[vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”full”]It wasn’t an addiction that brought Michael Rosenblum to Beit T’Shuvah — it was the connection and community.
On February 10, Michael, the son of our Advancement Director Janet Rosenblum, ran the New Orleans Rock N Roll 2019 Half Marathon while sporting Beit T’Shuvah’s “Running4Recovery” shirt. “My hope was to garner awareness for such a good cause. Plus it just looked cool,” he says. Michael and wife Jamie timed a visit to friends to allow him to run in New Orleans, in part to prepare him for the Los Angeles Marathon on March 24, in which he will be running with Beit T’Shuvah’s Running4Recovery team. While Jamie didn’t run herself, Michael describes her as “one of the best marathon training supporters ever. She’s not only an enthusiastic cheerleader, but she’s also an occupational therapist.”
Michael, 31, has known of Beit T’Shuvah for much of his life. He grew up in Los Angeles, attended Sinai Akiba Academy and spent summers at Camp Ramah. There, as at Sinai Akiba and Harvard-Westlake, he developed friendships that continue to flourish. Among his childhood friends is Jessica Fishel, Beit T’Shuvah’s Assistant Director of Partners in Prevention; Michael first learned of BTS through Jessica. Michael received an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, taught with Teach for America for two years, received a law degree from NYU and practiced law in New York for two years. He now practices law in LA at Thompson Coburn and recently moved to Culver City. Throughout, Michael has been a supportive BTS community member. And the whole Rosenblum family is involved – Janet’s husband and Michael’s father Bobby Rosenblum is a long-time supporter and member of the Running4Recovery team. This will be Bobby’s fifth season on the team and he encouraged Michael to join him.
Michael is excited to be running with Beit T’Shuvah this year. Besides the thrill of meeting the physical and mental challenge, he sees parallels between training and recovery. “I hear people mention ‘one day at a time’ and ‘take the next right action;’ for me, it’s putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how I feel. Running is great but it can be hard. It’s not about feeling good in the moment, it’s about putting in the effort so at the end of the day you can reflect and say ‘I accomplished something awesome,’” he explains.
Michael loves the High Holidays at Beit T’Shuvah. “It’s the best service in town,” he says. Besides the family’s connection to Beit T’Shuvah, Michael draws inspiration from the residents. “I love it when the residents share. Their openness and candor show such vulnerability and courage. They face their issues head on and it’s inspiring to see,” he explains. While Michael didn’t go through “the house” his passion for Beit T’Shuvah and what this institution represents reminds us all that you don’t have to be an addict to live in recovery.
To support the members of the Beit T’Shuvah Running for Recovery Team please visit
https://www.firstgiving.com/event/beittshuvah/2019-Beit-T-Shuvah-Running4Recovery-Marathon-Team