Beit T'ShuvahMAGAZINEVOLUME 2 NUMBER 3

Honoring Our PastBuilding Our FutureBeit T'Shuvah's 2011Capital Campaign

Giving BackTwo Beit T'Shuvah AlumniDonate Big to New Building

The Grant DanceWinning The Foundation's Cutting Edge Grant

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3BEIT T'SHUVAH MAGAZINE 2011

10 HONORING OUR PAST BUILDING OUR FUTURE

UPFRONT

INSIDE

3 President’s Note

4 CEO’s Note

7 Rabbi's Note

09 THE GRANT DANCEWinning the Cutting Edge Grant

12 CRYSTAL BALLHow Yeshaia sees the Future

14 NEW FACESEliana Katz & Jesse Goldberg

16 YES YOU CANThe Journey of a Marathon

19 TV AND RECOVERY?Film School comes to BTS

24 GIVING BACKDonor/Alumni Spotlight onJon Esformes & Cassidy Cousens

27 BTS PREVENTIONSam Delug's Experience

28 BURNING DESIREFrom Wall Street to Beit T'Shuvah

34 CAREER CENTER

Beit T’ShuvahRecover Your Passion Discover Your Purpose

On the cover: Courtesy of GMPA Architects, Inc.

You might be wondering what this bar code on the cover is. It's called a Q R Code and it's a cell phone readable bar code that can store phone numbers, URLs, email ad-dresses and pretty much any other alphanumeric data. This particular one will take you to our website when you take a photo of it with your cell phone. Q R Reader is a free app on iTunes.

36 RESIDENT ACTION PHOTO ESSAY21 CIRCLE OF MAJESTY

EVENT PHOTOS

Courtesy of GMPA Architects, Inc.

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BEIT T’SHUVAH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Annette Shapiro, ChairDonald J. Berghoff

Lynn BiderWarren Breslow, Past Chair

Emily CorletoSamuel DelugJon EsformesJohn Fishel

Mel GagermanJeffrey GlassmanRobert Gluckstein

Carolyn GoldBeverly Gruber

Salli HarrisSteven Karash

Dr. Susan KrevoyDr. Gady Levy

Diane LichtVirginia Maas

Bradley H. MindlinNancy Mishkin, Past Chair

Donald S. PassmanJoan PraverEd PraverHeidi Praw

Avi ReichentalDr. Bill Resnick, Vice Chair

David RudermanRichard Schulman

Ronnie StablerLisi Teller

Dr. Howard WallachBrad WisemanHal Wiseman*Robert Wiviott

Jill Black Zalben

Honorary Board MembersSheldon Appel

Blair Belcher KohanRobert Felixson*

Herb GelfandBrindell GottliebShelley KozekChuck MaltzCheri Morgan

Mike NissensonJan Rosen

Craig TaubmanGreg Vilkin

* Deceased

In The BeginningHarriet Rossetto had a dream to help Jewish addicts and offenders return to their families, recover their integrity and build meaningful lives. The LA Jewish Community and FEMA made it possible for her to buy the first house at 216 S. Lake Street in 1987 and the first 3 residents moved in. Many people responded to help build the dream. Warren Breslow agreed to become the first Chairman of the Board and served for 12 years. Nancy Mishkin followed and was installed in 2007.

On The MoveIn 1999, we realized that our 35-person facility was inadequate. We were changing many lives with great success and it was time to expand our program. Our Mission states “No one is turned away, regardless of their financial situation, if they want help." This policy kept the beds filled and increased the pressure for more space and more funds. With our small Board of Directors and through the generosity of our friends, family and community, we raised $5 million for the building on Venice Boulevard.

New ProgramsOver the years, Beit T’Shuvah has created, and continues to create new programs that help our residents in recovery and added a new prevention program targeting teens at risk. In addition, we work to heal the families that have also been affected, many of whom have expressed their gratitude through generosity.

Creating OpportunitiesEmployment is very important for the successful recovery of our residents. As they move into recovery, we help them find employment opportunities within BTS or in the community, with the help of JVS.

Next Campaign for ExpansionIn order to serve more Primary Care residents, we now have transitional living apartments for our independent living residents that are a short distance from BTS. Thanks to Stewart and Lynda Resnick for making these apartments possible.Along with this gift, Joyce Brandman generously donated the money to buy the building next door to BTS. Plans are underway to create more – and much needed – counseling offices and a larger group room for meetings and workshops.

Securing The FutureThis brings us to today with still so much to be done in this difficult world of addiction, with so many addicts reaching out for help. There are still many people and organizations who think that this disease doesn’t affect Jews. We need to train them in prevention and recovery. Yet, we have come so far. Our success rate is over 65%. We have a waiting list of 25. We just received a $250,000 Cutting Edge Grant from the Jewish Community Foundation to help grow BTS Communications, our on-site graphic design and marketing organization. I attended BTS’ first gala as a representative of JCF, who received an award for making BTS a reality. I believe they raised about $100,000. Last year, we raised $1.4 million at our 19th Gala.I think Beit T’Shuvah captures and heals the souls of our residents and through their success in recovery, they will secure their future. It has been very rewarding for me to be involved all these years. We have made BTS a very important flagship organization in the Jewish community.This is how we became what we are today and we will continue to grow with your help. Thank you for your continued interest and support.

President's NoteSeptember 2011Annette Shapiro

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I have never felt it was “Kosher” to profit from people’s misery or take financial advantage of their vulnerability. I never agreed with the rationalization of my high-priced colleagues that you only value what you pay for. I actually place higher value on the things I don’t have to pay for!The Torah tells us that if we do what is right, with good intention, God will provide. My interpretation of this has been that if we reached out to people at their most vulnerable and helped them to become the people they were intended to be, then their collective gratitude and desire to give to others what they had been given would sustain our mission.As I looked around at all the people getting rich in the recovery business, I often wondered if I was being Godly or foolish. They find the money to pay Promises or Passages, how come they’re only broke when they come to Beit T’Shuvah?! Jews take care of their own, don’t they? To turn away a Jew in need is a shondah!Some have measured the “Jewishness” of Beit T’Shuvah by the absence of a Kosher kitchen. I say proudly that our money has been Kosher – one Jew (and some non-Jews) helping another, never turning away a soul in need because they couldn’t pay. The stories of their success open the hearts of those with means, inspiring them to give.

Beit T’Shuvah has been experiencing a cascade of spontaneous generosity since Annette Shapiro brought Joyce Brandman to lunch and she offered to buy us the building next door. Jill Black agreed without hesitation to head the Capital Campaign. Warren Breslow and Ed Praver jumped on board with architects Monica and Koby Moses. Warren and Elaine brought them to a Shabbat at BTS and they “got” the spirit that infuses our worship. Annette and Bill joined energies to lead the charge. At the end of our first strategy meeting over lunch at Hillcrest, we had raised $325,000.During one week in July, four grateful families offered $150,000 each. On July 26th, Jon Esformes and Cassidy Cousens, two alumni of BTS, brought a check to me for $100,000 with a pledge of half a million over five years. I had often dreamt of such a day! As I told them, “You validated my vision of the last 25 years and have given me 25 more!” They had each arrived at BTS 11 years ago with all their belongings in a trash bag. If that ain’t living Judaism, I don’t know what is!This new building is the testimonial to the power of redemption and affirmation of the reciprosity of generosity.

