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There is a growing awareness that many Jews are dealing with active addictions to drugs and alcohol, and many more are recovering. Jews generally will not seek out traditional addiction services, which do not deal with the unique issues faced by recover ing Jews. This is particularly true ofthe 12-step programs, in which professionals are usually not allowed to participate. A Jewish Family Service in New Jersey developed a partnership with the recovering Jewish community and helped over 600 people dealing with addictions come together to share the support that is uniquely needed by recovering Jews. There is a commonly held belief that Jews do not have problems with alcohol or drug abuse. Traditionally, being Jewish and being alcoholic have been thought to be mutually exclusive. Yet, the reality is that there have always been Jewish alcoholics and drug users. The Bible is replete with references to drunken ness and admonitions against tarrying too long over the wine (Spiegel, 1977). In fact, Noah was considered one of the first alcoholics. In addition, there are sugges tions in the Bible that the ancestors of the modem Jews were copious drinkers (Keller, 1970). After the retum from exile and the acceptance of the Torah, dmnkenness began to be frowned upon. Drinking became a way to celebrate rituals, religious celebra tions, and life-cycle events: four glasses of wine at Pesach, one glass of wine to usher in Shabbat, wine to consecrate a wedding and to celebrate a young person's Bar or Bat Mitzvah, and prescribed drinking at Purim