Children’s Services on Yom Kippur

Children’s services begin on Yom Kippur (Wednesday) morning after the kids and our child-size Torah scrolls accompany the large Torah scrolls around the sanctuary at the beginning of the Torah service.  (Approximately 10 AM)

The younger children (Pre-K to 2nd grade) will then march out and meet with Morah Betsy during the adult Torah service.  Expect songs, prayer and an animated re-telling of the story of Jonah.  The playground will be closed at that time, and all students 4th grade and up are expected to listen to the Torah reading quietly in the sanctuary. (Third graders get to choose!)  Then we’ll all listen to one of our big brothers or big sisters lead Ashrei in the sanctuary, escort the Torah scrolls back to the ark, and then the younger children will play outside or quietly in the social hall while 4th-6th graders are invited into the mini-sanctuary (formerly referred to as the garage and sometimes called the classroom or expanded social hall) to pray, discuss, sing and study Torah.

All children are welcome in the sanctuary at any time.  We love kids, we welcome them, and we also want to model for them the behavior we expect from them at synagogue, especially on a day as long as Yom Kippur.  Weather permitting, children may use the playground, play quietly in the classroom/mini-sanctuary, read a book in the social hall, or, of course come into the big sanctuary.  They are always welcome if they can maintain the dignity of the holiday and respect the purpose of the room and of all those who pray.  Entries and exits should be limited, and should be timed as to not interrupt the standing portions of the amidah, the barchu, or kaddish.

Please note that there will be games and books available for children on Tuesday evening for the Kol Nidre service, but we will not be providing child-centered programming at that time.

Any questions?   Email Morah Betsy Teacher@BethElAustin.org or  fill in the form below.

Shabbat Re’eh and Rosh Chodesh Elul

image via http://davidonthelake.blogspot.com

 

Please join us this evening for Shabbat services at 7 PM.

Cantor’s message:

This week we read Parshat Re’eh, and celebrate Rosh Hodesh Elul, the New Month of Elul.  The month of Elul is of course dedicated to preparing for the High Holidays-we blow the shofar every weekday of Elul to remind us to examine ourselves, and the Sepharadi tradition begins s’lihot, penitential prayers at the beginning of the month.  The parshah itself points us in this direction-“Re’eh Anochi noten lifneichem hayom b’rachah u’klalah“-“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”.  We need to choose, today and every day, whether we will bring good or evil upon ourselves.  May we all avail ourselves of this time of introspection to improve ourselves, and in so doing improve the world in which we live.  Shabbat Shalom.

In Loving Memory of Miriam Margulis

Dear Congregants and Friends,

Please join our community tomorrow, Monday August 13th, at 2pm at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Austin, 78752, for the funeral of our beloved friend and congregant Miriam Margulis (of blessed memory).

May Miriam’s soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life and may her family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Burial will take place in New York, and Miriam’s son David will be sitting shiva there.  A memorial service is planned at  Beth El in the coming weeks.

Congregation Beth El

http://www.bethelaustin.org/

Shabbat Ekev

This week we read Parshat ‘Ekev, which includes the second paragraph of the Sh’ma as well as the commandment to do Birkat HaMazon, the Grace After Meals.

Join us Friday evening, August 10  at 7:00pm and Saturday morning, August 11 at 9:00 am for prayer and for reading and discussion of the parshah. Of course, this week our thoughts and prayers are with our Sikh brothers and sisters as they mourn their losses in the horrible crime which took place on Sunday. May the day soon come when there is no threat of violence in *any* house of worship of *any* faith, and indeed may violence and suffering cease everywhere. May this be God’s will.

Shabbat Shalom.

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

Shabbat & Adult Learning Announcements

Dear Beth El Family and Friends,

Please note that we are having services as with every Friday night, at 7pm where we will welcome shabbat, parashat Va’et’hanan. 

This Sunday at 3 pm we continue our Intro to Judaism class for those who wish to refresh basics or are interested in choosing Judaism.

Cantor Ben- Moshe’s Message:

This week we read in Parshat Va’et’hanan two of the most important passages of the Torah-Moses’ recapitulation of the Ten Commandments, and the first paragraph of the Sh’ma. As we always read Va’et’hanan on the Shabbat after Tish’ah B’Av, it is interesting that so soon after mourning the day when “God turned against us” we once again reaffirm our loyalty to God. Just as we believe that God’s anger is temporary, so too our anger at God is (or should be) temporary. May all of us who mourn-individually over our own losses, or as a People-be comforted. Shabbat Shalom.

