Residential therapeutic community in the Jerusalem hills offering addiction treatment in English, Hebrew, and Spanish. Founded by Rabbi Eitan Eckstein. MOH supervised. Accepts international clients.
Retorno is a residential therapeutic community located in Givat Shemesh, in the Shimshon region near Jerusalem. Founded by Rabbi Eitan Eckstein and co-founder Isaac Zollman — who first established a therapeutic community in Mexico before opening the Israeli campus — Retorno is a non-profit organization that describes itself as the largest Jewish organization in the world for the prevention and treatment of addictions. The center is supervised by the Israeli Ministry of Health and works in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Social Services, and the IDF.
The residential program serves adults aged 17 and older dealing with alcohol or drug dependence, running separate communities for men and women on the same campus. The center also operates two gender-separated medical detox units — Alon for men and Elah for women — for clients who require medically supervised withdrawal before entering the residential program.
Retorno accepts Israeli residents and international clients. Clinical and residential services are available in English, Hebrew, and Spanish. The center operates as a private-pay facility at approximately USD $10,000 per month.
A therapeutic community in which the community itself functions as the primary tool for recovery.
Retorno’s residential program uses a therapeutic community model — a structured approach in which the community itself functions as a primary tool for recovery. Residents progress through four sequential phases: an initial orientation phase; two phases focused on building emotional regulation, personal responsibility, and community relationships; and a final reintegration phase that prepares participants to return to independent life.
The program integrates 12-step principles with evidence-based clinical approaches, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and somatic experiencing, alongside experiential modalities such as therapeutic horseback riding, animal-assisted therapy, sports therapy, and bicycle therapy.
The center is non-sectarian — open to people of all belief systems and backgrounds — but operates within Jewish values and maintains a kosher residential environment. A separate Mehadrin track is available for observant Jewish clients. Retorno also uses a predictive AI tool to support individualized treatment planning.
Retorno operates two gender-separated medical detox units on the same campus in Givat Shemesh. Alon accepts men aged 17–40; Elah accepts women aged 14–30. Both programs provide supervised physical withdrawal with 24/7 nursing staff and narcologist oversight under medical supervision. Medical interventions, including drug replacement therapy, are used only during the first stage of treatment. The minimum duration for Alon is 21 days, with programs extending up to six weeks based on clinical progress. Pre-admission laboratory tests are required for both units.
The flagship residential program accepts men and women aged 17 and over in separate living communities. The program follows a four-phase therapeutic community structure with a minimum stay of three months. Treatment combines 12-step work, DBT, group and individual therapy, equine-assisted therapy, animal-assisted therapy, sports therapy, bicycle therapy, and somatic experiencing. Admission requires completion of medical detox in advance — either at Retorno’s own detox programs or at another medically supervised facility.
Retorno operates a Mehadrin residential track for observant Jewish clients — maintaining enhanced kashrut standards (chalav Yisrael, Shomer Shabbos), three daily minyanim, and optional Torah study partnerships. The program integrates Jewish spiritual practice with the same therapeutic community model and professional clinical care as the main program. It is not a yeshiva — participation in religious activities beyond the basic kosher structure is optional.
Mifgashim is Retorno’s group-based outpatient support program, primarily serving people who have completed residential treatment and are in ongoing recovery. Fees are described by Retorno as typically less than the cost of a single private therapy session.
Individual and group therapy delivered remotely. Specific details about program structure and eligibility are not publicly described on the website. Contact the center directly for information.
Retorno operates programs for younger individuals dealing with substance use issues. Age ranges and program structure are not publicly detailed on the website. Contact the center directly for information.
Retorno offers a continuum from medical detox through residential rehabilitation to outpatient aftercare. Step-down between levels is possible within the same organization.
| Level | Program | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Detox | Alon (men) / Elah (women) | Men 17–40 / Women 14–30 |
| Residential Rehab | Adult therapeutic community | Adults 17+ |
| Residential Rehab | Mehadrin community | Observant Jewish adults |
| Outpatient | Mifgashim group support | Post-residential |
| Remote | Retorno ZOOM | Contact for eligibility |
Prospective clients and families can contact Retorno by phone, email, or WhatsApp. For callers based in the United States, a dedicated US line is available: +1 (646) 248-7297 (during Israel business hours). Israel contact: +972 53-840-0374. Full contact details are in the Admissions section of this page.
