May 7 2021 l 25 Iyaar 5781
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Dear Congregants,
With my “vacation” coming to an end, it will be nice to come back onsite at Beit T’Shuvah. However, even though I have not been onsite to see with my eyes, I know that programs continue, Shabbat continues, recovery continues daily at Beit T’Shuvah. We continue to move toward the future.
That’s the way that the world was made, wasn’t it? We pray in the evening prayer, Ma’ariv Aravim, that Adonai “…rolls light in front of darkness and darkness in front of light, Who brings on day and brings on night.” The world just keeps going and if we don’t pay attention, we will miss what is happening around us.
Next week is Rosh Chodesh Sivan, that is, the new moon of the Hebrew
month of Sivan. On Shabbat, we will be at 41 days of Counting the Omer which also means that Shavuot is approaching.
Even more, the last of the Spring Adult Education is happening next week. I’ll be ending the series this coming Tuesday evening, May 11th at 7:00 PM on ZOOM with a teaching on “Prayer: The Sacrifice of Self”. It is so easy to sign on with a cup of coffee and to learn with other member of our community.
So, I guess the message of this week’s Rabbi’s Corner is: Things are happening—holidays, learning, and Shabbat….Don’t miss out! See you there. (There is a virtual seating with your name on it waiting for you!)
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Micha'el Akiba
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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Rabbi Miriam Green Potok
I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been feeling like I’ve been experiencing a tremendous amount of change. About a month ago, I traveled for the first time since the pandemic began, seeing my parents and sister for the first time in over a year. Businesses are opening up, and I’ve been attending in-person yoga classes again, masked and socially distanced of course. And, perhaps most bizarrely, I’ve ventured outside - intentionally - without wearing a mask, relying on social distance and nature’s airflow rather than a cloth over my face to keep me and others safe.
There are other changes, too. We are nearing the end of the academic year, and a class I’m taking is drawing to a close. Several of our spiritual counseling interns are finishing their internship at Beit T’Shuvah, while new interns are preparing to start once the summer begins. These transitions have made a particular impact on me. I’m finding that it’s hard to...click here to read more.
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Lexy N. in absentia for 9 years.
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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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Lexy, you are so amazing and have accomplished so much in your life. Your views and actions on the world make you a very unique person. Happy 9th Birthday! We love you, Mom & Steve
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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 Janet Markwoitz and her family on the loss of her mother, Nancy Greenberg
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.
Heshy Fried in honor of Adam W Rubin
Rena Orenstein in honor of Cantor Nate!
Linda Colton in honor of Rabbi Micha'el Akiba
Amy Wilkerson in memory of Eli Hayes
Steven Anton in memory of Geoff Tamayo
Edith Familian in memory of Mark Levey
Pamela Kluft in memory of Patrick Cronin
Ron Fleishman in memory of Rhina Brooker
Loretta Goldstein in memory of Sylvia Mackta
Annmarie Lew in memory of Sylvia Mackta
Joan Rakley in memory of Sylvia Mackta
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
Daniel R.
By: Daniel K.
Photo by: Jesús R.
Waking up strapped to a hospital bed, Daniel R. heard the voice of someone yelling, “ya better run, get out of here while you still can, they’re coming for you!” The thing was, there was no one else in the room. Daniel was in full-blown, cocaine-induced psychosis, and the voice he was hearing was in his head—it had been for months.
Addiction runs in Daniel’s family. His dad was in prison on drug-related charges by the time Daniel was two years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his older brother all by herself. Despite the situation, she did her best to raise Daniel and his brother with the love and affection they deserved, and for the most part, she was pretty successful in providing them with a relatively normal childhood.
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Connections: Lost & Found
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Please join us on May 13th and 14th for Connections: Lost and Found- an interactive conference hosted by the Elaine Breslow Institute at Beit T’Shuvah featuring key note sessions from Johann Hari, Harriet Rossetto, Dr. Timothy Fong, and more. Through Johann Hari’s two New York Times best-selling books and his viral Ted Talk, has taught the world that “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, the opposite of addiction is connection.” We need connection. All of us.
As we aim to shift from role-based connections to soul-based connections, we are thrilled to host this event and explore the healing power of connection and the integration of science and the spirit. To register or for more information, please click here.
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Join our Beit T'Shuvah community on Sunday May 16th for our Shavuot all-nighter. We start with learning and stories at 8pm, and end with a dawn ritual at 5:30am. Throughout the night, as we listen and learn and share, we'll prepare ourselves and one another to receive the torah that helps us live in freedom and recovery.
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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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Our Spring Adult Education series ends Tuesday at 7pm with Rabbi Micha'el teaching Prayer: The Sacrifice of Self.
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Escape Room shares a raw, honest glimpse of social isolation's impact on recovery, the power of community, and the personal search for meaning, strength and hope.
This powerful and heartfelt film is directed by the Creator of Freedom Song, Stuart K. Robinson and produced by Freedom Song's Director, Michael B. Kamenir. Filmed entirely on Zoom, the production is based upon true stories from the Beit T’shuvah recovery community.
There will be two screenings on 5/24. One at 4pm and one at 7pm.
Zoom link coming soon.
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Our Annual Circle of Majesty, now in its 14th year, will be held virtually once again and will take place on Thursday, June 3rd at 4pm. This will be a warm, informative, and short get-together to support the men and women of Beit T’Shuvah suffering from the devastating effects of addiction.
For more information or to renew your membership please click here.
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Jog-a-thon: The Social Distance
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Whether you have been part of our Running 4 Recovery Marathon team in prior years, or have never even thought about running a single mile, now is the perfect time to get started.
Part fundraiser, part community event – one great time!
The Social Distance is Beit T’Shuvah’s approach to ensuring everyone can run/walk as a team while staying safe during the Covid-19 Pandemic and raise money to support Beit T’Shuvah!
There are 3 unique ways to participate this year:
5k, 10k, or Half Marathon.
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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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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 at BTS. Must prepay. Order online here.
Available flavors: Plain, Chocolate Chip, Salted Caramel or Raisin. 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.
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Wednesday through Friday at 9am PT. Join the Facebook group:
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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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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 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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