SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 – 16 ELUL, 5777 JEWISHVOL 42, NO 1 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG Jews in recovery By Steven A. Rosenberg “I was high on some type of JOURNAL STAFF drug every single day from aged 12 to 19. But the drugs I got Ariele Goldman and Justin hooked on and got dependent Clancy never expected that they on was opiates, and heroin,” said would become heroin addicts. Justin, who is now a professional They had come from loving fam- vocalist, and works as a commu- ilies, and as children the two nity outreach coordinator and seemed to have bright futures. treatment adviser for recovering Justin went to Camp Simcha addicts. and started singing and rapping When he was 15, he had kid- when he was eight. Goldman ney stone surgery and left the went to a private Jewish day hospital with a prescription for school, joined Young Judea, and Percocet. After his prescription traveled to Israel several times. ran out he started shooting her- But internally, the two realized oin. “Nobody wakes up and says early in life that all was not right ‘today is a good day to do heroin.’ with their lives. At six, Justin was It’s a progression. Sometimes it’s prescribed Adderall, and didn’t slow and sometimes it’s fast but find the group of friends he it’s a disease, and it’s something hoped for as he moved through that you’re born with,” he said. elementary school. “I wanted to For his mother, Alyssa Rice, fit in, but I wasn’t really ath- the discovery of her son’s addic- letic when I was growing up so I tion was terrifying. “It was hor- didn’t fit in with the jocks, and I rific,” said Rice, who remembers was too edgy for the preppy kids, finding a syringe, spoon, and so I fell in with the kids who were a belt in her son’s room and doing the bad stuff,” said Justin, realizing that he was on heroin. who grew up in Peabody. He is “I was ashamed. I was embar- now 22, and has been off heroin rassed, I tried to keep a lid on it, and sober for almost four years. I didn’t want anybody to know,” These days, Justin works for said Rice, who witnessed her Banyan Treatment Center and is son go through over a dozen the co-founder of New England detox attempts before he was Simply Greg Photos NYC Ariele Goldman Addiction Outreach. continued on page 22 Justin Clancy The day I met Jerry Lewis Historic renaming ceremony at By Scott Rubin the Arthur J. Epstein Hillel School I met Jerry Lewis when I was in my MARBLEHEAD – Gold; and an alum- early 30s. My comedy writing partner at On Sunday, August na speaking on the time, Doug Kor, and I had one main 27, a standing room behalf of the 800- client: Marc Price, fresh off his stint as only crowd of 300 plus graduates. Skippy, the nerdy next door neighbor to gathered to wit- In her remarks, the Keatons from the hit series “Family ness the formal Gold recognized all Ties.” dedication of the the people and What happened next was unbe- Arthur J. Epstein milestones that lievable. Jerry Lewis was a huge fan of Hillel School, for- have come before, Marc’s. He watched “Family Ties” (which merly Cohen Hillel such as breaking ran from 1982 to 1989) Academy. ground on this and saw a lot of him- In recognition building on Com- FIRST- self in Marc’s physical of Arthur Epstein’s munity Hill in 1985, PERSON comedy prowess. Jerry $5 million dona- the burning of the wanted to remake one tion to the K-8 mortgage, and the of his movies, with Marc as the star. He independent day school’s first gala asked to meet with us ASAP – in Las school, and with the featuring Peter, Paul Vegas, where he lived. support of Eli and and Mary. She Jerry enthusiastically greeted us out- Bessie Cohen’s fam- thanked the genera- side Caesars Palace in a very dapper, ily, the school was tions of parents and all-white tennis outfit and quickly led us Jerry Lewis in 2005 renamed in a deeply students who have inside the hall of bling. Walking through moving ceremony. passed through the Caesars Palace with Jerry Lewis was akin him reverentially as if he was their boss – The dedication pro- doors, the devoted to walking through a zoo … but with the Jerry ran the place! gram included rab- Photo by Stuart Garfield staff and faculty most popular animal and the zookeeper At lunch, Jerry was everything: funny, bis from across the Arthur J. Epstein who have taught at – merged into one – strolling next to you. contemplative, ridiculous, offensive, North Shore; members