Twerski on GYE - Correspondence - Revision history

The.guard: /* Rabbi Twerski Responded: */

2021-02-10T17:03:47Z

Rabbi Twerski Responded:

The.guard at 17:02, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T17:02:39Z

The.guard: /* Homosexuality */

2021-02-10T16:52:03Z

Homosexuality

The.guard: /* Homosexuality */

2021-02-10T16:48:11Z

Homosexuality

The.guard: /* The "Teshuva & Recovery" Book */

2021-02-10T16:43:42Z

The "Teshuva & Recovery" Book

The.guard at 16:18, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T16:18:56Z

The.guard: /* The "Teshuva & Recovery" Book */

2021-02-10T15:33:05Z

The "Teshuva & Recovery" Book

The.guard: /* Text versions of Rabbi Twerski's 12-Step Books */

2021-02-10T15:18:01Z

Text versions of Rabbi Twerski's 12-Step Books

The.guard: /* Text versions of Rabbi Twerski's 12-Step Books */

2021-02-10T14:55:21Z

Text versions of Rabbi Twerski's 12-Step Books

The.guard at 14:53, 10 February 2021

2021-02-10T14:53:18Z

@@ Line 251: / Line 251: @@
 ==== Rabbi Twerski Responded: ====
-I have not had adequate clinical experience with homosexuality to write about it
+I regret that I am not familiar with anyone in London.You might ask Rabbi Jonathan Dove.
 == On His Own Terms ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 10 February 2021
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	== On His Own Terms ==		== On His Own Terms ==
	I spoke with Rabbi Twerski last night, he asked me for a referral for someone in SA who wasn't committed enough and was relapsing every 2 weeks or so... Rabbi Twerski claims he told the person that he wants a comfortable withdrawal on his own terms and isn't ready to surrender... I sent him to Brad Saltzman who lives now in Bet Shemesh.		I spoke with Rabbi Twerski last night, he asked me for a referral for someone in SA who wasn't committed enough and was relapsing every 2 weeks or so... Rabbi Twerski claims he told the person that he wants a comfortable withdrawal on his own terms and isn't ready to surrender... I sent him to Brad Saltzman who lives now in Bet Shemesh.
		+
		+	== Last email Correspondence with Rabbi Twerski Dec 23, 2020 (5 weeks before his passing): ==
		+
		+
		+	<nowiki>----------</nowiki> Forwarded message ---------
		+
		+	From: '''Abraham Twerski''' <ajht613@gmail.com>
		+
		+	Date: Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 5:18 PM
		+
		+	Subject: Re: Haskama for the booklet?
		+
		+	To: Guard Eyes <eyes.guard@gmail.com>
		+
		+	'''Abraham J. Twerski, MD'''
		+
		+	''' Hizkiyahu Hamelech 24'''
		+
		+	''' Jerusalem, Israel'''
		+
		+	''' (02) 563 1845'''
		+
		+	''' [[Mailto:ajht613@gmail.com\|ajht613@gmail.com]]'''
		+
		+	(If you wish to add “Rabbi” to the letterhead, you may do so.)
		+
		+	''' '''
		+
		+	On Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 5:07 PM Guard Eyes <[[Mailto:eyes.guard@gmail.com\|eyes.guard@gmail.com]]> wrote:<blockquote>Thank you very much
		+
		+	On Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 4:38 PM Abraham Twerski <[[Mailto:ajht613@gmail.com\|ajht613@gmail.com]]> wrote:<blockquote>Ok for the change.
		+
		+	I don't recall which letterhead you used. I'm going to send you one. Use your judgment
		+
		+	twerski
		+
		+	On Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 4:20 PM Guard Eyes <[[Mailto:eyes.guard@gmail.com\|eyes.guard@gmail.com]]> wrote:<blockquote>Dear Rabbi Twerski,
		+
		+	The Rav wrote in his Haskama to our book: "This is a crucial beginning, but with the awareness of the problem, we can save our young men and their families from the crushing influence of today’s dissolution in society."
		+
		+	I’m not sure how the words "This is a crucial beginning" will be received. Would it be Ok to tweak the sentence to say the following?
		+
		+	"This is a crucial component and through awareness of the problems and facing them head on, educating our children, and being there as ongoing supports, we can save our young men and their families from the crushing influence of today’s dissolution in society."
