A Little Bit of Purim

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This Friday and Shabbat mark Purim Katan, “Little Purim”. Since this is a leap year on the Jewish calendar, we observe the month of Adar twice. The actual observance of Purim is in Adar II, but we mark the fouteenth and fifteenth of Adar I by refraining from penitential prayers, from fasting and from public displays of mourning. In exactly one month, we’ll celebrate Purim, and in two months, Passover. We hope to see everyone for Shabbat services Friday night at 7.
Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Shabbat Services Tonight & Tomorrow

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Beth El Congregants and guests,
We hope to see you this Shabbat at 7 PM Friday and 9 AM Saturday.

This week’s parashah, Tetzaveh, deals mainly with the clothing and accouterments of the High Priest and the other priests.  It is also notable for a particular absence-this is the only parashah from the beginning of the Book of Exodus until the end of the Torah in which the name of Moses does not appear.  One suggestion is that this omission foreshadows Moses’ line in next week’s reading “…if (You will) not (forgive the People), erase me from the record which You have written!”
Shabbat Shalom.
Congregation Beth El

Shabbat Services Tonight & Tomorrow

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Dear Congregants,

We hope to see you at services this weekend. Please also bring  non-perishable food items for the food bank bin in our lobby and help in this awesome community wide mitzvah.

This week we read Parshat Mishpatim, the continuation of the Revelation at Sinai. This parshah covers a wide range of topics, from civil and criminal law to moral precepts to a mystical experience with God. We look forward to learning and praying with you tonight at 7 PM and tomorrow at 9 AM.

Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Shabbat B’Shallach

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image via http://www.templenashville.org/

Dear Congregants,
Please join us tonight at 7pm for Kaballat Shabbat services and tomorrow, starting at 9 am for Shabbat morning services.

This week is Shabbat Shirah, when we read Parshat Beshallah and the Song at the Sea.  Customarily, much singing is done at services for this Shabbat.

In addition,we read about how God began his miraculous feeding of the People of Israel with manna.  At this time, the J is conducting a food drive-a receptacle for donations is located in the lobby of Beth El.  Please contribute, fulfilling the mitzvah of walking in God’s ways-as God feeds the hungry, so too should we feed the hungry.  We hope to see you Friday night at 7 PM and Saturday morning at 9 AM.

Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Start the Secular New Year with Beth El

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Dear Congregants and Friends,

Start 2011 off at Congregation Beth El.  We will be having our regular Friday night and Saturday morning services this weekend, December 31st and Januart 1st.   Tonight’s services are at 7:00 pm and tomorrow morning’s services start at 9:00 am with the Torah reading around 9:50 am.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message – In this week’s parashah, Va’era, God makes four promises to the People of Israel-“I will free you”, “and deliver you”, “I will redeem you”, “and I will take you”.  These four promises are the basis for the four cups that we drink at the Passover Seder.  Even now, in winter, we look forward to spring and the festival of our liberation from Egypt.

We look forward to seeing you at services this Shabbat, and wish a Happy (secular) New Year to the entire Beth El family.

Shabbat Shalom,
Congregation Beth El