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Kosher Drug Rehab Through SOBA NJ’s Shalvah Program

Experience Treatment Rooted in Compassion

Orthodox Jewish Substance Abuse Treatment Program

For many people in the Jewish community, addiction treatment needs to support more than sobriety alone. In order to truly be effective, recovery will also need to respect their religion, provide kosher meals, and understand Shabbat, Jewish holidays, spiritual guidance, family expectations, and the role faith plays in daily life. When treatment does not account for those needs, it can create unnecessary stress during an already stressful time.

SOBA NJ’s Shalvah rehab program is a kosher recovery program for clients who want addiction treatment without stepping away from their Jewish faith or traditions. Shalvah, meaning serenity and tranquility, is designed to support substance use disorder treatment while helping clients maintain kosher dietary laws, religious observance, and access to spiritual support.

What Is a Kosher Addiction Treatment Center?

A kosher rehab program combines the principles of substance use treatment with a Jewish client’s specific religious and cultural requirements. A kosher treatment center provides clients with options that allow them to meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as a member of the Jewish community.

At SOBA New Jersey, the Shalvah Program meets these needs by offering Orthodox Jewish clients both the clinical support of a substance use treatment facility and the support necessary for clients to adhere to their respective Jewish practices.

Effective addiction treatment addresses all facets of a person’s well-being: medical, psychological, social, vocational, religious, and family.[1] For some people, especially those who are required to observe kosher dietary restrictions or halakha, meeting those needs may involve food preparation, meal times, prayer, holidays, participation in community activities, family involvement, and maintaining one’s spiritual connection.

Why Culturally Sensitive Care Matters

Addiction doesn’t discriminate based on background, nationality, or religion. It can affect anyone. But stigma associated with addiction, along with concerns about privacy regarding a person’s struggles with substance use, can keep someone from seeking help. Family obligations, concern that treatment will interfere with their values, or fear that it may require them to abandon their religious community or compromise their adherence to kashrut or Shabbat may also keep someone from seeking treatment.

Culturally sensitive care helps reduce those barriers. SAMHSA emphasizes that treatment should recognize a client’s cultural identity, beliefs, values, traditions, and community context when delivering behavioral health services.[2] In the case of addiction treatment, it also means care should be clinically strong while demonstrating respect for each client’s identity and experiences.

For our clients in the Shalvah Program, this cultural sensitivity includes understanding the Jewish calendar, family roles, religious commitments, modesty issues, spiritual concerns, and how important community support is to recovery.

What Shalvah Offers

SOBA New Jersey has established the Shalvah Program to support clients who wish to pursue substance use treatment but prefer to do so without having to relinquish their commitment to Jewish life. The Shalvah Program is committed to supporting clients’ participation in kosher living arrangements and providing them with access to religious accommodations while using evidence-based therapies for addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Some examples of what the Shalvah Program offers include:

Kosher meals, which include meals prepared specifically for Shabbat and Yom Tov
Accommodations for clients requiring strict kashrut diets, such as Cholov Yisroel and Pas Yisroel
Access to a kosher kitchen as well as religious accommodations
Shabbat timers, mezuzahs, and support for observing Shabbat
Minyanim on weekdays, Shabbat, and Yom Tov when possible
Rabbi-led classes focusing on spiritual healing, recovery, and life as part of the larger Jewish community

Participation in religious services or spiritual programming should feel supportive, not forced. Clients can choose to engage in the parts of the program that align with their comfort level and recovery goals.

Shalvah Rehab Program at SOBA NJ

Our Shalvah rehab program is an Orthodox-based program designed specifically for people who need addiction recovery support that aligns with their commitment to their Jewish faith. Shalvah provides clients with kosher meals, supports Shabbat and Yom Tov days with appropriate activities and observances, supports participation in minyanim, provides rabbi-led support, and makes provisions for Orthodox Jewish living practices.

The Shalvah program is supported by a multidisciplinary team consisting of clinicians, social workers, support staff, and rabbis. The team also includes Dr. Jeffrey A. Berman, M.D., an Orthodox Jewish psychiatrist with expertise in treating addiction and mental illness.

Support from Our Shalvah Rehab Staff

Shalvah focuses on the needs of Orthodox clients, which are specifically addressed and integrated into the treatment program managed by therapists, social workers, and support staff, including staff Rabbis. When you fight addiction in our Shalvah program, you do not have to compromise your Jewish values and halakhot.

Jeffrey A. Berman, M.D., an Orthodox Jewish psychiatrist, treats all clients in our Shalvah program. With more than 25 years of experience in treating addictions and mental health disorders, Dr. Berman is an integral part of the Shalvah treatment team.