CEO's NoteSeptember 2011Honoring Our Past - Building Our Future

Harriet Rossetto

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UP FRONT

Rabbi's NoteSeptember 2011

Rabbi Mark

As I sit down to write this article, I am amazed at how far we have come and how much there is to do. Beit T’Shuvah has grown so much in the past 25 years that it is unbelievable at times to me. As we approach High Holidays, I think about the first High Holidays we did “on our own” at Kehilat Ma’arav Synagogue in Santa Monica. We had between 75-100 people attending. Now, some 12 years later, we have over 800 people attending our services. WOW, what a difference. From leading Shabbat Services under the tent with about 50 people and Harriet leading the singing to 350+ each Friday night with amazing Cantors and a participating Congregation is a wonder to me. I know that none of this is possible without you. You all have become family for me. It is also impossible to achieve without great people along the way to help on the professional side. I have been blessed to have great teachers and amazing souls to help us reach the place we are at. Thank you to all of them and to all of you. Now, comes the fun part for me! I am privileged to be teaching an array of Rabbinic Students, Cantorial Students and Chaplaincy Students about Spiritual Counseling through our Intern Training program. I am awed by the opportunity to teach Rabbinic Students in leading Services, Torah Studies, Holidays and

Lifecycle events in the “Beit T’Shuvah/Relevant Judaism” way. I am in Radical Amazement at the opportunity to mentor and help grow Yeshaia Blakeney and Cantor Rachel Goldman Neubauer to be Spiritual Leaders of our Community. They are both the future of Congregation Beit T’Shuvah and the Spiritual leg of our treatment program. These two young people bring an enthusiasm and thirst for learning, teaching and leading to our organization that takes my breath away. I know that all of you are elated that we have found these two great souls and leaders. This is not my farewell address, however! This article and plan is to let you in on the happenings, plans and thinking of Harriet, myself and the Board. We want you to know that we have a succession plan and a sustainability plan for Beit T’Shuvah. We also want you to know that you are a big part of this plan. WE NEED YOU to make Beit T’Shuvah grow and continue to be the amazing place that it is. I invite your thoughts and want you to know that we “walk our talk” about transparency and YOU MATTER. May this New Year bring us all closer to fulfilling our purpose, closer to our souls, closer to God and closer to each other.

L’Shana Tova Tikoteyvu, Rabbi Mark6

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E D I T O R I N C H I E FHARRIET ROSSETTO

E X E C U T I V E E D I T O RBARBARA FRIEDMAN

C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S

C O N T R I B U T I N G P H O T O G R A P H E R S

S TA F F & I N T E R N S

P U B L I S H E RRABBI MARK BOROVITZ

P R O D U C T I O N & C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O RJOHN SULLIVAN

YESHAIA BLAKENEYPeering into the Crystal Ball

SAM DELUGPrevention

JON ESFORMESGive from the Heart

ALISON GOLDBERGThe Career Center

ELIANA KATZBashert

ALLENE PRINCEThe Sisterhood

GINI SULLIVANYes You Can

CARLA FINNERMAN

JULIAN ELLISIntern Graphic Designer

JARON ZANERHAFTIntern Editor

JUSTIN ROSENBERG

CASSIDY COUSENSGive from the Heart

TED ECCLESTV Commercials and Recovery?

KATIE FUNKFarewell to Funk

JESSIE GOLDBERGPutting Recovery to Work

KATHY MARKSBurning Desire

MICHAEL SOTERResident Action

JANET WERTMANThe Grant Dance

JILL BLACK ZALBENHonoring Our Past, Building Our Future

LAUREL JOHNSON

KENDL FERENCZStaff Art Director

JOHN SULLIVAN

In the previous issue of Beit T'Shuvah Magazine, vol.2 num2, Contributing Editor Meryl Zinn was inadvertantly left off the masthead. We want to take this opportunity

to recognize her contributions and say thank you.

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Beit T'ShuvahMAGAZINE

UP FRONT

Almost ten years ago, I began a new career as a freelance grantwriter. Shortly after that change, my kids spontaneously broke out

into a hip-shaking cheer when the first grant application I wrote got funded. Today, a ritual “grant dance” has become standard in my house to celebrate awards I helped get. Still, we hit a new level of enthusiasm when Beit T’Shuvah’s own BTS Communications (BTSC) received its Cutting Edge Grant from the Jewish Community Foundation. I love it when things work out the way they should. I only take on clients whose work I believe in, but even strong programs have to perfectly match a funder’s interests. Thankfully, the Cutting Edge grant guidelines looked to have been tailored specifically for BTSC. Cutting-Edge Grants are meant to “encourage creative thinkers, social entrepreneurs and innovative organizations to propose significant and transformative programs of high visibility and impact." BTS Communications is a social enterprise – a marketing and communications company that hires recovering addicts for a one-year internship. Interns are on-site during this time, able to transition to their new career within the protective confines of the program – which will help prevent relapse later. They work on a variety of projects and develop a portfolio of work to showcase their skills to prospective employers. They also take classes that will lead to a certificate (or even diploma) to ensure that they can meet the educational requirements of their dream jobs. Over the next three years, dozens of former addicts will transform their lives. Dayenu after Dayenu…but still there is more – like the fact that BTS

The Grant DanceWinningThe Cutting Edge Grant from the Jewish Community Foundation[ By Janet Wertman ]

Communications serves non-profits (and thanks to the JCF grant, it will serve even more Jewish non-profits). Its particular expertise lies in two key areas: community-building and fundraising – both areas that Jewish non-profits need to focus on for their very survival. And it provides its services at half the rates of a traditional agency, so that the help is affordable.

Were there any negatives? Just one, and it’s the one I always hope for: the very strength of the BTS Communications program made it difficult to do it justice within the strict space limitations of the application form….

Doing the DanceJanet Wertman

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UP FRONT

The 2011-2012 Capital Campaign for the Joyce and Saul Brandman Campus has just begun! This campaign will fund the purchase of the building next door and an architectural design that integrates the new and existing buildings into one magnificent campus that supports our expansion. This beautiful new campus will be a place that gives our residents, outside clients and staff a sense of pride in themselves and their work - and demonstrates that it is valued by our donors. Joyce Brandman showed true leadership, vision and compassion with her very generous lead gift that allowed us to purchase the new 7,500 sq. foot building. Several of our board members and other philanthropists have already stepped up with large gifts and with the help of the community, we believe this campaign will be a huge success!I was thrilled to be asked to Chair this campaign because of my family’s long history of support for the important work of Beit T’Shuvah and my commitment as a new Board Member. This campaign is really all about honoring Beit T’Shuvah’s past and building our future. The tremendous growth of our programs, outside clients and synagogue membership has been crying out for this expansion for some time. It is my honor to be at the helm of making this happen.The new Beit T’Shuvah Campus will cover almost the entire block on Venice Boulevard. The new building will house a beautiful synagogue with 20-foot high ceilings and will seat up to 750 people. We will be able to reconfigure the existing synagogue space into more clinical and spiritual counseling offices - imagine our residents won’t have to have therapy in the garage anymore! There will be an enlarged dining area, (so you can invite more of your friends to attend dinner after services on Friday night) and a new café area will be created. There will be much more space for all of our programs. The hub of our social enterprises and youth mentoring programs will be housed in the new, light and open second floor. After 25 years of helping people transform themselves from the inside out, we are now about to match our impressive and beautiful insides to our appearance on the outside! I hope you will join in making this long held dream come true. We are so excited to have you be a part of this and you can expect us to reach out to you soon. For more information, please contact Nina Haller, Director of Development, to find out how to get involved.