An application packet for the adult residential community is available to download from the Retorno website. Admissions to the detox programs (Alon and Elah) require a completed medical form and pre-admission laboratory tests. Residential admission requires completion of medical detox in advance — either at Retorno’s own detox units or at another medically supervised facility. Retorno states that every person who meets the clinical criteria for their detox programs will be accepted as quickly as possible.
Referrals are accepted from families, clinicians, social workers, and self-referrals. International clients can receive assistance with travel logistics and with community connections upon returning home after treatment.
Retorno operates as a private-pay center. Fees are approximately USD $10,000 per month for both the detox programs and the residential community. An optional DHEA certification add-on is available for an additional $1,000 per month. Mifgashim outpatient support is priced below the cost of a single private therapy session.
Retorno does not publicly describe coverage by Israeli public health insurance (Bituach Leumi or kupat holim). Prospective clients are encouraged to contact the center directly to discuss financial arrangements. Retorno describes its pricing as competitive relative to comparable residential programs in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and South Africa.
Family involvement program details are not publicly described on Retorno’s website. Contact the center directly at reception@retorno.org or +972 53-840-0374 to understand available family support options and visiting arrangements.
The Retorno campus is located in Givat Shemesh, a rural area in the Shimshon region between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The setting includes outdoor therapeutic areas with horses and animals used in equine-assisted and animal-assisted therapy. The residential facility maintains a kosher environment. Specific accommodation details — room types, shared versus private arrangements, and full on-campus amenities — are not publicly described on the website. Contact the center directly for information about the physical environment.
The clinical team as listed on the Retorno website includes the following named specialists. Credentials are transcribed from published staff profiles; independent verification was not performed for this profile. Confirm current team composition directly with the center.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr. Baruch Labok | Psychiatrist (MD) |
| Dr. Ellie Katz | PhD |
| Elad Borovsky | Head of Therapeutic Community (MSW) |
| Efrat Maayan | Clinical Psychologist |
| Adi Abadi Shapira | Social Worker (MSW) |
| Hai Hadad | Adult Community Director |
| Roy Katz | Therapeutic Coordinator |
| Nissim Cheshbon | Manager, Detox Program (Men) |
Adults aged 17 and over dealing with alcohol or drug dependence. Separate residential communities exist for men and women. Admission requires completion of medical detox in advance — either at Retorno’s own detox programs or at another medically supervised facility.
Clinical and residential services are available in English, Hebrew, and Spanish.
Retorno is non-sectarian — it is open to people of all backgrounds and belief systems. The residential environment is kosher and operates within Jewish values, but participation in religious practice beyond the basic setting is optional. A separate Mehadrin track is available for observant Jewish clients who want a higher level of religious observance integrated into their program.
Contact Retorno by phone, email, or WhatsApp. US callers: +1 (646) 248-7297. Israel: +972 53-840-0374. Email: reception@retorno.org. An application packet for the adult residential community is available on the Retorno website. Medical detox admissions require a completed medical form and pre-admission laboratory tests.
Retorno does not publicly describe coverage by Israeli public health insurance. The center operates as a private-pay facility. Contact the center directly to discuss financial options.
The minimum stay for the adult residential community is three months. The program is divided into four phases; individual length varies based on clinical progress.
Family involvement details are not publicly described on Retorno’s website. Contact the center directly at reception@retorno.org to understand available family support options and visiting arrangements.
Yes. Retorno accepts clients from outside Israel and can assist with logistics for international clients, including community connections and ongoing support upon return home. A US intake line (+1 646-248-7297) is available during Israel business hours.
Yes. Retorno operates under supervision of the Israeli Ministry of Health and works in collaboration with Israeli government bodies including the Ministry of Education and Social Services.
Based on publicly available information. Confirm eligibility and intake criteria directly with the center before making any decision.
Contact the center directly to confirm current availability, intake requirements, and accepted payment. All information should be independently verified before making any treatment decision.
RecoveryCompass sources listing information from government registries, ministry publications, and public provider data. We do not guarantee accuracy or current availability. Verify all information directly with the center before making any decision.
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