Some of Dr. Berman’s titles and accolades that help him be a great leader in rehab include:

Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
Executive Medical Director of Discovery Institute for Addictive Disorders in Marlboro, NJ.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in Adult, Addiction and Consultation Psychiatry.
Founder and co-facilitator of Strength to Strength, a professionally facilitated support group for parents of young adults with substance use and mental health disorders at JCC on the Palisades.

Get a Confidential Callback Now

To learn more about our New Jersey drug and alcohol treatment, contact us online or dial (888) 229-7989. We are available 24/7 to assist you. If you would like an immediate callback, fill out the form here.

Real Stories. Real Recovery.

Hear From Our Recovering Clients

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I have so much to be grateful for because of SOBA.

I have so much to be grateful for because of SOBA. I have been to other treatment centers and was never successful in maintaining sobriety. The clinical and housing staff were beyond helpful and were always accommodating. I was failing out of school and going down a dark path, but with all the help from Josh, Leigh, Bob, Michelle, Jackie, and David, I am doing well. I did the full program, was in the Sober Living program for around 6 months, and currently reside in their Independent Sober Living. I have earned a 4.0 GPA at my college while here, have made huge strides in my 12-step program, and have made friends for life here. Thank you so much to SOBA for helping me get my life back on track. I look forward to my future!

Meghan P.

Because of them, I’m clear-minded & I have the most important thing back in my life, my family.

Rehabs are a dime a dozen. But if you want top-quality care then SOBA is the place to be. The staff from top to bottom are caring, understanding & well-educated on addiction. The moment you walk through the door, your care & needs are their #1 priority. You want your life back then put your trust in SOBA. Because of them, I’m clear-minded & I have the most important thing back in my life, my family. Thank you to all @ SOBA for helping me get my life & family back & making me part of SOBA’S FAMILY. MUCH LOVE, SCOTT K.

Scott K.

Words cannot even describe what SOBA has done for me.

Words cannot even describe what SOBA has done for me. My life has made a 360 degree turn around for the best life I’ve ever experienced. I credit all the staff there, but especially Michelle C from the housing. She is simply amazing she was and is an intricate part of my current success, Michelle truly understands that some of us have really gone through hell, and she uses that knowledge to raise awareness in everyone with whom she comes in contact with. Realistically speaking I did not want to leave there. It was a conflicted day happy and sad at the same time before I got in the Uber Michelle C stopped me and said “let’s pray.” I am forever grateful to her and all of the SOBA staff and patients…

Gary P.

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Recovery That Respects Your Faith

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Choosing treatment is difficult enough. You should not have to worry that getting help will require compromising your Jewish values, kosher diet, or religious observance.

At SOBA New Jersey, our Shalvah program offers kosher drug and alcohol rehab and mental health support, spiritual guidance, and a culturally sensitive environment to recover in. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or someone you love, we are here to help.

Reach out to SOBA New Jersey today to learn more about our Shalvah Program and take the first step toward recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kosher Drug Rehab

What is kosher drug rehab?

A kosher rehab program is a comprehensive program of addiction treatment designed to accommodate a client’s Jewish dietary restrictions (kashrut), their need to observe their religion, and provide them with clinical support for their substance use disorder. The Shalvah Program at SOBA New Jersey provides its clients with kosher food and religious support through counseling, therapy, and recovery planning.

Who is the Shalvah rehab program for?

The Shalvah Program has been developed specifically for Orthodox Jewish clients who are seeking a kosher addiction treatment experience that respects the tradition of Judaism, the customs of kashrut, the observance of Shabbat and holidays, and their spiritual needs.

Does Shalvah provide kosher meals?

Yes. The Shalvah Program includes kosher meals, Shabbat meals, and Yom Tov meals, along with support for any additional specific kashrut requirements which some clients may have, such as Cholov Yisroel and Pas Yisroel.

Can I participate in religious services during treatment?

Yes. Clients have weekday access to Shabbat and Yom Tov minyanim when available, along with rabbinic guidance, and can also take advantage of educational programs on topics related to Judaism.

Does kosher rehab include mental health treatment?

Yes. It is very common for a person to struggle with both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Many people find it helpful to address these mental health issues during their treatment process. This could involve counseling, medication management if necessary, and education on how to prevent relapse.

What happens after Shalvah treatment?

After treatment, clients may continue with aftercare planning, outpatient therapy, sober living, alumni support, family support, relapse prevention, and community-based recovery resources.

Sources

[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (3rd ed.). National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf

[2] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Improving cultural competence (Treatment Improvement Protocol Series, No. 59). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK248428/