August 27 2021 l 19 Elul 5781
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Chaplain Adam Siegel
With Rosh Hashanah only ten days away, this is the season of lessons learned (reflections from the past year) and learning lessons (propelling us into the new year). The uncertainty resulting from the ever-evolving pandemic looms large in almost everything we do, including our preparations for the High Holy Days. Within the past week, more than one person has described “feeling the heaviness” in the world right now. How can we do any spiritual preparation when we’re unsure what tomorrow will bring? The pandemic has forced all of us to adapt and re-configure so many aspects of our lives, and our ritual celebrations are no exception. So what are we to do? (Hint: part of the answer includes Beit T’Shuvah’s virtual services. Click here for more info.)
The pandemic has caused us to find and create sacred space in front of our screens, not in a synagogue. It has caused us to find community in our separation and connection in our distancing. Last year, our Founder Harriet Rossetto wrote, “… deprived of many of our traditional High Holiday rituals, we are invited to find new meaning in the coming Days of Awe. … Relieved of the trappings...click here to continue reading.
|
|
Jamie S. for one year of sobriety.
Joey Z. for 9 years of sobriety.
Lysa H. for 12 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.
|
|
Mazel tov on your one year anniversary Jamie. Your family is very proud of you and your hard work. We love you and look forward to all the sober birthdays ahead of you! Jody & Dennis Sherman
Dear Beit Friends and Family, On behalf of my son Joey “Zaza” Zallen’s Sober Birthday, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for all you have done to keep us healthy in spirit and soul. With much love and thanks,
Susie Mama Zaza Schneider
We honor our daughter Lysa Maybruck Harrison this Shabbat for taking her 12th cake! Our family will always be grateful to the Beit T’Shuvah community who has walked every step of the way alongside Lysa on her 12-year journey. Super proud! Love Mom & Dad
By Andrea Sossin-Bergman & Paul Bergman in celebration of our 54 years of marriage
By Kim & Arthur Birnbaum in memory of our beloved Elias
|
|
If you would like to sponsor shabbat at
|
|
Order Your High Holiday Challah Today!
(Plain or Apples & Cinnamon)
Ordering for Rosh Hashanah?
Place your order by Wednesday, 9/1 for pick up after 10am at BTS on Monday, 9/6
Ordering for Yom Kippur?
Place your order by Friday, 9/10 for pick up after 10am at BTS on Wednesday 9/15
|
|
Our thrift store location on Washington Blvd. is now permanently closed. We will be sure to inform the community once we secure a new location for our thrift store. In the meantime, please support our BTS Thrift Store by shopping on our website (click here).
|
|
Shop, donate and share with your friends.
*Shipping available upon request*
|
|
OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES |
|
to the family and friends of Laura Dwoskin
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.
|
|
Tribute donations are a wonderful way of marking life cycle events for your loved ones and friends and supporting Beit T'Shuvah.
The Elkins Family in memory of Blair Tannenbaum
Samantha Fox in memory of Anthony Meehan
Elaine Sikov in memory of Laura Dwoskin
Jennifer Tracy Reidlinger in memory of Geoff Tamayo
Lois & Michael Fingerhut in honor of Rabbi Mark Borovitz
Janet & Bobby Rosenblum in honor of Rabbi Mark
Frances & Steven Berman in honor of Rabbi Mark Borovitz
Barbara Friedman & Bruce David Barbara in honor of Rabbi Mark
Stephanie & Christopher Martinez in honor of Rabbi Mark
With the assistance of Barbara and Ronnie Kahn and Annette Shapiro, Arlene Richman would like to honor Beit T'Shuvah's outstanding program
The Dowd Family in memory of Joe Bidner
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.
|
|
THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT
Written by: Randall S.
Addy M.