		+
		+	Also, does the Rav have a letterhead, or should I just use a letterhead and signature from previous haskamos that the Rav has sent us in the past?
		+
		+	Thank you so much!
		+
		+	On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 9:49 AM Abraham Twerski <[[Mailto:ajht613@gmail.com\|ajht613@gmail.com]]> wrote:<blockquote>Dear Reb Yaakov:
		+
		+	I sent this to you the day after we met, I'm surprised you didn't receive it.
		+
		+	twerski
		+
		+	GYE
		+
		+	Dear Parents, Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbanim
		+
		+	The Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely harsh, causing loss of many lives and economic disaster. When the news came that there is now an effective vaccine, many people felt a sense of relief.
		+
		+	Unfortunately, there is a serious epidemic among Jewish youth, who are under the extreme pressure of hormones which has great effect on their feelings and behavior. The damage can be great, and there is no vaccine.
		+
		+	I recently read a biography of the great Posek, Hagaon Rav Yitzhak Elchanan Spektor of Kovna, and it related that he married at age 13. In today’s world, this is impossible. Indeed, Rav Chisda, an author of the Talmud, said, “The reason I am superior to my colleagues is that I married at age 16. Had I married at 14, I could have defied Satan” (Kedushin 29b). However, Human physiology does not respect social dictums, and today’s adolescents are confronted with the reality that they will not be able to satisfy their sexual urges for many years. The frank licentiousness that prevails in today’s world aggravates the problem manifold.
		+
		+	Worst of all is that young men have no one to turn to for guidance and support. The subject is taboo, and parents and mechanchim close their eyes and make believe that there is no problem. Parents are too embarrassed to discuss it, and roshei yeshivas seem to think that if a ''bachur'' will be diligent in study of gemara, he will be protected from the effects of years of frustrated desire. THIS IS NOT TRUE. You may not be able to detect the effects of struggle of the young men, but it is severe.
		+
		+	Parents, roshe-yeshiva and rabbanim! You are only ones who can save these young men from the crushing effects of today’s ''pritzus and hefkeirus.''. You are their vaccine!
		+
		+	Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman rose to the challenge, and with the support of the staff and advisors of Guard Your Eyes has developed a compendium,, ''From Boys to Men, Navigating Pre-Puberty to Adulthood.'' This is a crucial beginning, but with the awareness of the problem, we can save our young men and their families from the crushing influence of today’s dissolution in society.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>

@@ Line 246: / Line 246: @@
 ==== Rabbi Twerski Responded: ====
 I have not had adequate clinical experience with homosexuality to write about it
 == On His Own Terms ==
   I spoke with Rabbi Twerski last night, he asked me for a referral for someone in SA who wasn't committed enough and was relapsing every 2 weeks or so... Rabbi Twerski claims he told the person that he wants a comfortable withdrawal on his own terms and isn't ready to surrender... I sent him to Brad Saltzman who lives now in Bet Shemesh.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 10 February 2021
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	==== Rabbi Twerski Responded: ====		==== Rabbi Twerski Responded: ====
	I have not had adequate clinical experience with homosexuality to write about it		I have not had adequate clinical experience with homosexuality to write about it
		+
		+	== On His Own Terms ==
		+	I spoke with Rabbi Twerski last night, he asked me for a referral for someone in SA who wasn't committed enough and was relapsing every 2 weeks or so... Rabbi Twerski claims he told the person that he wants a comfortable withdrawal on his own terms and isn't ready to surrender... I sent him to Brad Saltzman who lives now in Bet Shemesh.

