The Mission of MidAtlantic JACS

Mid-Atlantic JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependant Persons, and Significant Others), is a voluntary, mutual-help group dedicated to:

• encouraging and assisting Jewish alcoholics, chemically dependent persons, addicts and their families, friends, and associates to explore recovery in a nurturing, Jewish environment;
• promoting knowledge and understanding of the disease of addiction as it involves the Jewish community; and
• acting as a resource center and information clearing house on the effects of addiction on Jewish family life.

Mid-Atlantic JACS currently organizes a yearly mid-summer weekend-long retreat, occasional shorter programs through out the year, and a weekly meeting. The retreats, events, and meetings are designed to help participants with varying degrees of Jewish background explore existing resources within Judaism to assist and strengthen their continuing recovery. Rabbis and participants play an equal role at the retreats, with emphasis on informality and personal sharing, to enhance the relationship between 12-step programs and spiritual concepts within Judaism.

Mid-Atlantic JACS Retreats are planned and led by JACS members and Rabbis, and are intended only for recovering Jews and their significant others to explore values and spiritual resources within Judaism that may support and strengthen their continuing recovery. The anonymity of every participant will be respected. Retreats are not treatment programs, nor do they promote or endorse any single approach or institution in the treatment of the disease of addiction.

The 9th Annual Retreat will be held the weekend of July 10 through July 12, 2009 at the Pearlstone Retreat Center in Reisterstown, Maryland. Applications for attendance at the Retreat are now being accepted. An application form may be downloaded by clicking here.

We are Jewish and Open

Mid-Atlantic JACS programs and events are not intended to be a substitute for your regular 12-Step meetings, but as an adjunct to them, where we may address those issues unique and particular to our Jewish identity, no matter how we may identify ourselves as Jews. We therefore encourage our members to continue to attend their other 12-Step meetings in the various fellowships in which they find recovery.