Spotlight on DJ Shabat (FYHS '97)

Graduating Year: 2003

Current Location:  Chicago, IL

Profession:  I work at Upward Community Chicago as a Therapist. I’m proud to say that I have been sober for over 10 years and aim to help the community with addiction.

Tell us a little bit about your family: 

Married with one son.

What is your favorite memory/(memories) from FYHS/HTC/Kayitz:

The first night that I met Moose was memorable and he was my best friend. I loved hanging out with him and Patti in the kitchen when he worked there. Beating the Academy my senior year was great. Walter also took over as head chef my sophomore year. I got the privilege of learning with Rabbi Freedman my senior year in the Beis Midrash program and continued learning with him throughout all my stints at HTC, in fact when Rabbi Morgenstern advised me to seek my education elsewhere, Rabbi Freedman still took the time and learned with me. I should also mention that Rabbi Morgestern let me come back and complete the Beis Medrash program a couple of years later. Rabbi Wender started when I was a Sophomore and he wasn’t nearly as frightening as Rabbi Weiss. Mr. Abowitz both started when I was Freshman so he and our class grew together for 4 years. I also had Rabbi Polstein twice as a rebbe. Lots of fun memories. We went to California for our senior trip which was so fun. We just had a lot of fun. How many people can say they learned Physics from Rabbi Rand, that’s a pretty awesome memory.

Please share a lesson/takeaway from your time at FYHS/HTC/Kayitz:

I feel like I came from a binary system of what a Jew should look like, the Yeshiva gave me the exposure and the space to explore the many ways to practice Judaism and be a good human.  Shabsai Wolf was a tremendous point to that, he is a tremendous talmid chacham and would learn with Rabbi Morgenstern on Sundays. He wore regular clothing and showed me that the clothes you wear don’t inform us of who we are. It was eye-opening. The Yeshiva taught me a lot of possibilities. 

Advice for current students:

Have fun but don't be dangerous. Build your self awareness and try to identify the type of person you want to be in the future, and work towards that goal. Find mentors and Rabbiem that can help you along the way.

Anything else to share?

The reason that I do what I do is to bring education and prevention into the community and help lessen the stigma of mental health needs and substance use. If you are concerned or have questions about addiction and recovery please reach out, I will help you. There is hope for health and recovery.