@@ Line 203: / Line 203: @@
 What is my goal? Firstly, to let “frum” people become more aware about addiction. Also, those who say that some people in recovery become weaker in their Yiddishkeit should become aware that their observance of Yiddishkeit prior to recover was of very poor quality. This is the kind of hypocritical Yiddishkeit against which the ''neviim'' protested and brought  about the ''churban.''
 I will try to address why some people in 12-steps become “weaker” in Yiddishkeit. I don’t expect people to like what I’m going to say.<blockquote>''Thank you for the explanations, and for explaining the goal of the book.''
@@ Line 242: / Line 240: @@
 ''We would like to aim for an Elul release BE"H since the theme of the book is Teshuvah.''</blockquote>

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:18, 10 February 2021
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	chazak ve'ematz		chazak ve'ematz
		+
		+	twerski
		+
		+	== I shared with Rabbi Twerski ==
		+	'''Someone wrote to GYE:'''
		+
		+	''I am a real sicko - a loser. I am so subconsciously focused on lust and I am almost 50 yrs old. Why can't I just be normal? I agree everyone has nisyonos from time to time, but it feels like I'm always stuck in the mud!''
		+
		+	'''Response:'''
		+
		+	A great king lived in a beautiful palace, high above the cities that he ruled. One day, the king called in his loyal messenger and asked him to set out on a journey to the cities below on a mission to see where fixes were needed and what tasks needed to be attended to by the kingdom. The king promised the messenger great reward if he returned successful from his journey, and he supplied the messenger with a strong horse to ride to be able to carry out his bidding.
		+
		+	The messenger set out on his journey, but the horse was soon tired and wanted to rest. After a short stop, the messenger was eager to continue on his journey and fulfill the king's bidding, but the horse wanted to sleep some more. Finally he managed to rouse the horse but then it wanted to eat. The messenger gave the horse some oats and continued on the journey. Soon they came across a group of female horses grazing in the field. The horse began to stray off the path towards the mares and the messenger had no choice but to whip his horse back onto the path. When this kept repeating itself, the messenger fashioned a pair of blinders out of leather to keep the horse from getting distracted by seeing to the sides. After a few more hours, the horse again wanted to eat and rest, and when they were finally on the way again, the horse stumbled and got stuck in the mud. It took the messenger many hours to pull it out of the mud and continue on the journey.
		+
		+	And so it went at all stages of his travels throughout the kingdom. The horse kept straying, wanting to eat, rest and getting stuck in all sorts of unpleasant situations. Throughout it all, the messenger kept reminding himself of the king's mission and his great responsibility. He had to keep whipping the horse into submission so it would stay on track.
		+
		+	When the messenger finally returned to the king after many months of grueling travel, the king greeted him with great pomp and fanfare, personally coming out to greet him with a full royal entourage. The messenger was truly grateful, but asked the king why he had given him the horse in the first place. After all, it was continuously distracting to him, causing him no end of delays and hardships. The king smiled and explained, "My dear messenger. I knew that the horse would distract you and be a big nuisance, but without the horse you could never have fulfilled the mission. It was the horse that carried you down to the cities below and allowed you to travel throughout my kingdom and do my bidding. And it is precisely because you succeeded in spite of the hardships that I now wish to appoint you as one of my closest advisors. This mission I gave you was really a test was to see if the horse would succeed in distracting you from your duty to the king, or if you would always remember your responsibility to the king and keep the horse in submission."
		+
		+	Our souls were sent down to this world on an important mission for the King of kings. To this end, we were given a body--like the horse in the parable--to enable us to interact with the physical world and carry out the King's bidding. But we must always remember that we are the riders of the horse, with full control of the reigns! Yes, our "horse" keeps feeling hungry, tired, lazy and sometimes distracted by the "mares" out there, but we must keep the binders on its eyes and the whip in our hands at all time. When we feel overwhelmed by desire and tell ourselves it's too hard, we must remember that this is just our HORSE talking. We don't need to give in to the horse. We are the riders, and we have an important mission to fulfill!
		+
		+	Happy are those who ride their horse and keep it on track. How wonderful will be their lot when they return to the King of kings after 120; what great honor and reward awaits them! '''And woe to those who let their horse ride ''them!'''''
		+
		+	==== Rabbi Twerski Responded: ====
		+	Very Good.
		+
		+	Great!

