Rabbi gives advice on a fulfilling life

Penn students who think they can achieve self-awareness in four years should speak to Rabbi Abraham Twerski. He didn't even begin the process until age 38. In last night's speech entitled "Who Am I?: Judaism's Unexplored Approach," Twerski spoke of his struggle to discover his identity. Over 200 students and members from the local Orthodox Jewish community gathered in Meyerson Hall to listen to the acclaimed doctor, chemical dependency expert and writer. The founder and medical director emeritus of the not-for-profit Gateway Rehabilitation Center -- an alcohol treatment center in Pittsburgh -- Twerski has written over 30 books, four with deceased "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schultz. Twerski formerly practiced psychology, focusing on chemical dependency and self-esteem. After years of continuous stress, he said he felt an inner pull for change. "The self I knew was not the real one, but a delusion... and a self I did not like," Twerski added. He noted that his desire to write stemmed from the realization that he must not be alone in his confusion. "The problem is, we can fool ourselves most of our lives... and some of us never get wise to it," Twerski said, adding that people sometimes turn to substance abuse, self-hatred and, more commonly, distraction to ignore feelings of incompleteness. He emphasized the need to accept both talents and flaws in the struggle for growth. "How can you possibly grow if you're going to avoid criticism? Twerski said. "It is the only way you can learn." Purposefulness can only be achieved alongside a belief in a higher being, according to Twerski. "At some point we will run into questions that cannot be answered without religion," he commented. Twerski called upon the Jewish community to embrace the teachings of the Torah. Organizers and students were in awe of the talk. "We've had Rabbi Twerski in mind for over a year and a half," said Jonathan Kohn, a College sophomore and Orthodox Community at Penn member. The OCP was one of the event's sponsors. OCP member and Engineering graduate Matthew Wieder said that, after accidentally stumbling across one of Twerski's books, "I could see changes in myself." Wieder helped plan the event. After Twerski's speech, attendees crowded around the rabbi, conversing with him and asking him to sign books. "I was grateful the weather didn't prevent him from coming," said Kohn. "We achieved what we wanted to." College freshman Simon Brief noted that, while the event was sponsored by Jewish organizations, Twerski's ideas apply to everyone. "It didn't speak to me as much on a Jewish level as a personal level," he said.