Tu B’Shvat, Judaism 201, Pot Luck Friday

Dear Congregants and friends,

Tomorrow night, Tuesday February 6 at 7pm, we will be having another in our awesome Judaism 201 series – looking at Tu Be Shevat and beginning to delve into the deeper meaning of the holiday. We hope to see you.

This coming Friday, February 10, at 6:30 pm we will be having our monthly dairy/parev pot luck shabbat– this month in honor of Tu Be Shevat – the holiday of the trees. Please note that services will be at the slightly earlier time of 6:30pm, immediately followed by a delicious dinner. Please leave a comment if you would like to attend and what you can bring.  Remember, our pot lucks are free and open to all so bring your family and friends.

We look forwrd to seeing you all.

Congregation Beth El

8902 Mesa drive

Austin TX 78759

www.bethelaustin.org

On Monday we had a tu b’shvat seder during religious school at Congregation Beth El and planted in our brand new synagogue herb garden.

Photos of our students with Cantor Ben Moshe, Miss Iris, Miss Claudia, and Morah Betsy are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/MorahBetsy/BethElTuBShvatKids

Shabbat Shira, Services Friday and Saturday

From the Cantor:

This week we read in Parshat B’shallah of Shirat Hayam, the song sung at the shores of the Sea of Reeds by Moses, Miriam and the People of Israel.  This is the first song recorded in the Bible, and is an integral part of the morning Preliminary Service.  In the Song, the People of Israel praise God, who delivered them (and by extension, us) from Egyptian bondage.  In so doing, they set an example for us-one of our greatest duties is praising God, and the best way we can do so (if we are able) is through song.  It is customary on this Shabbat, called in the Tradition Shabbat Shirah, the Shabbat of Song, to put an emphasis on singing.  Please join us to “sing to the Lord a new song” this Friday night at 7 and Saturday morning at 9.  Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

8902 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78759

cantorbenmoshe1@yahoo.com

Morah Betsy will lead a children’s service beginning at 10 or 10:15 when the Torah service begins in the main sanctuary.

Memorial Plaques:

The congregation is getting ready to order memorial plaques.  If you would like to order any for departed family members or friends, or to sponsor any for congregants who wish to order, but may not have the resources, please respond to this e-mail.  The cost is $100 and it will be a permanent memorial outside our sanctuary.

Beth El Happenings – classes, pot luck dinner and more.

Dear Congregants and friends,

This Tuesday night, January 10, at 7pm we will continue our Judaism 201 course. This class will discuss the Saturday morning service. This class will be relevant for all levels of knowledge and light refreshments will be served.

The new religious school semester for students in kindergarten to third grade begins this afternoon at 4 pm with Morah Betsy.

This coming Friday, January 13 at the slightly earlier time of 6:30, we will have our first potluck dinner of 2012. Please RSVP to Iris at bethelaustin@yahoo.com if you can make it and if you can bring a dairy or parev dish to share.
We look forward to seeing everyone at Beth El.

Congregation Beth El

www.bethelaustin.org

Shabbat Vayehi — Friday and Saturday Services

Please join us Friday night at 7PM and Saturday morning at 9AM for Shabbat services.  There will also be a children’s service beginning at approximately 10:30 AM.

From the Cantor:

Some 1000 years ago, the great commentator Rash”i said that the Torah could have begun in the Book of Exodus, but that the preceding parts were necessary for background.  Indeed, the Book of Genesis can almost stand alone.  While most of the Torah is the story of the People of Israel, the Book of Genesis is mainly the story of the family of Avraham Avinu, our ancestor Abraham.  Just as the Torah finishes with words of blessing-the last parashah of the Torah is called V’zot Hab’rachah, “This is the blessing…”, our parashah this week, Vayehi, is one of blessing.  In our parashah, the patriarch Ya’kov/Yisrael blesses his children before his death, with words that are echoed by Moshe in his blessing.  The saga of one family is about to turn into the saga of a people.  May God bless us with the blessings of our ancestor Yisrael, as well as the blessings of our Teacher Moshe.  Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759

Religious school classes resume next Monday, January 9.

Shabbat Service Tonight, but NOT Tomorrow

Dear Congregants,

We would love to invite you all to join us tonight at our regular time of 7pm for Kaballat shabbat services.  Please note that the next Saturday morning services are January 7th at 9am.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s weekly message:

This week in Parshat Vayigash, the Joseph story reaches its dramatic conclusion.  Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and brings his family down to Egypt, saving them from famine.  The divine plan that was foreshadowed by Joseph’s boyhood dreams, and set in motion by his sale into slavery, has now come to its culmination.  What started as a crime became the agency by which a large family (and indeed a whole nation) was saved, and eventually a nation was born.  We never know what can come of any action-even evil can turn into good.

Shabbat Shalom, and a Happy secular New Year.

Congregation Beth El

www.bethelaustin.org

Chanukah Party Tonight at 6!

Dear Congregants and Friends,

Just a reminder of our annual Chanukah party tonight, Thursday December 22 at 6pm. It will be a pot luck – dairy or parev – dinner. Please bring your family, friends, Chanukiah and candles (we have spares though), singing voices and appetite. It should be fun and we look forward to seeing everyone.

Of course, we will be having Friday night services tomorrow night, December 23 and also look forward to seeing everyone there at 7pm.

Chanukah Sameach!

 

Congregation Beth El

8902 Mesa Drive

Austin TX 78759

www.bethelaustin.org

Shabbat Vayeshev

We will be having our Friday night services tonight December 16 at 7pm and our shabbat morning services, December 17 at 9am, with the Torah reading at 9:45.  We hope to see you at both.

From the Cantor:

This week we read parshat Vayeshev, the beginning of the story of “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat”. We see in this story the propensity of the Torah to present its heroes, our ancestors, as fully human, warts and all. Jacob has not learned the bitter lesson of what happens when parents play favorites with their children, even though he was harmed by that sort of favoritism. Joseph’s older brothers allow themselves to be consumed by jealousy. Joseph himself comes off as an insufferable braggart. We are left with no illusions about our forebears-but this is what makes their stories such an inspiration to us. The Rabbis said in the Talmud that “the deeds of the ancestors are a sign for their descendants”. We are to learn from the example of the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs-they are archetypes for our own lives. But because they are presented as flawed human beings, they can set the very best example for us-the example of repentance and redemption. As they overcame their flaws, so too can we overcome ours. We can follow their example, because it is within our reach. May we always live up to the best in our tradition, and may we certainly always strive to do so. Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

We will be having our annual  Channukah Latkes pot-luck dinner on Thursday December 22nd at 6pm.  Please bring a dairy or parev dish to share – for example, casseroles, fruit, salads, salmon, tuna dishes, deserts, drinks, etc.   Also, bring your menorah and candles to light together. Free and open to all.

Beth El Chanukah Pot Luck & Latke Dinner

We will be having our annual Beth El Hannukah latke party and potluck dinner on Thursday December 22 at 6 pm.  Please sign up to help with cooking latkes, decorating, or bringing a parev or dairy dish.  Also, bring your menorah so we can light several.

You may sign up in the comment section of this post, by calling Iris, or by emailing BethElAustin@Yahoo.com.

Also, please note that the children’s Chanukah cards are still on sale in the synagogue lobby for $4 each.  All proceeds benefit the school and children’s Shabbat morning services.