Alcohol Rehab Program, Bnei Menashe

Ma'alot is home to a large Bnei Menashe community(for more details about the Bnei Menashe, watch this-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTQ24YkYfo0) , a tribe of estranged Indian Jews that have maintained minimal but stable connection to Jewish heritage. Many have experienced significant challenges adapting to a very different culture, language, and social identity, Bnei Menashe find themselves in need of more support than what is provided by government agencies. The Yeshiva has stepped up by starting professional education programs alongside Jewish education courses in order to help these estranged Jews feel more at home in Israel. In our work with the Bnei Menashe community we have seen over the years that there is a serious problem of alcohol addiction among the men in the community. Unfortunately, it has led to serious difficulties in the family unit which are exacerbated by economic hardships. The war and the unrest in in the north has caused additional stress, leading to four members of the Bnei Menashe dying from of alcohol overdose in the last six months. We decided that we must take action! Together with Retorno, Addiction Prevention & Rehabilitation center , we established a rehabilitation program aimed at supporting the addicted men and their families in the rehabilitation process. We provide them with treatments and financial assistance. We have already had two men successfully rehabilitated  and returned to normal life. naturally, it is not possible to upload photos due to the privacy of the participants.