A $10,000 Bottle of Scotch: Alcohol Abuse, Conspicuous Consumption, and Orthodox Life Today, with Rabbi Jonathan Muskat and Rachel Tuchman (272)

A tragic drunk driving case in Lakewood has pushed an uncomfortable question to the surface. What happens when "Toameha," kiddush clubs and casual drinking culture quietly normalize alcohol misuse in our homes and shuls, especially for the teenagers who are watching us... and what happens when that same culture is surrounded by designer logos, luxury Shabbat tables and endless talk about hotels and vacations? In this episode, I speak with Rabbi Jonathan Muskat and mental health counselor Rachel Tuchman about the growing Toameha phenomenon, problem drinking that does not always look like classic alcoholism, and conspicuous indulgence in luxury in the Orthodox world. Together we explore what all of this is teaching our children about Torah values, tzniut and success, and how parents, educators and communities can begin to change the conversation without pretending that any of us are immune.

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Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com