Shalvah
Orthodox Jewish Substance Abuse Treatment Program
Since 2014 SOBA New Jersey has been the bridge back to life for many people suffering with addiction and other mental disorders commonly associated with substance abuse. To fill the need that has evolved in the community, SOBA is proud to announce the opening of an Orthodox Jewish track within their substance abuse program called Shalvah. Shalvah is the Hebrew word for serenity and tranquility – the ultimate goal of recovery.
Shalvah focuses on the needs of Orthodox clients which are specifically addressed and integrated into the treatment program with countless therapists, social workers, and support staff who work round the clock to care for clients during this critical stage.
Jeffrey A. Berman, M.D., an Orthodox Jewish psychiatrist, treats all clients in our Shalvah program. With over 25 years’ experience treating addictions and mental health disorders. Dr. Berman is an integral part of the Shalvah treatment team.
Dr. Berman is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). He also serves as Executive Medical Director of Discovery Institute for Addictive Disorders in Marlboro, NJ, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Berman is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in Adult, Addiction and Consultation Psychiatry. He founded and co-facilitates 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.
Thanks to Shalvah, Jewish addicts are receiving treatment without compromising Jewish values and halachot. Individuals in our Shalvah program have access to staff Rabbis who are passionate and relentless in helping Jewish souls in the pursuit of spiritual healing.
Fully kosher meals, restaurants, and Shul services are in close walking distance to the Shalvah residence. We provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, including all Shabbat and Yom Tov/Chagim meals, meeting all levels of kashrut, including Chassidishe Shechita, Cholov Yisroel, and Pas Yisroel, exclusively.
Shalvah’s Rabbis have made certain that each client’s residence can handle all needs of Orthodox Jewish living, including a kosher kitchen, mezuzahs, and Shabbat timers for any electronic devices. Clients join the staff rabbi for weekday and Shabbat/Yom Tov minyanim. Each individual’s spiritual path is his or her own, and clients only partake in what they feel comfortable with; however, Shalvah assures that every mitzvah, from eating in a Succah and having all their Chanukah needs to hearing the Megillah and receiving Mishloach Manot on Purim and having two Seders on Pesach, will be made possible to fulfill if desired.
Shalvah’s Rabbis give regular classes on topics such as spiritual healing and how to be a Jew in recovery as well as standard shiurim on Parsha HaShavuah and faith. They are always available for individual sessions as well.
Addiction is an unfortunate truth that we must contend with and treat. The Orthodox Jewish track will facilitate recovery in an environment that is familiar, relevant, and meaningful to its observant patients and their families. We provide not only a system of recovery, but a system of support that extends to family and community and aims to heal each individual person, each individual soul and each individual Jew.