June 26 2020 l 4 Tamuz 5780
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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JOIN US WEEKLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES-VIRTUALLY!
FRIDAY NIGHT- 6:30PM
SATURDAY MORNING- 10:30AM
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Dear Congregants,
In Rabbi Heschel’s words, this is “no time for neutrality.” COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement teach us just how interdependent we are - whether we like it or not. Whether or not I wear a mask can save or take someone’s life. Whether or not I show up for justice and equity for Black folks can also save someone’s life (imagine if one of the police officer’s had stopped his fellow officer from continuing to press on George Floyd’s neck?). I cannot be neutral in the face of human dignity.
My mom said recently: “I don’t understand how people can be so outright cruel. I’m just so saddened by it.” I’m also sad. I’m sad that so many people don’t think they matter enough to save someone’s life.
Rabbi Heschel teaches that we have a choice to make: “whether our life is to be a pursuit of pleasure or an engagement for service.” Will you choose your own pleasure, your own comfort, over a stranger’s or a loved one’s life? If wearing a mask diminishes your pleasure, not wearing a mask will not increase it. If talking about racism makes you uncomfortable, ignoring the toll of racism on this country will not make you comfortable. This is no time for neutrality. This is a time to engage in the service of human dignity - yours and others’. This is a time to matter.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Kerry
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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Chaplain Adam Siegel
No matter where we look - whether at home, at work, or in the news - tempers are running hot and moments of reconciliation and healing are in short supply. Coronavirus aside, divisiveness and disagreement have become an infectious virus, continually adapting and spreading to new scenarios and new carriers. Symptoms of this infection include increased insistence on the correctness of our own perspective and a diminished capacity to consider another’s point of view. This further entrenchment in our sense of being right is contagious, and adds to the polarization of our already-divided world. And while separation and isolation may be the recommended response to a COVID-19 infection, we know these measures only further accentuate the splits within our society, within our families, and even within our inner selves.
Can our texts and traditions provide us with guidance for immunizing ourselves against this “bug”?
During a recent Small Ethics group with our Primary residents, we studied the following poem by noted Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai:
The Place Where We Are Right
From the place where we are right
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Sam O.
in abentia
for two years of sobriety.
We are still celebrating birthdays each week on Zoom!
To sign up to take a Sober Birthday cake
at Beit T'Shuvah,
click here.
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Our family proudly sponsors this Shabbat to honor the memory of Edward Kamenir on this the 10th anniversary of his death. He was a remarkably devoted son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He lived a life immersed not only in family, but also a life devoted to the Jewish community, including to Beit T'Shuvah. He was a renaissance man who was passionate about music, literature and the arts. He was a beloved dentist, a lawyer, and a general contractor, the latter being a great passion especially when he built buildings as a volunteer for the Jewish community. We miss him terribly, but feel his presence in everything we do, every day. Our parents‘ love song for theIr 64 incredible years together was Irving Berlin’s “I’ll be loving you, always....”, and that is our family’s truth...We will be loving (and missing) you, ALWAYS.
The entire Kamenir family
Celebrating you is one of the greatest joys in my life! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU SAM! Happy Two Years My Love
❤️. This past year you have grown into a man I truly respect. Watching you put yourself out there, digging deep inside your soul and working the program has given your life so much more. Gratitude, Confidence, Compassion, Empathy, Genuine to name a few. I believe in you and love you with every fiber of my being
. Love~ Mom
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My beloved son SAM. I am so deeply proud of you. Watching you methodically and diligently rebuild your beautiful life, has been one of the greatest joys I have ever experienced. You are dedicated. You are kind and thoughtful. You have a huge welcoming heart. You have integrity. I am beyond impressed by the man you have become. Yet, Even more importantly, I am overjoyed by the fact that you now truly love YOURSELF !! As much as I have always loved you. All my love and respect.Happy second birthday SAM!
Dad
Sam, Our pride and joy knows no limits. To have two years of sobriety to brag about is no small step. It began with a choice. It’s one we are thrilled to watch you make every minute of every day. All our love,
Aunt Marti and Uncle Lou
Sammy, I’m so proud of all that you’ve accomplished these last two years of sobriety. I know they haven’t been easy and I know every day you continue to challenge yourself to be the best version of YOU possible. I think you are an incredible human being with such a huge heart, always able to empathize with others and genuinely care about what they have to say. I feel so blessed and proud to call you my brother. I look forward to many more birthdays and can’t wait until we live in the same state again so I can celebrate them with you better! Congratulations little bro. Love~
Rachel
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If you would like to sponsor shabbat at
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Each week we will be featuring pieces from our thrift store for purchase on Bidding for Good. Be sure to check back here weekly for the newest finds.