HONORING OUR PAST

by Jill Black Zalben

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DEPARTMENTS

B U I L D I N G OUR FUTURE

Courtesy of GMPA Architects, Inc. 11

Rachel, the Rabbi’s assistant, says to me, “Shai, Rabbi wants you to write about being the future of Beit T’Shuvah for the new magazine.” I say, “No problem.” Then I think –

What does it mean to be “the future” of something in the present? What does it mean to be a successor to a Mom and Pop organization gone

mainstream? What will BTS be when the new CEO and Rabbi aren’t married and the CEO isn’t supervising the whole clinical team and the Rabbi’s not “Rabbi”? Who will be my new boss? Will I be my own boss? What will BTS be when we are welcomed and accepted by not just the Jewish community but all communities? Who will we fight? What will we fight against? When the future becomes the present, will the Tea Party be running our country? Will the board be okay with me preaching politics from the Bima?Clearly I am not the best person to write on a topic as broad as the future of Beit T’Shuvah. I make everything so complicated. In addition, I don’t believe in the future. I should clarify. I believe in it as an idea but I’m not going to hold my breath. My hope is that I can continue to question and learn. I have dreams of being more free and more caring and more compassionate. I hope that I continue to give and receive love. I hope BTS keeps its rebel spirit. I hope I never subscribe to any ideology or become dogmatic. I plan on becoming more and more radical and less and less conservative. Like Harriet and the Rabbi, I will look to the young for the future and for inspiration. I plan on remaining transparent even when it is uncomfortable for myself and others. My goal is to push Beit T’Shuvah, not to settle down into middle age and ride the wave that my mentors created. The future will become more and more creative, bound only by our imagination and the core principles of Judaism. I think BTS is the answer to the world’s ills – a community for the lost and lonely, where holiness, new ideas and music collide to form a sacred symphony. Being the future of Beit T’Shuvah? Only Beit T’Shuvah can be the future of Beit T’Shuvah, I just plan on Holding On. They say it’s a wild ride.

INTO T H E

W R I T T E N B Y Y E S H A I A B L A K E N E Y

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SPOTLIGHT

In Judaism, there is a concept known as ‘Bashert;’ it is a Yiddish word that means destiny—often used to describe one’s soulmate, but can also refer to a ‘destined’ important event or happening. I would argue that my landing on BTS Communications' doorstep was a fated event and the coupling of me with this wonderful company was my Bashert - it was the glass slipper with the perfect fit, the one I didn’t know I was missing. The journey to this moment probably started five years ago when I began an accidental career in viral marketing. It had not been a passion of mine at the time, I just sort of…landed there. My interest and skills in the industry grew and in the past years I have had the privilege of working with Fortune 500 companies and doing social media for the likes of LA’s own Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. But my passion for viral marketing hit a ceiling. I think I knew deep down I was intrigued more by the prospect of helping people than by simply reaching out to them on behalf

of companies through social media. And then there’s the unpredicted, gut-wrenching Chapter Two of this story. Two years ago, I found out that someone I loved very dearly was an addict. I was quickly yanked from my comfortable world and thrust into the reality of addiction - but also into the beauty of recovery. In seeking a support group for me to vent my concerns and frustrations, I ‘randomly’ (non-believers in Bashert might argue) found Beit T’Shuvah. I was immediately hooked. Love was the driving force here, not fear. The electricity and warmth that transpired in this group so vastly contrasted the sterile, clinical atmosphere that had intimidated and repelled me ,from other rehabs. I instantly wanted more.Which is how we come to Chapter Three. A shot in the dark - I emailed Beit T’Shuvah with my resume attached, certain that my background didn’t have much to offer a rehab, but ready to get involved in any way I could. Just a few hours later (I kid you not!), I get a call from John Sullivan, creator of BTS Communications - an innovative marketing agency that trains recovering residents to reenter the working world. They needed a Social Media manager. And that was my A-HA! moment. Here was a way for me to use skills that I had all but given up on, toward a cause that I felt passionately and cared deeply about. I have thanked G-d every day since for this divine plan in motion and I am grateful for the privilege to play a part in what is certainly going to be an exceptional story.

BashertHow Beit T'Shuvah was her answer to an unknown prayer

Part of the teamEliana Katz

PHOTO: Rosenberg

[ By Eliana Katz ]

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SPOTLIGHT

I first learned about BTS Communications and Beit T’Shuvah in October 2010 at the Los Angeles Social Ventures Fast Pitch. John Sullivan, BTS Communication’s founder, had taken the stage to pitch his business venture. But before John had even completed his speech, I knew he and Beit T’Shuvah were on to something big. With BTS Communications as their vessel, John and Beit T’Shuvah were navigating through the rarely chartered waters of social entrepreneurship, leveraging innovative tools and new models to fundamentally change how we view, engage and tackle society’s most pressing problems. Social enterprises can come in all different shapes and sizes, but never in my years working in and with social enterprises had I seen such a venture like BTS Communications, whose breadth of impact extended beyond the scope of what we traditionally expect in the field.

Putting Recovery to WorkBTS Communications is a full-fledged marketing agency offering graphic design, copywriting and social media services, but at its core, it is a job training program and a therapeutic respite for Beit T’Shuvah residents in recovery. BTS Communications embraces the values of Beit T’Shuvah by allowing residents to unlock their potential and pursue creative endeavors. This has proven to be key in the recovery process, empowering residents with the passion and purpose to maintain long-term sobriety. Furthermore, residents are gaining valuable job skills through technical training, soft skills development and valuable hands-on learning from working on real client projects in a professional office environment. A resident completes the BTS Communications internship program with the skills, experience and portfolio of work to reenter the workforce in a growing industry

Putting Recovery to WorkFresh out of business school, Jesse brings a new spirit to Social Enterprise[ By Jesse Goldberg ]

Providing Value to the Community Part of BTS Communications’s value proposition is to offer quality marketing services to the public. Because BTS Communications is mission driven, they work closely with clients and their budget. And each time a client hires BTS Communications, they receive services that directly help a Beit T’Shuvah resident develop new job skills, increase long-term employability and pursue lifelong sobriety. Through work with local nonprofits and businesses, BTS Communications is building stronger communities.

The Power of ProfitBTS Communications is an extension of Beit T’Shuvah and its 501(c)3 tax exempt status, but operates like any other business - with one exception. Whereas most businesses distribute profits as dividends to shareholders, all profits generated by BTS Communications are reinvested back into Beit T’Shuvah. This means that BTS Communications is in essence, a fundraising vehicle for Beit T’Shuvah, and can play a critical role in expanding the number of beds and services Beit T’Shuvah can offer to people in need of recovery.

Showing the Real Face of Addiction Probably the most underappreciated aspect of the BTS Communications social enterprise is what it does for addiction. Personally, all I had known about addiction was a stereotyped caricature with all the baggage of stigma. That is, until I saw John Sullivan tell his story at the Fast Pitch competition. The more I got to know Beit T’Shuvah, the more people I met who looked just like my family; people who were like me; people who had led meaningful lives but had hit a rough patch. However, the reality is that most people may never encounter Beit T’Shuvah and all its

great work. BTS Communications on the other hand can be the vehicle that reaches out to the community. When a client works with BTS Communications, it represents an opportunity to educate people about addiction - that addiction is real, that addiction can be overcome and that those recovering from addiction can be upstanding, contributing members to society. When the message about addiction can be spread through business—that is real social impact.

