June 10 2021 l 1 Tamuz 5781
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Dear Congregants,
Back in 1969, Swiss-American psychiatrist, Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross introduced to the world her Five Stages of Grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. She later noted that these stages were not a linear and predictable progression, but are navigated and experienced differently by each individual.
As I write this, my final Rabbi’s Corner, I have to say that I have experienced 4 of these 5 stage personally as I begin my exit from Beit T’Shuvah and that many of you, with whom I have spoken, have as well. However, I am not at acceptance yet.
I have had the honor to serve residents at Beit T’Shuvah for the past almost 6 1/2 years. I have also had the gift of serving Congregation Beit T’Shuvah for 2 of the past 3 years. In that time, we have experienced together many spiritual and intimate moments and we have also held each other up as the waves of grief overwhelmed us in the sad moments. We have, for the past several years, shared Shabbats (both Friday and Saturday), holidays, funerals, shiva minyans, Jewish learning, and even a Bar Mitzvah. Then, for the past 15 months, we continued to come together over ZOOM and, in spite of the virtual world, have grown together as a congregation and as friends. Most importantly, again in spite of the challenges with which we have been presented these past few years, we have shared Torah, recovery, and connection as we, together, held up the torch of the mission of Beit T’Shuvah and the vision that Harriet was given as she read that newspaper ad now so many years ago.
Grief therapist, David Kessler, added a Sixth Stage to the original Five Stages: meaning. I would offer that when we arrive at acceptance, meaning will come and lead to healing. The loss I am already experiencing as I approach my final hours at Beit T’Shuvah brings great sadness, but I know that meaning and healing will come as Tala and I move on to our next adventure and, as I remind myself, that G-d has brought us together so that we might experience and live in recovery in community in this very, very special place that I have called “home” for the past 6 1/2 years.
Ultimately, there is no loss, but only gain. I have grown personally, professionally, and spiritually as I was able to walk the road of Happy Destiny with all of you….and I am so very grateful to have been able to be of service to you.
I look forward to seeing all of you at Shabbat on ZOOM for this, my last Friday night and Saturday morning with all of you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Micha'el Akiba
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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Rabbi Joseph Shamash
Why take a position in leadership? Would you take it for the power? Financial gain? Status or access to resources? What motivates one to take a position of power and be subject to the needs of a community - their whims, desires, and complaints?
Remember back in the book of Exodus - Moses never wanted this job! He never asked to take on the role of leading the Israelites out of slavery. He was chosen.
But Moses said to the Lord, “Please, O Lord, I have never been a man of words, either in times past or now that You have spoken to Your servant; I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10).
God saw something in him, even when Moses was unable to see it in himself.
Now, in this week's Torah portion, Korach and his band of two hundred and fifty community leaders challenge Moses’ leadership, and my question is: What is Korach's motive? What was he seeking that he was willing to conspire and challenge Moses’ - and ultimately God’s - choice in leadership structure?...click here to read more.
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Marshall S. for one year of sobriety.
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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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Congratulations Marshall on your 1 year sobriety and all that you've accomplished. Love, Mom, Bernie, and Sarah
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If you would like to sponsor shabbat at
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Shop, donate and share with your friends.
*Shipping available upon request*
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Baked T'Shuvah's founder Jackie Elkins is licensed by the state and you can order the Baked T'Shuvah challah you know and love!
Pick up ONLY at BTS Fridays after 11AM. Must prepay. Order online here.
Available flavors: Plain, Chocolate Chip, Salted Caramel or Raisin.
Orders need to be placed by Wednesday!
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OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES
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...to the family and friends of Shelly Balloon...
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.
Shirley Hoffner in honor of Debbie Rogow
Eileen Aroesti in honor of Marrisa and Micah Moon Axelrod
Miriam Leshem in memory of Michael Gabriel Sachs-Leshem
Susan & Neal Epstein in memory of Robert Epstein
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
Adam R.
By: Daniel K.
Just a few feet from the bima, Adam R. sat passed out through the entirety of services that morning. Fatefully, his Rabbi took notice, realizing there was something serious going on with Adam—she woke him up and offered a solution to his malady. She suggested he go to Beit T’Shuvah, which was a pivotal moment in Adam’s journey to recovery.
Adams' father is Jerry Rubin, a renowned social activist from the Sixties and Seventies who advocated for the end of the Vietnam War. Adam’s father was quite close to a man named Timothy Leary, the psychologist and activist known for his strong advocacy of psychedelics. “I remember calling Mr. Leary, ‘uncle Tim,’” says Adam. As one might imagine, drugs were never far from reach, particularly marijuana. His father’s high profile in the...click here to continue reading.
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Jog-a-thon: The Social Distance
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The Social Distance is this Sunday! Due to Covid restrictions, we cannot have community members present at the event, but you can still support our runners by donating to their fundraising pages here.
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The Beit T’Shuvah Magazine is now live! Produced by the brilliant minds at Creative Matters, our first-ever digital magazine features stories on the most important issues of our day, and answers questions like what it’s like to lose $125 million, how it feels to be handed a life sentence, and do you have to believe in God to get sober.
Read the magazine by clicking here and follow Creative Matters on IG @creativematters.agency
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Beit T’Shuvah has raised nearly 3,000 through the Amazon Smile program to help save the lives of those suffering from addiction. Be a part of the movement and choose Beit T’Shuvah as your set featured charity on Amazon Smile by clicking the link below for all of your amazon purchases! Click here to shop through amazon smile.
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Friday night services held via zoom at 6:30pm PT.
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Beit T’Shuvah Sisterhood T-shirts $30.
Multiple Colors Available!
Contact Dana Gache:
Phone: 3103516408
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Beit T’Shuvah Custom Masks
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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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Alumni Process group for residents who have left BTS during the pandemic.
Wednesdays at 12pm.
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Whether your loved one is still in treatment or they have already moved on to the next chapter of their journey, we would like to provide a platform in which families get to talk about their shared experiences and wisdom.
This group is for families of our current and former residents.
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Saturday Morning Services
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Saturday morning Prayer and Meditation at 10:30am PT.
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Come learn on Saturday mornings at 9:30am PT with Rabbi Micha'el Akiba.
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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.
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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.
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Wednesday through Friday at 9am PT. Join the Facebook group:
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BTS community AA meeting: Thursdays at 7pm.
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Past newsletters are now available online. Please click here to view.
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 shops on Amazon, 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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