JACS Library - Our Stories

JACS: Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others

JACS LIBRARY - OUR STORIES

One Man's Garbage is Another Man's Gold

by Arnie G.

In the "good old days" I used to come home around 3 or 4 in the morning ! Of course, needing a 24 hour liquor store, I had established the Yeshiva I went to as a source.

I would go into the Beis Hamedrash (House of Study) and under the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) I would find my nightly L'Chaim (no translation needed).

Recently, the Yeshiva I attended had a reunion for all alumni. One person came over to me and said:

"When I first came to Yeshiva years ago, the Rosh Yeshiva (headmaster) had given me certain tasks to help me grow. One thing I decided to accept on myself was to stay up all night long, something which I had a very difficult time doing. Then I saw you coming into the Beis Hamedrash at 3 am. I figured if you could put in that kind of effort, so could I."

He then thanked me very much !