Social enterprises can tackle society’s most pressing problems, and the model BTS Communications has developed is truly cutting edge. I was so inspired by John and the model, that this past July I came to head up BTS Ventures - a social enterprise umbrella arm to support the development of BTS Communications, BTS Thrift Boutique and several other start-ups in the works. With BTS Communications as the new prototype driving social innovation, Beit T’Shuvah’s mission will resonate far and wide.

BIO: Jesse Goldberg is a social entrepreneur and veteran in the workforce development field. He holds an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a BA from Tufts University.

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SPOTLIGHT

This will be my second year running the LA Marathon (well you can say more like jogging...okay, jogging some, walking most) and I am thrilled! Okay, let’s back it up just a bit….It was March 20, 2011. Members of Team BTS were slowly making their way to the lobby of Dodger Stadium, numbers pinned on their brand new Team BTS Marathon shirts and the buzz of excitement and nerves filled the room. Heather and I were discussing the fact that it may be quite a burden to have to use one of those nasty port-o-potties while we were out there on the course running, so we hit up the Starbucks conveniently located in the lobby. I am a coffee drinker and I usually order a Black Eye (coffee with two shots of espresso), but this morning, seeing as we were trying to “speed things up,” I went ahead and ordered a double espresso (two shots of very potent mud without the dilution of the coffee) -- seemed like a good idea at the time.Needless to say, I failed to move things along.Fast forward to about mile 10. Karen (my roommate through primary and sober living and a bridesmaid at my wedding – you’ll see why shortly) and I were partnered up and I asked her if she wouldn’t mind if we took a bathroom break. Of course she said, “I don’t have to go but I’ll wait for you.” What a girl.When I returned, Karen looked at me and said, “What’s wrong?” I was mortified.“Things were moved along”, I said to Karen in very different words. “Let me see…Oh MY GOD!” she said. At this point the rain was coming down in buckets and it seemed like we were running in a monsoon. I peeled off my jacket wrapped it around my waist and we kept moving forward. We must have gone less than a quarter mile and directly at our feet in the middle of the street was a small powder blue plastic package that said ‘antibacterial wipes’. I looked at the package and then looked at Karen who was in just as much awe. We picked up the wipes from GOD and made our way to the next bathroom where Karen helped me in a way that I can only describe as how a mother would help her small child in a time of crisis. And she didn’t even pause for a second to think about it.

For the rest of the race, I would check in with Karen every so often (every 5 minutes). “Karen, can you check?” She’d fall behind me and give me the thumbs up or down. And then we’d move forward accordingly. What a truly amazing friend.At around mile 19 as we were trudging through puddles ankle deep, I looked over at Karen and said, “I am never doing this again.” It was at that time that I could see a bunch of people in blue shirts with plastic bags over them, drenched to the core, running and jumping up and down and cheering. I burst into tears. The emotion of seeing my husband John, my kids Kaylee and Austin, my Mom and all of the Beit T’Shuvah family ran through me so deep… I lost it. It was such a spiritual moment. I felt like I just couldn’t go on anymore and when I saw everyone, it was like God reached inside of me and gave me the strength to go on. I was recharged.The power that the Beit T’Shuvah community has to lift you up and push you forward is astonishing. I am so grateful to be a part of it. I want everyone to know that if you think you cannot complete a 26.2 mile marathon, YOU CAN. If you think you cannot get this sobriety thing, YOU CAN. If you think that you cannot make a difference in the lives of others, YOU CAN. This year, I am honored and blessed to have been asked to be a coach for the BTS Marathon team. I can’t wait to share this experience with all of the people who have signed up and I admire the people who have come back for a second and even a third year! I am especially filled with excitement for the people who have committed this year for their first time. These leaders have gone outside of their comfort zone and made a commitment to do something that is not familiar to them. The idea that by doing this, they may help save an addict’s life is a perfect example of what it means to have faith and to give back to the community…thus putting them a step closer to changing the world. Think of all the people that they will inspire because of their leap of faith. And then think of all the people who those people will inspire and so on and so forth. It’s a phenomenon. And it’s beautiful.

yes you canone step at a time by Gini Sullivan

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Gini SullivanPHOTO: Johnson

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You Can HelpCome train with Beit T’Shuvah and

Run to Save a Soul

For more information about training and sponsorship contact Ali Ditlove at: 310.204.5200 x230

or aditlove@beittshuvah.orgwww.crowdrise.com/teambeittshuvahlamarathon2012

Tomorrow Over 250 Americans Will Die From The Disease Of Addiction

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SPOTLIGHT

My first encounter with Harriet and Rabbi Mark came through the law firm of Freeman, Freeman and Smiley. It was 1999 and I was asked to create a short video presentation to tell the story of Beit T’Shuvah for an award ceremony honoring outstanding charitable enterprises. The life changing combination of Jewish spirituality and 12 step recovery that Harriet and the Rabbi were teaching was about to get national attention. Right from the start I could see that something miraculous was taking place at Beit T’Shuvah.The video, as it turned out, was only the first in a thirteen year series of stories that the entertainment advertising firms I’ve directed have produced. Each time we get a call from Harriet or the Rabbi I get excited, because I get to expose new people at my office to the amazing work going on at Beit T’Shuvah. This year I was introduced to John Sullivan and his creative team at BTS Communications. That introduction inspired me and my team at Quark Entertainment to accelerate a plan that we’ve been working on for the last several years, a plan to begin teaching the skills and craft of making movie trailers and TV commercials.

TV Commercials and Recovery?The Academy of Entertainment Marketing and Promotion

[ By Ted Eccles ]

Watching first-hand what a great incubator Beit T’Shuvah can be for a people centered enterprise and seeing the strong sense of purpose and commitment that John Sullivan brings to BTS, led us to ask, ”Why not start our entertainment training program as a joint venture with Beit T’Shuvah?” The answer from Harriet, the Rabbi and John was a resounding, “Yes!” So this fall, The Academy of Entertainment Marketing and Promotion will begin its first session by training a handful of eager interns at Beit T’Shuvah in the skills and techniques of writing and producing trailers and TV promos. The six to eight week course will include training in editing skills, music selection, voice-over casting, promo and trailer writing and graphics design and animation.Each of the initial interns from Beit T’Shuvah will complete the first course by producing a thirty second TV promo in conjunction with the professionals at Quark, which will air later this year. During the course of the training program, an onsite editing facility will be installed by Quark so that future Beit T’Shuvah interns can take on assignments and produce projects both for in-house use and for outside entertainment clients. Quark intends to be a regular client for this fledgling team of promo and trailer creators that will come from this training program and become working professionals at BTS Communications.Next year, the Academy of Entertainment Marketing and Promotion will expand beyond the residents and graduates of Beit T’Shuvah by training future students from all over Southern California. The classes they take will be directly based on the curriculum and experiences gained in the initial development of the program. BTS Communications will be a partner in all future expansions and development of the Academy. The success of our initial Beit T’Shuvah class of interns will be the foundation for making the Academy a respected source of marketing and promotion talent throughout the entertainment industry.We are all looking forward to this exciting venture!

