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EMOTIONAL SOBRIETY – What it is & how to attain it - A ground-breaking lecture from a best selling author, addiction expert, & rabbi

 


EMOTIONAL SOBRIETY – What it is & how to attain it


 

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Rabbi Shais Taub, author of a ground-breaking addiction recovery book, entitled: God of Our Understanding; Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction, will address the topic of “emotional sobriety,” or how to let go of unhealthy relationships and attachments using spiritual tools.  The Jan. 23 lecture is open to anyone looking for more stability and meaning in their lives.


 

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Taub, whose book has rocketed to #1 Jewish Bestseller on Amazon, has a message that has become a favorite in the world of recovery for Jews and non-Jews alike. The New York Times reported on Taub's reception outside the Jewish world after following him to a professional training seminar he led at Boys Town orphanage in Omaha, Nebraska. The newspaper declared him “a phenomenon.”  


 


International media attention and accolades didn’t stop there. Rabbi Taub has been interviewed as an addiction expert by NPR as well as CBC radio while Publisher’s Weekly praised his work as "a singular resource for those in need."  A regular Huffington Post contributor, Taub also edits JewishRecovery.org .


 


At the lecture at the Chabad House of Northbrook (see details below), Taub will offer practical advice on what addiction experts call “emotional sobriety,” including how to discern which circumstances require action and which are beyond one’s control.

“When we talk about sobriety and recovery, what we really mean is finding a more effective way to live by letting go of things we can’t control,” said Taub, who lives in Pittsburgh, PA.

His talk will include tips on how to recognize when a situation or relationship has hit a dead end, how to let go and move on, and how to distinguish helpfulness from manipulation. He will also discuss how to avoid expending energy on what he calls “emotional black holes,” such as pursuing a dead-end relationship or trying to please an overly demanding employer.


Rabbi Meir Moscowitz, director of the hosting organization, Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, says for the addict, Taub’s message is essential. You don’t, however, have to be an addict to benefit from the rabbi’s wisdom. “It’s about learning how to bring more serenity into your life, no matter who you are,” Moscowitz said. “You don’t have to be an addict to benefit from that.”

Taub agrees, contending the same solution that helps addicts recover, can work for the average person struggling with everyday challenges.  “All of us have at least a little bit of dysfunction, chaos and pain in our lives,” he said. “We all try to play G-d, taking too much responsibility for things that are beyond our control and making ourselves miserable in the process. It’s a universal problem.”


In his book, “God of Our Understanding”, Taub presents further novel ways of viewing addiction and recovery. He contends that drugs are the addict’s solution rather than his problem, and that those people who turn to chemicals or other compulsive behaviors such as overeating or gambling are attempting to fill a spiritual void.

“Using does not cause addiction; addiction causes using,” he said. “It’s fundamentally a spiritual malady.”

The event is presented by Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook and co-sponsored by The Friendship Circle and the Jewish Learning Institute. All are welcome. Wednesday, January 23, 7:30pm at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbook 2095 Landwehr Rd Northbrook. Advance Tickets: $12 At the Door: $18 www.chabadnorthbrook.com 847-564-8770.


 


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Event  details: Wednesday, January 23, 7:30pm at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbook 2095 Landwehr Rd Northbrook. Advance Tickets: $12 At the Door: $18 www.chabadnorthbrook.com 847-564-8770


 


 

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