Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jan 2005
Source: Jerusalem Post (Israel)
Copyright: 2005 The Jerusalem Post
Contact: http://info.jpost.com/C002/Services/Feedback/editors.html
Website: http://www.jpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/516
Author: Mati Wagner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

OVERDOSE VICTIM CAME FOR TORAH, BUT FOUND HEROIN

Erik Siegal was a young American Jew with a drug problem. He chose to 
embrace a religious life, and came to Israel to learn Torah and start afresh.

It didn't work out that way. Siegal, a yeshiva student at Neveh Zion in 
Telz Stone, west of Jerusalem, died this week of a heroin overdose.

"A horrific series of events led to Erik's death," said an acquaintance. 
"He came to an unfamiliar country. He bought heroin that was different from 
what he was used to in the US. He sniffed too much, went to sleep and never 
woke up."

On Wednesday, police arrested four other American yeshiva students on 
suspicion of selling drugs to dozens of their fellow students in Jerusalem. 
The arrests, and Siegal's death, has thrown a spotlight on the problem of 
drug use among young American Jews sent to study in Israeli yeshivot in 
part as a means of rehabilitating them.

Many of them, such as Siegal, have a record of drug abuse. Just last year 
he was in a strict rehab program in Utah. Siegal grew up in a secular 
household in suburban Los Angeles, and the recent death of his non-Jewish 
father, according to a friend, created tremendous turmoil in his life.

Neveh Zion, one of several yeshivot that specializes in educating 
"high-risk" students, admitted Siegal.

Besides Neveh Zion, there are at least three yeshivot in Jerusalem that 
accept high-risk students: Kesher, Sha'are Yerushalayim and Ner Ya'acov.

None preferred to comment on record following Siegal's death and 
yesterday's arrest. All are interested in helping American yeshiva students 
through their period of crisis, but a source close to the yeshivot said 
their methodologies differ, although none would accept a student that used 
hard drugs.

A rabbi at Kesher said Neveh Zion's staff did everything possible to help 
Siegal.

"Even though in theory I am in competition with Neveh Zion, I have nothing 
but good words for the staff," said the rabbi.

"It is a wonderful place with a tremendously dedicated staff. They are in 
constant contact with a network of professionals. If they see a need they 
immediately refer to the right place and try to get treatment."

The rabbi said that at Kesher therapeutic aid is available inside the 
yeshiva. There are random drug tests. All students make a commitment to 
zero tolerance to all illegal drugs.

"I not saying students never have a slip-up," admitted the rabbi. "But 
never with heavy opiates."

In addition to yeshivot, there are also several "drop-in" centers for kids 
with drug problems. Two, The Zone and Crossroads, are located near Kikar 
Zion, a popular hangout for American yeshiva and seminary students. A 
third, The Clubhouse, is near Har Nof.

Rabbi Eitan Eckstein, head of Retorno, a drug rehabilitation center that 
deals primarily with religious families, says that many American parents 
have a misconception that they can send children with a substance abuse 
record to Israel and everything will miraculously work out.

"But parents must understand," warned Eckstein, "that is not the way to 
solve the problem. Instead, the children end up at Kikar Zion dealing drugs."

Or worse, they end up like Erik Siegal.
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