The Library

Thank you everyone for joining on Board our voyage of the Big Book Study Group Lunch & Learn. (Click here for more info on this anonymous phone group, 4 times a week. Suitable for both U.S and Israel time-zones).

It was very inspiring to have 14 brave participants join this Fellowship on our first call yesterday. The questions were very profound and insightful. I can already imagine what kinds of discussions we will have once we get into the "real" material. (All we did today was cover the forwards).

Newcomers are welcome at any time, and now is a great time to start. Please join us tomorrow as we begin the reading of "The Doctor's Opinion" in the Big Book, on Roman numeral page "xxv" - (25).

(Please read about 4 pages and underline those phrases that have meaning to you or you want to discuss).

And please don't forget the latest "Take Out Menu" Exercise - The A&W Moments (Awe and Wonder).  For the next 23 hours, be "on the alert" as you build your awareness of how G-d's hand was in your life today.  It could be as small as realizing how blessed you are to go to the bathroom or as major as seeing how you barely missed a car that had stopped in front of you without warning.  It could be the smell of a freshly bloomed rose to seeing the sun set over the ocean. (See also the "Feel the Hugs" thread on the forum, where you can post your A&W moments).

For example, I clearly remember the first time I went on a Cruise and what it was like to go to the Port before boarding the Ship. I remember getting out of the taxi and seeing the Ship up close for the first time. I remember thinking how enormous the Ship was and wondering how could something so large not sink in the water. Not only did the Ship stretch from one end of the port 5 football fields out into the canal but it was also 10 stories tall. It looked like the Empire State Building on it's side in the water!

And I was told that our Ship would carry 1,000 crewmen just to serve the passengers, enough food to eat 5 times a day, plenty of fuel and safety measures to weather any storm. All this just so I could take a week long journey throughout the Caribbean.

I was quite impressed.

That's how I feel right now as I know that I'm aboard our Journey with a group of men, just like me. We are embarking on a Journey in our own "vessel." A vessel that will be safe and comfortable. One that can take us out into the deepest waters that the world has to offer, and yet we can stay afloat - together. Yes, there may be rough waters ahead. But as long as we stay on board, we will reach our destination G-d willing.

There are many awesome moments full of wonder that come into our life which we ignore or overlook. PLEASE take time today to see or feel them.

After the next call, Duvid Chaim writes:

The "Chidush" of today was the introduction of the "Doctor's opinion", that our disease is an "allergy" - meaning that our disease is actually out of our control. Not that we are bad, immoral or sinful people, but that we are under the effects of a disease - not only physical, but also spiritual and mental. Accordingly, the pathway to our freedom from the disease is a spiritual one - one that implies that our efforts should be directed towards becoming more "aware" and connected of Hashem in our lives. That's why we discussed "The A&W Moments" (Awe and Wonder) as a way to stay "connected."

Please join us tomorrow as we continue the reading of "The Doctor's Opinion" on roman numeral page "xxviii" - (28).

(Please read about 3 pages and underline those phrases that have meaning to you or you want to discuss).

Looking forward to our Wednesday call, 
(Click here for the call-in info).

Until then, I am yours truly,

Duvid Chaim

What will I gain from Duvid Chaim's Group?

"Tomim" Posted on the forum, after the first call:

I was surprised when I realized that this group is much more involving than I thought. Seems to me that Duvid Chaim isn't just looking for listeners; he wants participators too! (Although you're free to just listen in, if you're uncomfortable talking).

If you are able to join the calls, I would absolutely recommend it! From the lengthy conversation that I had with Duvid Chaim just after the meeting, I learned so much about his care, devotion, knowledge, and for me - balance. The honesty and openness in the group is amazing (and this is just the beginning)! I have no doubt that anyone who invests himself into this and follows Duvid Chaim's lead in working the steps into his life, will see tremendous success and ultimately earn back his freedom.

Let me add: The 12-Steps is a holistic approach, in that it does not attempt to just alleviate the symptom (Actually: once into the program, "lusting" isn't even the topic). Instead, it digs deeper, into the underlying issues which are able to correct the person from bottom up. When a person is in a healthy "place", he doesn't feel the need to medicate himself with his drug of choice (in our case, Lust). I'm sure you can see from your time here at GYE, that addicts, from all walks of life, can be very good people and even exemplify great characteristics. "So why then do we falter?", a person can ask. "How can we be good people, and just a moment later we fall into utter evil?. Doesn't that mean that we are not really good?" The answer is NO! But there is one flaw, in that we are all missing a very valuable key! The 12-Steps intends to give us that key. When we have learned what this key is, how to attain it, and we proceed on our journey to incorporate it into our lives, we will not only be free of lusting, but we will be all-around better people with growth and improvement in many areas.

If you want to learn how to win without fighting, and also leave an everlasting effect, this is the place to be! "

As Duvid Chaim says, "It works if you work it. And you're worth it!"

Steve writes to Duvid Chaim, after the first call:

Hi. Thanx so much for the first session. I'm looking forward to continuing with each session very much. I am SOOO looking forward to success. It's like I've been hard-wired for this disease since I started girl-watching as a kid. So many things you  said were really on-target. It's amazing how much hashkafah we forget, and how important the 12-Steps are to remind us, not just in concept, but to believe in the practice of it through sharing.