Ted Eccles

DEPARTMENTS

The Sisterhood By Allene Prince

The Sisterhood of Beit T’Shuvah is a group of women whose aim and desire is to support the goals and services that provide a safe place for residents to recover from their addictions as they discover their passion and purpose. Many members of the Sisterhood have a loved one who has benefited from the services and resources of Beit T’Shuvah and want to give back so that others can find recovery here as well. One of the Sisterhood's primary sources of fund-raising is the Holiday Boutique which will be held this year at Beit T’Shuvah on Sunday, November 13th from 10am to 4pm. Our 4th annual Boutique is a unique shopping experience that includes Judaica and Hanukah gifts, as well as beautiful hand-crafted jewelry, elegant handbags, lovely clothing and children’s items. Our Opportunity Drawing is a highlight of the Boutique. Your tickets give you the opportunity to select gifts you would like to win such as dinners, jewelry, books, DVDs, hand-made items and other surprises. Three popular food trucks will be there for noshing while shopping.Last year the Sisterhood funded a dinner for the Beit T'Shuvah Marathon runners prior to the race. And what kind of Sisterhood would it be without a cookbook! Cookbooks are available for purchase as another way to support our fund-raising efforts.Sisterhood meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. We welcome new and returning members and your active participation. The annual fee is $18.00. Please contact Barbara Friedman in the Development Office for further information.The Sisterhood has also created and developed symbolic gift presentations to welcome new residents to Beit T'Shuvah during each Shabbat Service. Watch for that upcoming announcement.Please join the Beit T’Shuvah Sisterhood to keep the dream alive as we support and celebrate recovery.

Allene Prince

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21

EVENTS

CIRCLE OF MAJESTYPhotos Carla Finnerman

The Circle of Majesty Society, a women’s group supporting the family and prevention work of Beit T’Shuvah, held its 4th annual luncheon in June at the beautiful Beverly Hills home of Lois and Ron Bloom.Over 80 members enjoyed the Bloom’s fabulous home as well as a fashion show highlighting St. John’s of Beverly Hills’ fall line, Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s House of Taylor jewelry, delicious food from Someone’s In The Kitchen and great camaraderie.CEO Harriet Rossetto spoke about the dangerous image/myth of “perfection” that so many families usually strive for and how Beit T’Shuvah works with its clients and families to push past this harmful perfectionism. Gavi Appelbaum, a current day patient at Beit T’Shuvah, held the guests captive with her compelling story of her struggle with this issue and her subsequent eating disorder. She has made great strides at Beit T’Shuvah and is now part of their Partners in Prevention team, taking her message to young teens throughout the Jewish community.Co-Chairs Dina Leeds, Lois Bloom, Nancy Mishkin, Harriet Rossetto, Annette Shapiro and Ronnie Stabler joined forces in 2008 to begin a program for a select group of women who exemplify the quality of “majesty”. Members receive a specially designed piece of jewelry and an attachment for renewing. Besides the annual luncheon, members meet throughout the year at different events and continue their commitment to the important family work of Beit T’Shuvah. Check out all the fun on the following pages.For more information on the Circle of Majesty, please call Barbara Friedman at 310-204-5200.

DEPARTMENTS

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24

SPOTLIGHT

Arriving at the doorposts of Beit T’Shuvah at 39, I was homeless, broke, unemployable and spiritually bankrupt. How that happened to a Jewish boy from Beverly Hills is just another story of a lost soul fumbling through life. BTS was my last home after many emergency rooms, detoxes and treatment centers. What I found at BTS wasn’t simply another treatment center to try and get sober. What I found was a community. A vibrant community. Alive, awake and full of passion.I remember so many events, stories and moments during my early sobriety that impacted me. So many different relationships. One particular story which has become the moment hope began for me, was a talk Rabbi Ed Feinstein gave. Rabbi Feinstein told the story of writing a Torah. He told of how each brushstroke of each letter needed to be in its place in order for a Torah to be complete. That a single missing brushstroke made the entire Torah ‘pasul’, invalid. He went on to talk about each of us being a

brushstroke. Unique. Important. And part of making something bigger than ourselves whole. That we each had a place in the world that was ours alone to take and that without each of us, the world would not be whole. For whatever reason, that story, that moment woke me up to the possibility that I might have a place in the world.During the years since that moment, there have been many more stories. It has been a journey filled with struggle. Filled with joy and sadness. Filled with life. Filled with relationships that because of a shared loyalty to staying in the struggle and seeking transparency and authenticity have helped me to take my place. In my family, in my community, in the world. The people I share this journey with are my friends and teachers. Together we struggle, we build, we share.One of those friends is Cassidy Cousens. We met at Beit T’Shuvah over ten years ago. In those ten years, we have each grown our own lives. Both apart and together. We’ve shared loss and we’ve shared new life. And we’ve shared struggle. Both with each other and ourselves. A few years ago, we decided to go into business together. In retrospect, this had less to do with the actual business and more to do with a desire to share our journeys more closely with each other. To obligate ourselves in such a way that would help each of us grow. It has not always been easy and through this journey we have developed an intimacy built on principles we both share.Because of Beit T’Shuvah, I have relationships like the one Cassidy and I share. Nathaniel and Rachel Neubauer, Ben Share, Harold Rothstein, Heather Garrett and Rabbi Mark. My Rabbi, my teacher, my friend. And of course, the well from which Beit T’Shuvah springs is Harriet. Harriet, who always seeks the truth. My relationships are the gift of Beit T’Shuvah. A place where a truly conscious life becomes possible.Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote an oft-quoted line in his epic poem ‘Ulysses’. “Come my friends, ‘tis not too late to seek a newer world”. For me, the seeking is within and the newer world is found at Beit T’Shuvah.

The Missing Brushstroke

Giving BackCassidy Cousens and Jon Esformes

PHOTO: Rosenberg

[ By Jon Esformes ]

Cassidy Cousens and Jon Esformes epitomize Beit T’Shuvah’s success. They had nothing—homeless and hopeless—but they have since recovered and flourished. Now the successful businessmen’s $500,000 donation has ensured that many more can receive the gifts of recovery that were given to them.

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SPOTLIGHT

A Half Day In My Life[ By Cassidy Cousens ]

Beginning I enrolled at Beit T’ Shuvah in November, 2000. At that time I was a homeless heroin addict who had already been to more than a dozen other treatment centers. I stayed at Beit T’ Shuvah for approximately 18 months. My treatment was completely sponsored by the Jewish community.I’ve been sober since my arrival.

A Half Day in My Life12:07 AM: Text – Sorry man, just got a call my ex is smoking my daughter moved out. She left my babies alone I’m going to get them. Dave will cover my AM. I need to talk with youI call him back, we talk briefly. We’ve discussed this topic before. We piece together a quick plan and strategize on setting up a time for me to talk with his ex-wife.6:22 AM: Text – Are you up?I call this person back. We discuss a recent relapse. We coordinate a plan to help if the person wants it. I ask him if he can pull a bed for me at a program for my friend’s ex-wife. He says yes.6:40 AM:I roll out of bed. My back hurts and I’m slightly pissed off about it. I shower, shave, and dress for the day.7:00 AM: My daughter, Sophie, is two years old. She’s eating blueberry waffles at the dining room table. My son, Finn, is 9 months old. My wife, Natalie, is feeding him next to Sophie. Seeing them, I forget that I’m pissed off about back pain.Natalie – “Listen to this”!

