November 13 2020 l 26 Cheshvan 5781
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Dear Congregants,
I returned to my office this week and have been staring at a candle, spices, and cup of a Havdalah set that is in my office. Havdalah is about distinguishing between Shabbat and the return to the ordinary days of the week. Being able to distinguish “what is what” is so important for us in recovery. Being able to distinguish, leads me to the Serenity Prayer, and then, ultimately, to acceptance.
In one of the stories in the AA Big Book, a physician is reminded by his sponsor that “a good starting point would simply be recognition of the fact that I had failed in running the world—in short, acceptance of the fact that I was not G-d.” Later, the physician states that “acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.”
How are we still trying to “run the world” and to control outcomes? When will we begin to live in acceptance of what is?
Acceptance, at least in my opinion, is the key to real peace…in ourselves and in the world.
Shabbat shalom.
May this be a Shabbat of peace.
Rabbi Micha'el Akiba
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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Chaplain Adam Siegel
SPOILER ALERT! There is a lot of living and dying in this week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah. Translated as the “the life of Sarah,” the portion provides us with models (and guidance) on how to embrace and “hold on” to what we have, while also accepting what we need to do.
We start off by learning about the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife and the original matriarch of the Jewish people. As we read through the next several chapters, we learn about how Abraham mourned his loss and honored Sarah’s memory. Grief is a highly personal experience, impacting each of us differently. Much like recovery, there is not one “way” to deal with loss. Yet, Abraham’s experience is instructive because it provides us with an understanding about the dynamic between our feelings and our actions.
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Samantha E. for 1 year 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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Stephanie ~ You're amazing!!! Such admirable strength!!! Love you madly!!!
Love Mom 'n Randy
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If you would like to sponsor shabbat at
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Shop, donate and share with your friends.
*Shipping is available upon request*
*30% off this week with coupon code*
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OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES... |
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...to the family and friends of Ari Osteen...
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...to the family and friends of Katie Eisen...
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.
Illana & Gary Woods in memory of Geoff Tamayo
Phyllis Berck in memory of Geoff Tamayo
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
Lily Morris
Written By: Jesse Solomon
While most of us spent our childhoods fingerpainting and swinging on the playground with other like-minded children, Lily Morris spent her days at a much different type of daycare—rehab.
From sitting on the piano during Shabbat services, to running around the zen garden with her newly sober father, Lily has been immersed in the Beit T’Shuvah community so heavily and for such a long time that when she grew up, people who weren’t drug addicts seemed abnormal to her. She was loved by all of the residents and staff members as if she was the young princess of a nation called Beit T’Shuvah. Now, nearly 18 years later, she has returned to her kingdom to claim her birthright—a job in the med room handing out antidepressants and ibuprofen.
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Join the BTS clergy Tuesdays at 7pm beginning October 27 as we indulge the senses and the mind.
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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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Beit T’Shuvah Custom Masks are Here! |
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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BTS Zoom Family Support Group! 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, no need to RSVP, just drop in!
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Friday night services held via zoom at 6:30pm PT.
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Saturday Morning Services |
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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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!
Pick up at BTS. Must prepay.
Available flavors: Plain, Chocolate Chip, Salted Caramel or Raisin. Contact Amy Abrams 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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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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#NotMyCorona. Recovery-Minded Spiritual Learning with Beit T’Shuvah and the T’Shuvah Center. Wednesdays. 1pm PT/4pm ET.
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BTS community AA meeting: Thursdays at 7pm.
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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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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 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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