into is Madison,
WI. The center is
approximately 70
minutes from
Madison. If we get
enough inquiries, we
will attempt to hire
a bus from any of
the airports. As we
get a little closer
I will keep you
informed as to the
feasibility and
cost. Further
inquiries can be
sent to Charlie H.
at
ppg449works@yahoo.com
for more information
about
transportation.
Also, as mentioned,
this event will have
limited triple
accommodations and
an associated lower
room rate.
3
) MOVING FORWARD:
The old saying that
"if you want to make
God laugh, just tell
him your plans", has
become apparent in
regards to our
planning. While we
had received
tentative
confirmation for
both our
end-of-the-year
weekend retreat and
the cruise, it seems
that they will not
work out as we had
intended. And since
everything happens
in God's world for
the best, we are
awaiting secondary
plans for both the
cruise and the
retreat weekend for
the end of the year.
In the meantime, it
appears that an
unexpected,
secondary plan has
developed for a
retreat weekend in
Florida for June. We
will keep you
informed.
4) Spiritual
Thought(s) for the
Week
:
v
I must never forget
who and what I am
and where I come
from. I have to
remember the nature
of my illness and
what it was like
before I came to
Gamblers Anonymous.
I'll try to keep the
memory green, yet
not spend my time
dwelling morbidly on
the past. I won't be
afraid to enjoy what
is beautiful, and to
believe that as I
give to others, so
others will give to
me. Can I ever
afford to forget
what it used to be
like, even for one
minute? – From: The
Reflection for the
Day - with thanks to
Zal G.
v
When we stop
identifying with
"what-we-are-not",
the "what-we-are"
bursts forth –
Michael Prayag
5)
Our facilitation for
our Teffilin Donator
continues. As
mentioned, in order
for the Donator to
do this at the
present request
level, we need to
limit this to ONE
pair a month. The
guidelines are
simple: a) The
individual Is
someone in recovery
from Alcohol or
Drugs. b) Does not
currently own a pair
of Teffilin. c) Is
willing to commit to
putting on the
Teffilin once a
week. If you meet
all three of these
guidelines and need
a pair of Teffilin,
please contact me
and I will forward
your request to the
Donator.
The Donator's
guidelines are
NOT meant to
exclude those in
other programs. It
IS to do
something positive
for others and
promote the
Donator's particular
request. If you are
in one or both of
the aforementioned
programs (remember,
honesty is a key
ingredient in
recovery) and will
commit to using the
Tefillin at least
once a week, please
contact me and I
will see if we can
make this happen for
you.
By the way, Peter,
(the gentleman who
sent me an email
about the Teffilin
last week) please
contact me; I
accidentally deleted
your email.
If anyone else
wishes to become a
Donator for any or
all program people,
please let me know.
Let's see if we can
do something here
that I never even
imagined or thought
of – have others who
are willing to
become givers, give.
And have those who
are not in the
position to afford
it, receive
something to enhance
both their recovery
and Judaism.
6) Our sincerest
condolences to Glen
D. on the passing of
his niece due
directly to this
disease. May you
and the family be
comforted among all
the mourners of
Israel .
7) Recovery joke
of the week:
WOW!! Well the
positive comments
have actually
continued about our
jokes section!!!
So, in my attempt to
bring a little smile
and laughter to our
recovery family, I
am going to continue
my crusade of
publishing a joke.
Now, I know what is
funny to one person
is not to another
but I am doing this
all in good humor –
end of story –
because I think in
recovery we should
laugh and have a
good time!!
I guess you know why
ALANONS make love
with their eyes
closed. THEY CAN'T
STAND TO SEE AN
ALCOHOLIC HAVE FUN.
How many alcoholics
does it take to
change a lightbulb?
Just one - he holds
the lightbulb and
the whole world
revolves around him.
How many Al-Anons
does it take to
change a lightbulb?
None. They leave it
alone and let it
screw it's self.
How can you tell
when two alcoholics
are on their second
date? There's a
U-Haul in the
driveway.
Three people, one of
whom was a
codependent, were in
line to be executed
at the guillotine.
The first person
stuck his head in
the hole, the rope
was cut, and the
blade fell, only to
stop an inch above
the person's neck.
The executioners saw
it as a sign from
God and so decided
to let the person
go.
The next person put
his head in the
hole, the rope was
cut, and again, the
blade stopped an
inch above the
person's neck. That
person, too, was
released.
As the codependent
walked up for his
turn at the
guillotine, he
turned to the
executioner and
said: "You know, I
think I know how to
fix that."
If an alcoholic says
something in the
forest and there's
no al-anon there to
hear him, is he
still wrong?
(with
thanks to
astrofysh.com)
Well, that's it for
this week. For more
information about
any of our
activities or
events, feel free to
call me at
718-261-4049 or
email me at
arniegoldfein@gmail.com.
To have your name
added to our email
list, simply email
me and I'll be more
than happy to
subscribe you. And,
you can visit our
website at
www.rodfeishalom.org.
Have a great Day –
just for today.
Arnie