Cassidy – “What”?Sophie – “Bandit sad”.I sense a smile raising my face for the first time today.Cassidy –“What”!?Sophie – “Bandit sad”. Sophie points to the couch. The couch is massive and takes up an entire room. It’s a gravely misplaced couch and it’s the only thing I insisted on when we moved here. I demanded a couch where people could sit together and chat comfortably. This is funny because I still think that I believe I don’t like people much. Bandit is laying morose on the edge of the behemoth. He’s a Shih Tzu. I’ve long since stopped pretending that I don’t like him. He may not fit in my picture of myself in reference to growing up in rural Oregon, but I’ve gotten past the fact he couldn’t fetch a fallen duck. I swivel back to Sophie, who is pleased that I’ve taken notice of her observation.Cassidy – “Why is Bandit sad”?Sophie – “Bandit sad”.Natalie sends a slight smile in my direction, not skipping a beat with the spoon circling perfectly towards Finn’s mouth. Her eyelashes whirl. For a moment her glance dazes me. I recognize as I come out of it that this conversation apparently has looked like this for some time.Cassidy – “Yes, Bandit does appear to be sad”.Natalie – “She’s been saying this all morning”.Cassidy – “Well, he does look sad”. Cassidy turns to Bandit and addresses him.Cassidy – “Bandit, why are you sad”?Bandit politely jumps down from the couch, stretches and meanders over to the table to lie under Sophie’s chair. Sophie swivels, waffle in hand and peers underneath her chair and squeals a bit of glee. Natalie – “I think he needs another dog”.I immediately contemplate dog pee all over the house. Crossing the vision is the sight of a Shih Tzu puppy. The vision morphs back into pee pads all over the house. The vision is again intersected by the sight of a Shih Tzu puppy. I reflect on the idea that this must have something to do with the drive to propagate. I can’t

stop seeing that damn doe-eyed puppy despite all the obvious hassles. Cassidy – “Well, maybe you should get another dog”. I find myself proud that I’ve said “you”. Maybe now I won’t be responsible for walking this dog. Natalie catches it and glances at me slyly.Natalie – “You”?I begin to stammer. Cassidy – “Us. I mean we. We should get another dog”.Now I’m aggravated with the eyelashes. I don’t stand a chance. I feel my shoulders droop as Natalie begins to smile. Sophie senses the feminine victory and throws her waffle hands in the air and says something primitive that means she’s very, very happy about this.7:30 AM:Forage for coffee, arrive at work.7:50 AM:Deal with friend’s ex-wife. Help her consider where she needs to be. Work in progress.8:00 AM:I call Jon.Cassidy – “Have you started writing yet”?Jon – “No”.Cassidy – “We’re fucked”.Jon – “Yes”.Cassidy – “Why do we do this”?Jon – “I don’t know”.Cassidy – “I’ve gotta go”.Jon – “Ok, byyye”.8:30 AM: Person calls and needs help. We steer them in the right direction.8:35 AM:I meet with my staff and laugh for 20 minutes about how our Program Director used to think she was a gangster. At one point or another everyone who is in the room falls to the floor, gasping with laughter. In the back of my mind I’m chuckling to myself that people view the group as stalwart figures of recovery. We won’t let ourselves get fooled though. Our covenant between us is that we know we’re all just winging it.9:00 AM: My friend’s ex-wife calls. We again chat briefly and get her moving towards treatment.

26

SPOTLIGHT

9:10 AM:I start writing… 11:15 AM:Absolutely no writing has been done. I’m residing somewhere between arrogance and an inappropriate desire to be liked. I find both states deplorable. 11:20 AM:I call Jon to check in.Cassidy – “Have you written anything”?Jon – “No”.Ok, good. At least I know he’s suffering too.Cassidy – “Jesus Jon, you better get writing”.Perhaps by shaming him I will feel slightly better.Jon – “I know, I know”.From the tone of his voice, I hear my plan has backfired as we are both equally ashamed.Cassidy – “Alright, I’ve gotta go”.Jon – “Ok, byyye”.12:15 PM:Lunch consists of Red Bull, iced coffee and a banana. During lunch, calls continue to come in. We coordinate two intakes and steer a few other people in the right direction. I consider calling Barbara and asking for an extension. I’m stopped by the sensation of embarrassment. GratitudeI’m implicitly aware that my personal recovery is the foundation on which my life is established. I also know that the teachings, individuals and community of Beit T’Shuvah are integral to my ongoing recovery process. Having been in so many treatment centers, I often find myself trying to define why Beit T’Shuvah worked for me. The only thing I can really point to is that 8831 Venice Blvd is a holy place. From that place of holiness, I was helped to discover that I matter – and what I do matters to the world. I’m committed and my loyalties are with this community. I’m good at some things and not so good at others, but what I’ve got that’s worth giving, I’ll always give to Beit T’ Shuvah.To the residents, board, and broader community…Thank you. 2:58 PM:Text – Sophie and I are on our way to OC to look at puppies.Everybody wins…

DEPARTMENTS

I grew up in the Los Angeles public school system and with my peers had to endure long lectures about drugs not being good for us. Ironically, none of us were drug users but one thing was for sure - being lectured the way we were in no way created a connection to anything going on in our lives.A couple of months ago I was asked as a member of the Board of BTS to attend one of Doug Rosen’s Prevention presentations at Milken Community High School. From Doug’s opening statement I felt the immediate connection he made with the group of students attending the presentation. He knew how to address the detachment the young people had with their families and right away he had their full attention.Notably, Doug equated the parental concept that if you are getting good grades everything must be ok. How shocked I was to realize that my parents had the same philosophy and I as a father of three felt the same with my kids. I came away inspired that the prevention work was hitting home to these youngsters and I am a major supporter of the work the program is doing.

BTS PreventionGetting an A+ Doesn't Always Mean a Kid is Okay

Emailed HopeThe following is an email received by Doug Rosen, Director of the Partners in Prevention Program

Sam DelugPHOTO: Rosenberg

[ By Sam Delug ]

Hey Doug, just wanted to say thanx for that speech u gave to USY, I’m that kid that you kept horsing around with the whole time about weed - good times good times, but anyways just wanted to say thank you for all that you have done for me. i did smoke weed a lot and i was doing fine in school, but now i stopped and i am urging all my friends to stop to before something really bad happens to them. I loved your speech and it has

influenced me and all the people who heard it that day to not do drugs or help someone out who is. What i loved about your speech was that it was spot on to a typical teenager’s life. Nothing has to be wrong to smoke weed - you just wanna do it for fun. What was also surprisingly true is drug addicts need to be smart people... I guess that makes me smart then lol. You have changed my outlook on life so much and are truly a person i

can look up to and ask for help. I really appreciate what you’re doing for people at Beit T’’Shuvah. You’re an inspiration to many and a life changer to all. Good luck in life and keep up the good work. Just wanted to say thank you again for everything. PS And i haven't smoked pot for 50 days.

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After a long time struggling with how to live authentically, tolerate uncertainty, gain self- acceptance and compassion, I found the courage to burn my black suits and to validate the part of me who can empathize and connect with other people, to quit Wall Street, don my jeans and funky jewelry and enroll in an MFT graduate program in 2002. I have not looked back since. I was on my own mission to find meaning in my relationships with others and most importantly myself. I can honestly say it was the best decision I made and that the path I chose has been healing, inspiring and keeps paying dividends. Eight years ago, almost to the day, I stumbled serendipitously onto the community of Beit T’Shuvah. I was immediately drawn to the Jewish values rooted in finding freedom in authentic higher living. Beit T’Shuvah has given a place and space to be myself and an opportunity to have enormous purpose. I have learned to have real relationships with others and more importantly myself. My work as the Clinical Director is very gratifying for me. As a therapist, clinical supervisor and administrator, I get to do what I love and receive what I need, to have meaning and purpose.As part of the succeeding generation, it is my obligation to bring forward and protect the integrity of our mission. My hope and vision for Beit T’Shuvah is to become a world-wide recognized model for recovery, spiritual practice and community education and outreach. My plan is work together with the team at Beit T’Shuvah and the community to create and deepen our connections and to identify and thoughtfully respond to the needs of the people we serve by taking the necessary risks to foster required change and sustainability.

by Kathy Marks, MFT

by Kathy Marks, MFT

DEPARTMENTS

SONGIf you are interested in bringing Freedom Song to your community,

please contact Jessica Fishel at 310-204-5200.

