Friday night Pot luck shabbat dinner – 6:30 Parashat Yitro

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Dear Congregants and friends,
Please join us at 6:30 tonight, February 10, for a shabbat pot luck dinner and services.  We look forward to seeing you all.  This event is free and open to all.
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message:
This week’s parashah, Yitro, begins with the story of Moses’ father Yitro (Jethro) visiting the camp of the People of Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai. The Torah records that Yitro made an offering to God, and Moshe and the Elders came to eat with Yitro. Then as now, sharing food is an important religious observance. We are impelled to serve God in all that we do, even those activities which are seemingly the most mundane, such as eating. Please join us tonight at 6:30 as we share food and fellowship together at Beth El. Shabbat Shalom.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
(512)897-7646
cantorbenmoshe1@yahoo.com

Tu B’Shvat, Judaism 201, Pot Luck Friday

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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
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

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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.

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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

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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.