Recovering addicts draw inspiration from Haggadah

beit t shuvahLOS ANGELES (Press Release)–By interweaving a Passover Seder with personal stories of addiction, Freedom Song poses one stark question, What are you a slave to?

Using song and dance, tears and laughter, and an intense post show discussion with our cast, Freedom Song opens eyes to the real life struggle against the ‘bondage of self’ that we all fight every day. Do you obsess over being the picture of perfection? Are you constantly trying to please your parents? Is your own self worth based on material things?

Freedom Song uses the story of Passover and a 12-Step meeting with original modern music as the vehicle to expose the pervasiveness of the disease of addiction and its effect on everyone in the family system. The cast of Freedom Song is not a cast of actors; they are actual addicts in recovery who have broken off the shackles of drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other destructive behaviors.

The performers are residents at Beit T’Shuvah, a treatment center in West Los Angeles, who’ve taken part in the Music in Recovery Program as a way to work through and overcome their addiction. “The play not only draws parallels between being a slave in Egypt and being a slave to your addiction, but it also forces the audience to take a look within themselves instead of pointing the finger at everyone else,” explains Rabbi Mark Borovitz, CEO of Beit T’Shuvah. “Every year the musical is changed by the cast members themselves, who have an opportunity to share their personal song, as they voice their own struggles.”

On Passover Jews ask, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The musical Freedom Song is performed as a reminder that it is our responsibility to look at our own lives, and compare our personal stories of slavery to that of Egypt.

This original musical was written by Beit T’Shuvah residents nine years ago and has been performed in Los Angeles and across the U.S. in synagogues, schools, performance centers, and even at a women’s prison.

Please take a moment to watch this trailer of the original musical, “Freedom Song.”
Freedom Song Trailer 2013

WHEN:  Sunday, April 5th.  Performance at 6:30 p.m. followed by an abbreviated Seder.

(Beit T’Shuvah will also be hosting community Seders on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th.  All Seders begin at 6:30 p.m..  The cost is $36 for adults and $18 for children.  RSVP to Amy Abrams at aabrams@beittshuvah.org)

WHERE: Beit T’Shuvah 8831 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90034

*
__________________________________________________________________
Care to comment?  San Diego Jewish World is intended as a forum for the entire Jewish community, whatever your political leanings. Letters may be posted below provided they are responsive to the article that prompted them, and civil in their tone.  Ad hominem attacks against any religion, country, gender, race, sexual orientation, or physical disability will not be considered for publication.  Letters must be signed with your first and last name, and you must state your city and state of residence.  There is a limit of one letter per writer on any given day.
__________________________________________________________________