"I Was Asked to Help with a Serious Addiction, Unfortunately It Was Too Late"

Name: Eitan Eckstein

Age: 65

Family Status: Father to five wonderful children and grandfather to more than a dozen grandchildren.

Profession: Social worker and founder and CEO of 'Retorno' for addiction prevention and treatment.

Child with Aspirations: "I was born in Boston, USA, while my father, Prof. Shlomo Eckstein of blessed memory, was completing his doctorate in economics. I immigrated to Israel at the age of one, and for several years, we lived within Bar-Ilan University, where my father held senior roles, including Head of the Economics Department, Director, and University President. I grew up in a home of Torah and work, studied in religious schools and yeshiva high school, and was involved in youth activities and community service."

A Father Who Was a Friend: "Despite my father's busy schedule at the university and his various social and public roles, he was a family man. He always had time to help me and my sisters with homework and was there to listen to any problem that arose during my adolescence. My mother dedicated herself entirely to us, and our home was always open to guests from Israel and abroad."

Things I Learned from My Father: "My father of blessed memory was the most significant figure in my life. I still recall the days when he wrote numerous books on economics and simultaneously completed many cycles of the Talmud. Truly the epitome of Torah and work."

The Joys of Yeshiva: "I initially studied in a yeshiva high school, and the truth is, I struggled to connect with the learning. Concentrating on mathematical formulas or remembering historical events was difficult for me. I preferred physical education and was mainly engaged in youth movements. After high school, I decided to study for a year in a holy yeshiva. I chose 'Itri Hadera' Yeshiva, where Rabbi Yehoshua Eichenstein was the head. The Rabbi greatly inspired me, and thanks to him, I chose to remain within the Charedi world where I am today. During my Kollel studies, I enlisted in the IDF and served as a military rabbi in an armored brigade, being discharged with the rank of captain."

Founding Retorno: "After getting married, I took on a role as a community rabbi in Mexico, where I became a listening ear for community members in all areas of life. It was there that I first encountered the disease of addiction when a well-known family in the community asked for help to rehabilitate their father from severe addiction. Tragically, the father passed away in his office from a drug overdose. At the funeral, I received a letter from the newly widowed wife, which her late husband left especially for me as part of his will, where he asked to bequeath a large part of his assets to establish a rehabilitation center for addicts. We first established 'Retorno' in Mexico in 1990, with its name meaning U-turn or change of direction in Spanish. Upon returning to Israel, I established the first Israeli branch for addiction treatment."

Daily Routine: "Every morning, I arrive at 'Retorno' and spend the entire day there. In addition to managing, I meet one-on-one with patients, teach them classes, and work on developing our activities for prevention and help for addicts, mainly from the religious and Charedi sectors. Every evening, I study the daily Talmud page regularly, and in between, I enjoy spending quality time with my grandchildren, who are aged 3-22."

"Shabbats are the most special day of my week, as my wife invites the children and grandchildren for meals, each turning into a philosophical workshop with discussions of Torah and current affairs. My wife Sarah, who worked as an educator for many years, leads all the family events with great skill, turning each gathering into a cohesive and unifying event."

One on One

A Spiritual Figure You Connect To?

"Throughout the years, I was connected to Rabbi Yosef Roth, of blessed memory, head of 'Beit David' institutions in Bnei Brak, who often brought me to consult with Rabbi Shach, of blessed memory. Since Rabbi Roth passed away, I consult with leading Israeli rabbis on essential questions and with halachic authorities on religious questions."

A Book You Are Especially Connected To?

"I am particularly connected to two commentators through whom I try to translate the Bible into everyday language – the Rashar Hirsch and Malbim."

A Moving Moment You've Experienced Recently?

"I recently attended a lecture by a prominent and famous educator, and when he got off the stage, he approached me, hugged me, and whispered in my ear: 'Mine and theirs are yours, I am a graduate of Retorno.'"

What Do You Regret in Your Life?

"That I haven't managed to secure more government funding for Retorno. We are actively saving lives, and I am sure that if we had a larger government budget, we could save more young people and adults. Sometimes I wonder if I did enough to persuade those who need convincing to increase the budget."

If You Weren't the CEO of Retorno, What Would You Be Doing?

"Originally, I wanted to be a Kollel student. In practice, it seems I would have been involved in education and charity work."

A Final Message?

"I want to reach out to parents: if you feel something is not right with your children, do not hesitate to seek help. This is not shameful, but an obligation. Today, there are many professionals and organizations that can provide professional solutions to most problems created by modern life for us and our families, and there is an answer for almost every issue."