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

Shabbat Korach

Dear congregatnts and Friends,

Please note that Friday night services this week will be at the special time of 6:30, followed by a congregational dinner.  The following morning we will have Saturday morning services at our regular time of 9 am for Parashat Korach, where we will be celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of David, Son of Kevin and Iris.  Kiddush luncheon to follow.

We wish David’s family and friends a heart mazal tov on this joyous occasion.

David’s favorite Korach video:

Cantor’s message:

This week’s parshah, Korah, is the source of an idiomatic expression in Modern Hebrew.  In English, we draw upon Greek mythology to describe someone of incredible wealth-“as rich as Croesus”.  The equivalent in Hebrew is “ashir k’Korah“-“as rich as Korah“, drawing on the Rabbinic midrash of Korah as the wealthiest of the Israelites who left Egypt.  We will discuss Korah and his wealth this Shabbat, as we also celebrate David K becoming a Bar Mitzvah.  Shabbat Shalom and Mazal Tov to us all.

Announcements for Shabbat and Shavuot

Dear Congregants and Friends,

Please join us tonight at 7pm for Kabbalat shabbat services.

Tomorrow, Saturday May 26 at 9:45 AM, we will join Congregation Agudas Achim on the Dell Jewish Community Campus for a service in memory and honor of Elaine Shapiro’s late father Jim Novy.

Sunday morning, May 27 starting at 9am, we will have Shavuot services at Beth El, followed by a light kiddush.  There will be a children’s program in the social hall, after the beginning of the Torah reading in the sanctuary.  We hope to see you all!

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s weekly message:

This Shabbat we begin the reading of Sefer B’midbar, the Book of Numbers.  After a year at the foot of Mt. Sinai, the People of Israel are to muster for the march to the Promised Land, a march that would end up taking a generation.  Ironically, the day after Shabbat we read of the arrival of the People of Israel at Sinai, and the Revelation of Torah, on the Festival of Shavuot.  We have been counting towards this day since the second night of Passover-to Z’man Mattan Toratenu, the Time of the Giving of our Torah.  This is after all the purpose of the Exodus-to be free to live the life of the spirit that was simply impossible for slaves.  And the purpose of Torah was so that it could be lived by our People in our Land.  May all of Israel repeat the promise of our ancestors at Sinai, “na’aseh v’nishmah“, “we will do it and we will hear it”.  And may all the People of Israel be privileged soon to live in the Land which was promised to us.  Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameah.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
www.bethelaustin.org

Friday night services 5/18 at 7pm and two “hold the date” announcements

Dear Congregants and Friends,

We hope to see tomorrow, Friday May 18  at 7pm for our weekly, song filled kaballat shabbat service.

Please note these two special events:

Saturday May 26, Congregation Agudas Achim at the Dell Campus is having a special service in memory of Elaine Shapiro’s late father Jim Novy (also Allene Novy’s grandfather) may his memory be a blessing.  We encourage our members to attend this special shabbat morning service which will start at 9:45 at Agudas Achim.  Jim Novy led a fascinating and philanthropic life, supporting the State of Israel, the Austin Jewish community and even receiving a Purple Heart certificate for his clandestine work during World War II.  His personal efforts even helped our very own dear Fred Grant (z”l).   A book has just been written about his life, titled The First Jews of Texas: The Life of Jim Novy, and the author David Chapin will be talking during the shabbat morning services.

Sunday May 27, at 9 am we will have our special Shavuot service.  Please plan to attend this wonderful holiday celebration of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.  Bring your whole family.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message:

This Shabbat we conclude the Book of Leviticus with the reading of the double parshah B’har/B’hukkotai. Parshat B’hukkotai include a tokhekhah, one of the two passages of rebuke found in the Torah. When these passages are read in the synagogue, they are read quickly and in an undertone. Unlike some other religious tradition, Judaism does not focus attention on punishments for disobedience. Rather, we focus on the performing of mitzvot for their own sake, for the purpose of bettering ourselves and the world. God doesn’t need to frighten us into following the Tradition. Judaism is a path of love, not of fear. I look forward to seeing everyone Friday night at 7:00 PM. Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
www.bethelaustin.org