Thanks to your efforts, we have made it to the finals in four categories in the Jewish/Israelly Blog Awards. So if you can take 15 seconds to vote (the rules allow voting every 3 days), we can get out the word and broaden our community.

Best Jewish Religion Blog
Best New Blog
Best Designed Blog  
Best Group Blog

On a different note, one of our readers is interested in doing some research regarding the history of the (recent) BT movement. If anybody nows of any books on this matter, or can point to anyone in particular who knows about this issue, please let us know at beyondbt@gmail.com

About 40 people were in attendance at the Melave Malka in Passaic last night, despite the fact that it is a vacation week for the schools and there was another Melave Malka in the community. We want to thank the Passaic Torah Institute for their hospitality. We want to thank Rabbi Brody for taking the time to speak and insipire us and his cousin Rich Lenner for helping out.

Here are some photos of Rabbi Brody taken by Akiva at Mystical Paths.

Here are the mp3’s from Rabbi Brody’s drasha last night. I broke it up into 6 parts of about 19 minutes each. Rabbi Brody started the evening with a niggun which runs from 1 minute 45 seconds to 3 minutes and 20 seconds in part 1.

Here is part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6. Enjoy!

Just a reminder that

…Rabbi Lazer Brody will be speaking

…at the first Beyond Teshuva Melave Malka in Passaic (the pizza is already ordered)

…on this Motza’ei Shabbos, January 21st at 8:30 PM

…at the Passaic Torah Institute – 441 Passaic Avenue

…on the topic of “Facing the Challenges of Growth with Tranquility and Joy”

…Admission is $5

We are really looking forward to seeing you there!

Here’s some great news! Rabbi Lazer Brody will be speaking at the first Beyond Teshuva gathering in Passaic on January 21st – I”YH. Here are the wonderful details:

If you live in Passaic and can get a flyer up in your Shul or shopping venue, please email us at beyondbt@gmail.com.

In the age old Jewish blogging tradition of referring to the Jewish and Israeli Blogging (JIB) Awards with the utmost humility, we hereby declare that we neither deserve nor seek any nominations or awards.

However, we do want to gather as many BTs as possible together, so we can learn, grow and give to each other, and to all Jews. And the awards have successfully brought quite a number of people to Beyond Teshuva.

So before you click any other link, please help by clicking on the following links and voting in the categories of:
Best New Blog
Best Designed Blog
Best Jewish Religion Blog

The rules allow voting every three days, so please do your small part. Thanks.

Ok, if you voted, please click on the more link below to read some beautiful words about The Power of the Group Hug.

Read more The Power of the Group Hug ›

Awards
We just want to note that we have been nominated in a number of categories in the Jerusalem Post/Israelly Cool – Jewish and Israelly Blog Awards. Why not vote for us in Best New Blog, Best Jewish Religion Blog or Best Designed Blog.

Melave Malkas
We’re pleased to announce that the first Beyond Teshuva – Melave Malka is set for February 4th in Kew Gardens Hills with Rabbi Label Lam as the scheduled speaker. We have also started the wheels turning for Melave Malkas in Baltimore, Passaic and Monsey. If you want to be involved in the planning of this in these cities or any others, please contact us at beyondbt@gmail.com.

Read more Awards, Melave Malkas, Letters, Good Attitudes ›

There’s a show on public radio called ‘Survival Kit”. The show starts out as follows:

“So you’ve had it with the rat race and feel you’ve just got to get away. We’ll arrange an escape for two or three months. Far from everything – snowed in at an isolated cabin in Montana’s Yak Valley or, if you prefer heat, on a desert island. What would you need to maintain your sanity? We’ll provide you with plenty of food, of course. A dictionary, a bible, the complete works of Shakespeare and the tools of your trade.
But what else must you have?”

Each week, the host interviews a celebrity and asks about what they would put in their survival kit.

Let’s tweak this a bit:
Read more Beyond BT Survival Kit – Pick 6 Books ›