*For optimal viewing, open this page on a computer*
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OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES
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To the family and friends of Marc Lesnick
If you are interested in sending a beautiful tribute, please contact
Development
. You can also send a tribute online by
Clicking Here
. Beit T'Shuvah will promptly send a card to the family or friend you are recognizing.
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Tribute donations are a wonderful way of marking life cycle events for your loved ones and friends and supporting Beit T'Shuvah.
Tena Frank in honor of Cathy Galper
Tena Frank in honor of Jarrett H
Tena Frank in honor of Thea G & Mike C
Allan Lubert in memory of Eleanor Lubert
Cohen & Andy Pass in memory of Marc Lesnick
Bonnie Marlowe in memory of Noah Lahman
If you are interested in sending a beautiful tribute, please contact
Development
. You can also send a tribute online by
Clicking Here
. Beit T'Shuvah will promptly send a card to the family or friend you are recognizing.
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THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT
Miriam Y.
One of the most important things to sustaining human life is the feeling of belonging. From tribes to cliques, our identities are inextricably linked to the larger group. But what happens when you are born into the wrong group? This is the exact situation that brought us Miriam Y.
Miriam was born in an ultra-Orthodox community just blocks from Beit T’Shuvah. She remembers seeing the stained glass windows as a child and thinking that inside was some “weird offshoot” of her religion. Growing up in this rigid community is the perfect place for some. Some people thrive under the many rules and regulations associated with ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Not Miriam. She felt judged and ridiculed in the community she was raised to believe was her own. She says, “If I wore black they would tell me I was goth. If I wore colors they would yell at me for that too! I never could f***ing win!”
This disconnect between Miriam and her repressive community led to years of self-loathing. She was afraid to be who she was always meant to. Miriam felt like there was something wrong with her for not being accepted. From an early age, boys and girls were separated, and because the girls already ostracized her, she had difficulties making friends.
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Beit T’Shuvah Custom Masks are Here!
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Stay safe while supporting Beit T’Shuvah with masks custom made by Creative Matters. Perfect gifts for alumni, staff, residents, people in recovery or community members!
$10 per mask
Designs:
One Day At A Time
In This Together
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Friday night services held via zoom at 6:30pm PT. Click the link below to join.
Dial-in by Phone:
669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 237 072 458
Password: 211687
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Saturday Morning Services
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Saturday morning Prayer and Meditation at 10:30am PT. Click the link below to join. Password required.
Meeting ID: 353 786 763
Password: 220882
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Come learn on Saturday mornings at 9:30am PT with Rabbi Micha'el Akiba.
Meeting ID: 353 786 763
Password: 220882
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Baked T'Shuvah's founder Jackie Elkins is licensed by the state and you can now order the Baked T'Shuvah challah you know and love for pick-up!
$12/challah, 100% of proceeds benefit BTS.
Meeting place for drop off.
Available flavors: Plain, Chocolate Chip, or Raisin.
Contact
Jackie
to place your order - orders need to be placed no later than Wednesday!
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We are still celebrating birthdays each week on our Shabbat Zoom.
To sign up to take a cake, please contact
Jillian.
If you missed celebrating your birthday this year and would still like to take a cake via Zoom, contact
Jillian.
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Daily Spiritual Dose. Check @BeitTShuvah instastories and facebook page daily.
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Life in Uncertain Times: Coping Strategies Before, During, and After Corona. With Rabbi Joseph. Mondays from 12-1pm PT/3-4pm ET.
Dial-in by Phone 1 669 900 9128.
Meeting ID: 457 604 965.
Password:
749655
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#NotMyCorona. Recovery-Minded Spiritual
Learning with Beit T’Shuvah and the T’Shuvah Center. Wednesdays. 1pm PT/4pm ET.
Dial-in by Phone: 669 900 6833.
Meeting ID: 286 111 196.
Password: recovery
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BTS community AA meeting: Thursdays at 7pm.
Dial-in by Phone: 669.900.9128
Meeting ID: 452 685 1337
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Beit T’Shuvah and the Elaine Breslow Institute invite you participate in this spiritual challenge!
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Thursdays. 9-9:30am PT/12-12:30pm ET.
A powerful kaddish experience led by the Lab/Shul community. They have invited our Beit T’Shuvah community to join them.
https://labshul.org/event/virtual-mourners-kaddish-call/2019-08-29/
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For anyone that shops at Ralphs, please consider registering your phone with their community care program and select Beit T'Shuvah as your charity.
For anyone that purchases items on Amazon, all you have to do is go to Amazon Smile and choose Beit T'Shuvah as your charity and a percentage of each purchase will be given back to us.
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