More than a play, it will open your eyes and change your life.

“Freedom Song is the most powerful and emotional perfor-mance that every parent and teenager should see together.”-Dr. Chuck Slonim, Board Member of Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, Florida

“If you have ever suffered through a seemingly endless seder, Freedom Song will revitalize your spirit. And if you have ever suffered through a seemingly hopeless family crisis, Freedom Song will renew your soul”-Stuart K. Robinson, Director/Author

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31

SPOTLIGHT

This summer, all I was really looking for was some generic work experience to add to my resume. Having just finished my freshman year of college, I could no longer blissfully avoid the reality that life and the real world are coming at me fast. So I did what any savvy college student would do with no work experience – asked mom and dad to hook it up. My Dad had recently been a judge in a panel at Social Innovation Fast Pitch, a competition for up and coming nonprofit companies to vie for funding. The winner was (an easy pick, according to my Dad) BTS Communications, a marketing agency housed within a rehab, the brainchild of John Sullivan – himself an ex-con and recovering heroin addict. Naturally, my Dad thought this might be just the place for me to spend my summer. When in doubt, simply send your young, vulnerable daughter to a rehab filled with ex-cons and addicts for a few months. Right?After my initial feelings of uncertainty, I decided to keep an open mind. I soon realized all the positives about this unique opportunity. Working in a startup, I would be able to experience first-hand how a business grows and would be able to provide contributions and skills that well surpassed coffee and dry-cleaning runs. I instantly and without-judgment felt embraced by John and everyone who works here. As a result, I learned more about my skills, the marketing field and myself than I feel I would have anywhere else. I am finishing

my time here with stronger skills as a writer, social media strategist and overall professional.But what has really made my time here at BTS undoubtedly unlike any job I will probably ever have, is the people. This one-room office is filled with eclectic individuals who made every minute enjoyable, just as they now make every minute in their lives count. There is a spirit that engulfs BTSC that I was not expecting to find when I walked in to start my summer. And that spirit is what I believe is making this business a success. Everyone here genuinely cares about his or her individual work and about BTSC as a whole. In the end, I did get the “work experience” I was initially seeking. But resume aside, I grew from an amazing experience with an amazing group of people who are certainly destined for success.

Farewell To FunkThe Story of a BTS Communications Summer Intern

Katie FunkPHOTO: Rosenberg

[ By Katie Funk ]

32

SPOTLIGHT

On November 4, 2010, I was found suitable for parole after a 4½ hour hearing with the Board of Prison Terms at San Quentin. I had waited 32 years to hear those words—yet I did not cry. It would be another 150 days before the finding would be finalized. On Friday, April 8, 2011 at 3pm, I heard my name announced over the loudspeaker, resonating off the concrete walls - “John Sklut. Report to the counselor’s office.” My calendar marked the 150th day and I knew the decision had been finalized. As I walked out of my cell and covered the distance of fifteen feet to my counselor’s office, a million thoughts rushed through my head. I had committed a murder in 1979. I took the life of an innocent human being in a fit of rage that lasted 3 seconds. Since that day, I have been horrified, ashamed and profoundly remorseful for the life I took - for the irredeemable damage and pain I caused to the many

Resident SpotlightThe Jewish Beacon of San Quentin[ By Jon Sklut ]

victims of my actions. In taking a life, I destroyed a world; I affected and altered people’s lives beyond measure. Since the moment I walked into prison, I have strived to come to terms with my actions, to avail myself of every program that would help me understand my core issues, how and why I could commit such a crime and to obtain the tools and insights necessary to never again harm another. As I looked back upon myself, I have - and I continue my endeavor to redefine myself - grown in my spirituality and in my commitment and involvement to my community wherever I am. I have spent the past 32 years doing T’shuvah - and acting upon that responsibility with an infinite desire to repair the harm I caused to humanity and I believe, the universe. I’ve been active in voluntary group therapy and self-help programming including violence prevention, interfaith restorative justice, services to the blind and physically handicapped and hospice care. And, in embracing my Jewish heritage, in 1986, I began a path of study and observance. I was the only Jew in San Quentin who donned a yamulke and tzitzit. I was not always observant, but I was on the right path and my fellow Jews called me “The Jewish Beacon of San Quentin.”I was raised Jewish in my early years and my childhood was wrought by physical and mental abuse. However, my history is not an excuse used to justify or minimize my criminal acts - it is paramount that I accept responsibility for my actions.Three more steps to my counselor’s office. How is anybody going to be able to see the man I am now and the person I was 32 years ago? 10 years earlier, when I first met this counselor, she asked me, “Do you think you’ll ever get out of prison?” I answered, “Not in a thousand years.” I resolved myself to the fact that I would live and die in prison. I knocked on the counselor’s door and

Free at lastJon Sklut

33

SPOTLIGHT

was asked to sit down. Her first words to me were, “Your thousand years are up!” I was released Monday, April 11th and arrived at Beit T’Shuvah the next day. I had found out about Beit T’Shuvah a year previous when I had obtained a listing of agencies in the LA area to write to for help in possible transition. I had not yet been found suitable for parole, but was working on my parole plans to present to the board of prison terms. I had no home to return to and no money. I found the name Beit T’Shuvah amid a list of over 200 other agencies. I knew nothing about Beit T’Shuvah, so I started asking around the prison. The prison chaplain told me not to bother, that they didn’t take lifers or anyone with a history of violence - so I gave up on the idea. Until I met Leo Schinder, an alumnus of Beit T’Shuvah.

He told me, “Don’t listen to everybody else.” Day after day he told me to write, that I’d never know unless I continued to try. He told me that Beit T’Shuvah is a good place with good people and that I would fit right in. So I wrote and was answered by Carrie Newman, the Alternative Sentencing coordinator. After several months of correspondence, she wrote, “You are officially approved to parole to Beit T’Shuvah. I look forward to the day your arrival becomes a reality.” Though I hadn’t been found suitable for parole yet, Beit T’Shuvah was already opening their heart and their arms to me - they offered me a home and a community. The day I showed up at Beit T’Shuvah, I had only the clothes on my back and boxes filled with my books, seddurem, a prayer shawl and tefillen. I remembered Rabbi

Kula, who said, “Moses placed the old, smashed tablets into the holy ark along with the old, intact ones.” I have since been at Beit T’Shuvah for over 120 days. From the first day, I knew that this place was not only my home, my community and my family, but it is also my sacred place among holy people and that I am both broken and holy. Every day that I have been at Beit T’Shuvah I have grown in ways that I never could have predicted. I have not had many conversations with Rabbi Borovitz nor with Harriet, yet through their teachings and by their examples I have been profoundly challenged spiritually and moved into action. I love them both dearly and I am grateful and honored to be included in this community, of which I will forever be a part of.

