June 25 2021 l 15 Tamuz 5781
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Chaplain Adam Siegel
While the announcement was fifteen months in the making, it still arrived with a sense of unexpected surprise. On Wednesday, our residents were informed that we will begin opening our doors a little wider, allowing them more opportunities to get outside the walls of 8831 Venice and (re)engage with the world. In practical terms, this means more chances to visit with family, attend 12-step meetings, and maybe even grab a coffee with a friend. While the benefits of greater engagement with the world are immense, the risks (beyond COVID-19 infection) are significant and real. The path of moving from restriction to greater expansiveness is fraught with risks and challenges. The good news is that this week’s parashah provides us with guidance for navigating the benefits, risks, and uncertainty of just such a journey.
Since January, when we began reading the book of Exodus, the primary focus has been almost exclusively on Moses and his relationship with the Israelites as they work to shed the internal and external vestiges of their slave identity. As we’ve seen with the Israelites’ ongoing post-Egypt journey, the external threats to well-being (conflict with neighbors, natural disasters, etc.) are significant. But it’s the internal threats that may be even more dangerous. Over the past several weeks, we have read about the internal struggles of a community trying to get itself unstuck...click here to read more.
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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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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.
Available flavors: Plain, Chocolate Chip, Salted Caramel or Raisin.
Orders need to be placed by Wednesday!
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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.
Jennifer Hechtman Rosen in honor of Brad Ruderman and the Beit T'Shuvah Community
Jennifer Hechtman Rosen in honor of Harriet Rossetto
Andrea Sossin-Bergman & Paul Bergman in honor of Janice Kamenir-Reznik
Laurie Morris in honor of Rabbi Joseph Shamash, Harriet Rossetto, and Rabbi Mark Borovitz
Barbara & Stuart Siegel in memory of Edward Kamenir
Eleanor Hack in memory of Zelda Miller
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
Written by: Daniel K.
Zach E.
“I was an extremely curious kid,” says Zach E., Beit T’Shuvah resident. ”One of my first memories as a kid is of me going into my mother’s medicine cabinet and taking one of every single pill that was in there. Blue ones, red ones, round ones, oval ones, every single color and shape I could find. I ended up getting my stomach pumped. I was only seven years old at the time.”
Unbeknownst to Zach, this unfortunate event was to set the stage for further drug use later on in his life. “I’ve always had an addictive personality”, said Zach.“ I developed a food addiction by the time I was ten, which in turn led to a video game and online gambling addiction. It ultimately came back full circle to prescription drug use by the time I was seventeen.”
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Please join us on Saturday, July 10th at 7pm for our annual TALENT SHOW put on by the BTS Music and Film Department showcasing the amazing creative souls of our residents and community!
The virtual event will be livestreamed through YouTube and features a Havdalah service preceding the event. To access the livestream on July 10th, click here.
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Our Mental Healthcare Crisis |
Beit T’Shuvah and The Elaine Breslow Institute invite you to a captivating talk with Andrea Sonnenberg as she shares her harrowing experience with the mental health care system, how it failed her son, and her rallying cry for change followed by a panel discussion on Beit T’Shuvah’s integrative treatment model.
July 14th at 7pm via Zoom
Free Admission
For more information, or to access the zoom link, click 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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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 |
Saturday morning Prayer and Meditation at 10:30am PT.
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Come learn on Saturday mornings at 9:30am PT.
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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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Wednesdays and Fridays 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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