	twerski		twerski

@@ Line 177: / Line 177: @@
 What is my goal? Firstly, to let “frum” people become more aware about addiction. Also, those who say that some people in recovery become weaker in their Yiddishkeit should become aware that their observance of Yiddishkeit prior to recover was of very poor quality. This is the kind of hypocritical Yiddishkeit against which the ''neviim'' protested and brought  about the ''churban.''
 I will try to address why some people in 12-steps become “weaker” in Yiddishkeit. I don’t expect people to like what I’m going to say.<blockquote>''Thank you for the explanations, and for explaining the goal of the book.''
@@ Line 192: / Line 194: @@
 ''But to help prevent this adverse reaction, perhaps it is important to point out in the book the tremendous "segula" of the Torah and Mitzvos, even when done imperfectly. There is a great light in the Torah that can bring a person back "lemutav" even if he just does the "actions". Perhaps if we stress this, we can help some Yidden in recovery who are letting go, to still try to do their best to put on teffilin, daven and keep the Mitzvos. For we believe that the "actions" bring to the "heart" (as long as they believe this, and work in that direction).''
-''May the Rav have the siyata dishmaya and wisdom from Hashem to write what truly needs to be said and heard for Hashem's people.''</blockquote>
+''May the Rav have the siyata dishmaya and wisdom from Hashem to write what truly needs to be said and heard for Hashem's people.''</blockquote>Dear Reb Hirsch Meir:

@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 Dear Yaacov:
-Here is the response from Hazelden. "The files for your book, ''The Spiritual Self'' are in Quark Xpress. If you can work with Quark files, I will be happy to send them to you. I’ve forwarded your request to Don Freeman in our production department".
+Here is the response from Hazelden. <blockquote>''"The files for your book, The Spiritual Self are in Quark Xpress. If you can work with Quark files, I will be happy to send them to you. I’ve forwarded your request to Don Freeman in our production department".''</blockquote>"Waking Up Just in Time" is published by St Martins Press. I have no contact there.
 "Self-improvement, I'm Jewish" is an Art Scroll book.
@@ Line 141: / Line 139: @@
 Twerski

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 10 February 2021
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	twerski		twerski
		+
		+	== Text versions of Rabbi Twerski's 12-Step Books ==
		+	Dear Yaacov:
		+
		+	Here is the response from Hazelden. "I’ve forwarded your request to Don Freeman in our production department to see if he has the proper files."
		+
		+	"Waking Up Just in Time" is published by St Martins Press. I have no contact there.
		+
		+	"Self-improvement, I'm Jewish" is an Art Scroll book.
		+
		+	Twerski<blockquote>''Thank you very much for your efforts.''
		+
		+	''A few questions, if I may:''
		+
		+	''1) What about the book "Addictive Thinking", does Hazelden have that file as a text doc?''
		+
		+	''2) Does the Rav have a contact in St Martins Press regarding the book "Waking Up Just in Time"?''
		+
		+	''3) Does the Rav have a contact in Artscroll to perhaps ask for the file of the book: "Self-improvement, I'm Jewish"?''
		+
		+	''4) Are there any other books on the 12-Steps that the Rav wrote which Hazelden may have the file?''
		+
		+	''Thank you for the help!''</blockquote>Dear Yaacov:
		+
		+	I don't know what Hazelden has.
		+
		+	I don't have any contact at St Martin
		+
		+	I'll contact ArtScroll re: Self Improvement I'm Jewish
		+
		+	I don't recall anything more on the 12 steps
		+
		+	Shabbat Shalom
		+
		+	Twerski