The autobiography of a most unusual rabbi, Mark Borovitz, tells of his extraordinary transition from gambler, thief, con artist and alcoholic to rabbi and co-director of a faith-based rehabilitation center for Jewish addicts.
Written in collaboration with Alan Eisenstock, author of books, movies, plays, articles and television shows, “The Holy Thief” begins in 2000, when Borovitz completed four years of study at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and received his ordination.
It then goes back to his childhood in Cleveland, where he adopted as a role model his Uncle Marty, “a hustler, a troublemaker.” He also admired Uncle Harry, an owner of bars.
His father, who died when Borovitz was 14, left him, his mother, his two brothers and his sister in dire financial straits. His mother went to work, but her earnings were insufficient to support the family. And so Borovitz, who had already been a petty shoplifter, began to sell stolen goods and to hang out in bars.
But he also liked going to synagogue, where he said Kaddish and was active in United Synagogue Youth, becoming president of the local chapter. After finishing high school, he entered Ohio State University, then dropped out before completing his first year.
In 1970, he “began a seven-year stretch of hustling, drinking and madness.” He “schemed, conned and scammed” with partners who were also “dreamers, schemers, lowlifes, and drunks.” He recounts his nefarious activities in sordid detail.
He got into serious trouble with a couple of gangsters who threatened to kill him. To escape from them, he fled to Los Angeles, where one of his brothers lived. There, he continued his criminal activity until he was finally caught. His lawyer advised him to get married “to make a good impression on the judge.” He did, received probation, but was arrested again. This time, he was sentenced to three years in prison.
He worked as clerk for the prison rabbi but refused to accept the rabbi’s insistence that he “quit the Life.” After being released, he reverted to his old ways and soon found himself back in prison. This time, the rabbi’s influence was more effective and also, Borovitz was moved by his daughter’s admonition, “when you’re in jail, I’m in jail.” By the time he was discharged in 1988 at the age of 37, he had decided to change his life.
He took a job at Beit T’Shuvah, a Los Angeles-based halfway house for drug and alcohol addicts, where he fell in love with the director, whom he married (after divorcing his first wife) in 1990.
As Borovitz took on more responsibility at Beit T’Shuvah, including conducting services and leading a Torah study group, he began to study with a UCLA professor, working one-on-one each week for five years. Later, he studied with a congregational rabbi who eventually urged him to attend rabbinical school and sponsored him when he was presented for ordination.
Borovitz was ordained as a rabbi at age 50. Now in his early 50s, he works to transform people’s lives in a program that uses Jewish spirituality, Alcohol Anonymous’ 12-steps and psychotherapy to achieve its goal.
Several participants tell this unusual story, but it is essentially the singular tale of a man who successfully fought his demons and found a place for himself so radically different from the criminal life that he formerly led. Both the book and the life it describes so well are truly inspirational.
“The Holy Thief” by Mark Borovitz and Alan Eisenstock (226 pages, William Morrow, $23.95).