“It became like a wildfire. I was constantly going out and getting wasted. I didn’t want to face the reality of my life at that time,” Addy M. shares, overlooking Shirley’s patio. This was not the life she had envisioned as a little girl from Kenya. Born there in 1987, Addy never knew her biological father. Her mother was a journalist and she met Addy’s stepfather, a photographer, before Addy turned one. Not long after, Addy’s mother gave birth to a half-sister. And while a beautiful blessing Addy also painfully recounts, “As I grew up I saw [my stepfather] favoring my sister more.”
Thus began a lifetime of low self-esteem and self-worth when it came to men and an overpowering need to be accepted and loved. In 1994, the family moved to Northridge, CA. There was also a lot of culture shock for her and her sister. “Americans were so much more laid back,” she shares. And that desire to assimilate was a powerful motivator. So much so that her father insisted she and her sister stop speaking Swahili. “It felt like he was trying to Americanize us. I always felt too...click here to continue reading.
|
|
Gather for our first community High Holy Day ritual of the season under the stars on Saturday, August 28 at 8:15 PM. Experience transformation through music, prayer, and self-reflection with the Beit T’Shuvah and IKAR communities. The event will be outside and masked.
Proof of Vaccination required to enter.
Shalhevet School Rooftop 910 S. Fairfax
Park on side streets. Accessible parking available.
|
|
|
The High Holidays are a time to draw near: to community, to tradition, and to spiritual living. Our services combine prayer, music, and personal stories of hope and redemption. When we gather together this year, virtually, you will be drawn into the sacred bonds that hold this community together.
For more information about registering for this year’s virtual service(s) or becoming a member of Congregation Beit T’Shuvah, click here.
Yizkor Memorial Service Photo Submission: We invite you to submit a photograph of someone special to you who has passed for Beit T’Shuvah’s Yom Kippur Yizkor Memorial Service. During the service, we’ll include the photograph you share with us as we pray in their memories. You can upload a photograph of someone who died recently, or someone who died long ago by going to https://beittshuvah.org/bts-events/yizkor-photo/
|
|
Elul T'Shuvah Groups for EBI & BTS Community |
We invite you to participate in virtual t’shuvah groups- Beit T’Shuvah’s core spiritual curriculum-every Monday during the month of Elul- Monday, August 16 through Monday, August 31 - Gather with your community to take a personal inventory from the past year and prepare to move into the new year with intention, authenticity and connection. Groups will be offered on Mondays: August 16 (9:00am - 10:30am), August 23 (7:00pm - 8:30pm), and August 30 (9:00am - 10:30am).
|
|
Get your "tail" over here and join the new BTS Puppy Program. This program is designed to bring joy to residents by playing and interacting with our beloved pets. Just one hour per session guarantees a wagging good time. Bring your friendly, people-loving dog to Shirley's patio from 2pm-3pm on Thursday September 9th and/or 23rd.
Don't "paws-" join us. Please let us know if you plan to participate by e-mail:
We expect that all our new friends will be vaccinated.
|
|
|
Saturday Morning Services |
WE REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME!
Saturday morning Prayer and Meditation will start at 10:15 am PT.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Friday night services held via zoom at 6:30pm PT.
|
|
|
Beit T’Shuvah Sisterhood T-shirts $30.
Multiple Colors Available!
Contact Dana Gache:
Phone: 3103516408
|
|
|
Alumni Process group for residents who have left BTS during the pandemic.
Wednesdays at 12pm.
*please note there is a NEW zoom link*
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Come learn with our dynamic clergy team on Saturday mornings at 9:30am PT.
|
|
|
We are still celebrating birthdays each week on our Shabbat Zoom.
To sign up to take a cake, please contact Jillian.
|
|
|
Life in Uncertain Times: Coping Strategies Before, During, and After Corona. With Rabbi Joseph. Mondays from 12-1pm PT/3-4pm ET.
|
|
|
Wednesdays at 9am PT. Join the Facebook group:
|
|
|
BTS community AA meeting: Thursdays at 7pm.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