of Mr. Epstein’s the school over the years, the dedicated Everyone recognized Jerry. Every self-indulgent, the ultimate raconteur. family; past presidents of the board of board members and administrators who Caesars staff member we passed greeted continued on page 10 directors; current Head of School Amy continued on page 5 The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 Stamell’s songs or Matt Stamell, it’s always listen to folk musicians at the been about the music. He Me & Thee Coffeehouse in Ffirst strummed a guitar as a Marblehead. “I just about lived at teen growing up in Swampscott, the Me & Thee,” he said. “I used and started writing songs that to go every Friday night. They reflected the changing times had all these different folk musi- of the ’60s and ’70s. After col- cians – like Bill Staines – who lege in upstate New York, he came through and it became a was drawn to the source of the big part of my identity.” notes, and began making guitars At Hobart College in the and violins – eventually opening Finger Lakes region of New York, Stamell Stringed Instruments in he began to perform at local ven- Amherst, and a second shop in ues and went on to create a folk Poughkeepsie, NY. festival at the college that lasted But the songs that he wrote 26 years. After graduating, he decades ago stayed with him, returned to Boston and decided along with his newer pieces, to craft instruments. Since then, and last winter he decided it he’s rubbed elbows with many of was time to record them. An old the musicians he listened to in Amherst friend, Craig Eastman, high school and college. Some, offered his studio in Los Angeles like David Bromberg and Chris and Stamell flew out to record Smither, have become friends. his songs with Eastman, a violin- Stamell, who has four daugh- ist and guitarist who has played ters and four granddaughters, with the likes of Elton John, comes from a family of musi- Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, and cians. His brothers, Gene and Sheryl Crow. Neal, also play guitar, and his In LA, Stamell recorded 13 late father, Sid, also dabbled songs with some top studio with the instrument and built musicians, including bass- his own guitar. His family has ist David Jackson – who has Matt Stamell records his new album, ‘Hello Old Friend.’ strong Jewish roots in Chelsea played with Jackson Browne and Kenny Rogers – and Blair Dylan, David Grisman, Arlo about the death of a friend and and Lynn, and over the years, Sinta, a drummer who has Guthrie, and Jerry Garcia. “The the ending of a relationship with the siblings traveled to Poland recorded with Alanis Morissette, songs are about love, longing, a woman,” he said. together, and also Israel. He Annie Lennox, Stevie Nicks, and protests, and family,” Stamell While Stamell spends most of even built a guitar for an Israeli Melissa Etheridge. said. His earliest piece, “Song his time in Amherst, Swampscott cousin who lives in Kiryat Ono. “I had all of these songs stored for Paul,” was written in 1973 is never far from his thoughts. It Stamell still considers himself up and it’s been a lifelong dream for Paul Dann, a Swampscott was there that he first began a folk musician and believes that to make a record,” said Stamell, friend. “Last of the Line” is a listening to Dylan, Cat Stevens, people who appreciate good lyr- who recently released “Hello Old ballad he dedicated to his sis- James Taylor, Tom Rush, Bill ics and a melody will be drawn Friend,” which is available on ter Lisa, who was the last of his Staines, and John Prine – musi- to his music. cdbaby.com, or at stamellstring. four siblings to marry. The cover cians who laid down a founda- “I don’t think it’s really back- com. track, “Hello Old Friend,” writ- tion that moved him. ground music. It tells a story,” Listen to Stamell’s music, ten when Stamell turned 60, is In the early 1970s while in he said. and you’ll find hints of Bob an exploration of loss. “It’s partly high school, Stamell began to – Steven A. Rosenberg JEWISH JOURNAL LiteraryLiterary SALON Presents An evening of Jewish Storytelling Everyone has a Jewish story to read or tell, and we’d like to hear yours. Please join us, as we share short stories and poetry that reflect our diverse Jewish narratives. By sharing our stories about Jewish identity and experiences, we join together on a collective journey and discovery. Tuesday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m.