Shabbat Services Tonight and Tomorrow

Please join us this evening at 7 and Shabbat morning at 9 am for Shabbat services.

Second Seder at Beth El

Save the date!  Our community seder will be the second night of Passover, Tuesday April 19, 2011 at the synagogue.  It will be dairy pot-luck and we will be posting more information soon.

How to Make Havdalah Candles

Two weeks ago, Betsy and one of the Beth El students were learning about havdalah and its blessings, so we decided to make havdalah candles.

At-home Service for  Havdalah

After several epic failures involving a toaster oven, hot wax and cigarette lighters, we were finally able to make several four-braid and four-twist havdallah candles.  To save other people from having to repeat our finger pains and mistakes, we decided to publish a simple how-to guide.

How to Make Havdalah Candles without Burning Down Your Kitchen

• Assemble all materials:
  • a box of chanukah candles (including extras in case you make mistakes)
  • a source of boiling water
  • a disposable bowl
  • paper towels
  • matches or a lighter
  • a disposable fork
• Boil water.

Community Memorial Service for Itamar Victims

Dear Beth El Congregants & Friends,

Please join this community wide memorial service on Tuesday evening at 7pm.  This was a sad and tragic event and the whole Jewish  community is coming together to remember the Fogel family and this tragic terrorist event.  We really hope to see you all tomorrow night.

TUESDAY, 22 MARCH @ 7:00 PM, SANCTUARY, CONGREGATION AGUDAS ACHIM

7300 Hart Lane on the Dell Jewish Community Campus Austin, Texas 78731.

COMMUNITY WIDE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ITAMAR VICTIMS ‹ REMEMBERING THE FOGEL FAMILY

Last week five Jewish family members were massacred while they were sleeping in their home on the Sabbath. Through reflective prayer, silence and song, we will remember Udi Fogel (36); Ruth Fogel (35) and their children Yoav (11), Elad (4) and three-month-old Hadas.

Our Austin community stands united to speak out against these brutal
murders.
People of all faiths and backgrounds are encouraged to be present.

CO-SPONSORS

Congregation Agudas Achim
Jewish Community Association of Austin
Congregation Shir Ami
Austin Jewish Academy
Congregation Kol Halev
Jewish Studies Club at St. Edward’s University
Tiferet Israel
Temple Beth Shalom
Texas Faith Network
Congregation Beth El

(in formation)
___________________
Neil F. Blumofe, Rabbi

Congregation Agudas Achim

Video from the Purim Puppet Play

Our youngest students presented “Not Quite the Whole Megilla” to the congregation this morning, between chapters of the adult megilla reading.

Purim Pix!

 

Betsy’s Beth El  Purim photos are here.  Please send your photos from the megilla reading to Beth El and we will add them to the album.

 

 

Shabbat Zachor & The Weekend Schedule

This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat before Purim.  The special maftir is from the Book of Deuteronomy, and commands us to remember what ‘Amalek did to us on our way out of Egypt, attacking the defenseless, showing a complete lack of basic morality.  Unfortunately, last Shabbat we were given a reminder that the spirit of  ‘Amalek is still with us.  The horrible atrocity in Itamar was nothing less than the spirit of hatred and senseless violence that typified ‘Amalek.  Our hearts go out to the orphans and the other members of the Fogel family.  Let us not, however, let the spirit of ‘Amalek infect our souls with hatred.  Our maftir also commands us to blot out ‘Amalek-not only physically, as was done thousands of years ago, but spiritually.  Hatred and vengeance will not bring back the precious souls that we lost.  The Sages taught us that the only remedy for causeless hatred is causeless love.  Let us be inspired by the Israeli grocer who committed to supplying the survivors of the Fogel family with food until the children are grown.  Let us blot out ‘Amalek with lovingkindness.

Shabbat Shalom, and may it indeed be a Shabbat of peace, for us, for all Israel, and for all of humanity.

— Cantor Ben Moshe

Shabbat & Purim Schedule:

• Shabbat Services tonight at 7pm
• Havdallah & Purim Services Saturday evening at 8PM (including hamentashen & drinks)
• Megilla Reading, Sunday 9AM
• Purim Puppet Show by our older kids, presented to the younger kids, Sunday 10 AM
• Brunch follows the puppet show
• Prizes for the best costumes.

Throughout the weekend, we are collecting money to help a few Jewish families buy Passover food and meet some essentials.  Please consider fulfilling the tzedakah mitzvah on Purim by donating to our congregation to enable us to help these families.  Contact Cantor Ben Moshe or Kevin & Iris Koeller to help.

Purim!!!!

Come celebrate Purim with Congregation Beth El.

Fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the megilla on Saturday night, March 19th, at 8pm, starting with a fun havdallah, hamentashen deserts and drinks.   Prizes for best Dress ups – adults and kids!

From Beth El photos

Sunday morning, March 20, at 9 am, we will again read Megillat Esther, dress up, have a puppet show at 10 am for the kids, followed by a light brunch.

We look forward to seeing everyone!