DEPARTMENTS

The Susan and Leonard Nimoy Career Center was extremely fortunate last October when the Sossin-Bergman family – Andrea and Paul - met with Rabbi and offered to start an externship program for our residents. They donated a substantial amount of money to kick off this program which allows for our residents to intern at companies in the community in addition to BTS Communications and other BTS Ventures. It gives residents an opportunity to intern with a company and also allows them to work in a company or field that he or she is interested in. The resident then gains valuable experience in a particular industry and/or company. Additionally, the resident continues working closely with his or her counselor, therapist and spiritual counselor, as well as attending groups and 12-step meetings. Beit T’Shuvah pays the intern $8/hour for 20 hours/week. The program extends for 6 months. When the internship is completed successfully, we hope that the company will offer the intern a paid position. The externship program also exposes the local community to Beit T’Shuvah and the services we offer.To date we have had over 10 successful externships in a variety of fields including production, law, graphic design, social media, marketing, non-profit, sound engineering, sports agencies, maintenance, architecture, coding and web design and software development. I’d like to tell you about Coke Youngblood, a resident at Beit T’Shuvah, who has been here for 8 months. I did a career case study with Coke for one of my practicum classes and I knew he was very invested and passionate about finding his career path. He spoke to Harriet and she was able to arrange an opportunity with Thinkfactory Media (a company owned by a parent of a former resident). The following is from a conversation I had with Coke regarding his externship experience at Thinkfactory Media as a Production Assistant. Coke’s initial feeling when he got the externship with the production company was that he couldn’t believe Beit T’Shuvah was willing to help him get an internship in a high profile industry. This was something Coke never would have dreamed could happen. Overall, it was a great experience to be exposed to a major

production company. The greatest lesson he learned is that he is good with people. This has been a great opportunity for him to meet a lot of remarkable people that are great connections to have if he wants to stay in the industry. Coke felt these people really liked him, valued his work style and would be great for networking with at some point in the future. He received a great deal of exposure to production work which helped him to see how this business is run since he had never fully understood it before. Coke also felt like he acquired good advice regarding this profession from renowned people such as Jon Voight.He expressed that the opportunity for him to go out and work while he was still at Beit T’Shuvah has helped his recovery by providing him with confidence that he can go and do something like this and actually succeed at it. Additionally, he mentioned how important it is to recognize all the feelings that come up with work stressors and then to identify the tools to deal with them. This is what he has gained by being at Beit T’Shuvah, not to mention a community to come home to that is supportive, that encourages him and lets him know that he can do this job and he is good at what he does. The support allows Coke to go back into work each day feeling refreshed and confident. He informed me that when he found out his externship was no longer available, rather than running, as would have done in the past, he now had the tools and confidence to go out and seek a new position. “I had to deal with the fact that even though I did an excellent job and that I gave 110%, due to reasons which I had no control over, I lost the position. This experience prepared me for my next opportunity which will be working for one of the top recording companies in the nation. It gave me the confidence that I can be prominent in whatever I do and that I have a great work ethic.”- Coke YoungbloodIf you are interested in helping to support the Externship Program Fund or if you have an opportunity or need for an intern, then please contact me at 310.204.5200 extension 216 or agoldberg@beittshuvah.org.

By Alison Goldberg

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residentaction

residentactionWe discover that we don’t have to be

loaded to have fun and we recover our ability to enjoy the lives that we have.

Photo Essay by Justin RosenbergWords by Michael Soter

For the past few years, I temporarily refocused my passion--from photography to drugs. I arrived here eight months ago, and almost immediately my passion for painting with light was rekindled and a beautiful partnership was formed with BTS Communications. In photographing residents surfing/meditating, enjoying house picnics, etc, I have imbued my passion with purpose. I hope my photography can enhance the community at the same time. Today, I not only paint with light, my soul is filled with light.-Justin Rosenberg

At Beit T’Shuvah, we are required to participate in what Harriet calls“Mandatory Fun.” For a long time, our ability to enjoy anything was dependent upon drugs, alcohol, gambling and other destructive behaviors. We didn’t know how to have fun without

a needle, a drink or a slot machine. None of us would stay sober if we didn’t enjoy sobriety. Sobriety is not supposed to be dull. So we have picnics, we surf, we watch movies, we go to comedy shows and we go to concerts. We learn that we don’t need to have a beer to have fun at a picnic. We learn that we don’t need to get high before a movie. We learn that we don’t need a joint to go to a concert. We have fun and we do it while we are sober. As we recover our passion and discover our purpose through groups, therapy and counseling, we discover that we don’t have to be loaded to have fun and we recover our ability to enjoy the lives that we have.

Painting with Light in RecoveRy

DEPARTMENTS

DEPARTMENTS

Whizin Center for Continuing Education

FOR A CATALOG OF UPCOMING EVENTS

wcce.ajula.edu | (310) 440-1246

American Jewish U N I V E R S I T Y WHIZIN CENTER for CONTINUING EDUCATION40

Sunday, november 13, 201110am - 4pm

pleaSe join uS for the

Beit t’Shuvah SiSterhood’S

4th annual holiday boutique

Come join us for a wonderful day of shopping with a wide variety of merchandise including hand-crafted jewelry, hand-

bags, clothing, children’s items and Judaica.

And 3 gourmet food trucks - No Reservations, Canter’s Deli and King Kone Ice Cream - will be here to curb your hunger

while shopping!

You can support the Sisterhood and Beit T’Shuvah by enjoying a day of shopping, food and friends!

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, November 13th!

Beit T’Shuvah, 8831 Venice Boulevard, LA

If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact Sheila Mechanic at 310-430-2080 – space is limited!

Parners in Prevention is one of the best programs in our community to help spread the awareness of Judaism as a pathway to promote self-acceptance, self-worth, spiritual values and family harmony. The Prevention Staff is a multi-discplinary team of Jewish educators, mental health professionals, recovering addicts and recovering parents. Together, they take the students through the workbooks and interactive exercises, designed to encourage honest discussion about life’s pressures and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

If Jewish learning can help individuals recover from addictive and self- destructive behaviors, why can’t it be just as useful in preventing it?

Partners in Prevention

Beit T’Shuvah Partners in PreventionDoug Rosen 310.204.5200 x235drosen@beittshuvah.org

Contact Us

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Nona S. Solowitz CPAnona@solowitzcpa.com

760.423.0133

73241 Highway 111, Suite 2C, Palm Desert, CA 92260

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8985 Venice Boulevard Suite H | Los Angeles, CA 90034310.280.3686

StayConnected.

Alumni AssociationTo preserve a lasting connection between

alumni and the community.

facebook.com/btsalumni

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Beit T’ShuvahRecover Your Passion Discover Your Purpose

Beit T’Shuvah is a constituentagency of The Jewish Federation

Beit T’Shuvah8831 Venice BoulevardLos Angeles, California 90034-3223www.beittshuvah.org

OF EVENTSFriday, November 11 Sinai Shabbat/Friday Nite Live Sinai Temple, Los Angeles

Sunday, December 4 Freedom Song Performance Hyatt Regency, La Jolla

Friday, january 13 Shomrei Torah Shabbat Shomrei Torah Temple, West Hills

Sunday, January 29 Steps to Recovery Gala Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills

Sunday, March 18 BTS/LA Marathon Los Angeles

Wednesday, March 28 Freedom Song Performance Congregation Or Ami, Agoura Hills

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PaiDLos Angeles, CAPermit No. 672

facebook.com/BeitTShuvah

Find us on

YouTube.com/BeitTShuvah

Read our blog onWORDPRESS

beittshuvah.wordpress.com

Additional events will be announced on our website: www.beittshuvah.org For more information, please contact Barbara at 310-204-5200, x204 or bfriedman@beittshuvah.org.

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