Parashat shoftim

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Friday Night Shabbat Services
Tonight 9/9, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.
Shabbat morning services are TOMORROW Saturday September 10. Thank you to Bob Miller for sponsoring the kidush in memory of your beloved late mother and friend to us all, Marion Miller, may her memory be for a blessing.
Check out the High Holiday schedule at www.bethelaustin.org
We’ll have a Beth El work day September 25 12:30-3:00 to get the shul beautified for the High Holidays.
Sunday school September 11 at 10 AM.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:24 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week’s parshah, Shoftim (“Judges”) deals extensively, as one might expect, with judicial process. Our parshah ends with a curious law-when someone is found killed outside of the boundaries of any town or village, the elders of the closest town perform a ceremony of expiation. They perform a sacrifice and declare that they didn’t shed the victim’s blood. The commentators note that they do so as an acknowledgment that they failed to provide a safe environment in which a killing could have been prevented. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, of blessed memory, said, “Not all are guilty, but all are responsible.” As a society, we are all responsible for the safety and welfare of everyone in our society. As we continue our process of introspection before the High Holidays, let us remember our responsibility not only as individuals but as a community as well. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Thank you to our Shabbat Shefs who valiantly cooked in a rather hot kitchen a lovely kidush. Michelle, Mary, Genevieve and Shereen. You guys are wonderful. Everyone lovingly thought of our sweet and departed friend Marion Miller for whom the kidish is in honor. Marion z’l would always be one of the first to see how she could help with our events and we will forever have her in our hearts! Below is a photo of our beloved Marion z’l.
Sunday school is this Sunday September 11 at 10 AM. We look forward to seeing all the sweet children! We’ll have fun and get a whole lot of learning done.
The Jewish women of Austin and of Beth El had a meaningful and uplifting community celebration at Mega Challah Bake last night. Thank you to Chabad of Austin for making such a beautiful celebration.
Rabbi Peter Tarlow of the Center for Latino-Jewish relations weekly parashah
This week’s parashah is called “Shoftim.” You will find it in the Book of Deuteronomy16: 17-21:9. The parashah presents us with the second part of Moses’ great third soliloquy. This is the soliloquy that we began in last week’s parashah. In this, part two of this very long speech, Moses begins to define what it means to be a “holy people”. The text tells us that to be an “Ahm Kadosh/A Holy Nation” there must be a fair system of administrative justice. The text argues for a standardized and centralized judicial system, in which both the judges (shoftim) and the administrators of justice (shotrim/police or law enforcement) work in unison and treat each person equally before the law without regar to his/her social class, wealth, race or religion, but solely due to his or her action.
The Hebrew word for justice is not easy to translate. In fact “tzedek” has no exact English equivalent. Tzedek is the point of encounter between justice and righteousness. Tzedek is not justice for the sake of vengeance, nor is it simply punishment. Justice is not keeping the poor tied to a welfare state, but permitting people to move on with their lives, repairing mistakes and helping people move away from dependency. While the word justice in the Western world is often closely associated to the word “punishment,” and to the word social justice, neither word expresses tzedek. The concept of “tzedek” is tied to the word “tzedakah,” meaning actions that allow another to stand on his/her own as a useful member of society.”
Thus, the phrase “ zedek, tzedek tirdof/Justice, Justice, you shall pursue” is not merely a cornerstone of Jewish jurisprudence but of civil society. The rabbis understood that one must pursue tzedek so that people do not become enslaved to government handouts given in the name of justice but resulting in economic enslavement. The Halachah (Rabbinic law) insists that we pursue “tzedek” not for gain, but simply because the pursuit of justice/tzedek is the right thing to do. This does not mean that we do not help those who cannot help themselves, but it does mean that we help each person to help him or herself to the extent possible. What do you think? Have we become a society that uses tzedek not to set free but rather to entrap others in a web of gentle economic enslavement? Does our system of social justice set people free or keep them in bondage?
COMMUNITY NEWS:
Did you know that if you make a purchase at the Agudas Achim gift store, you can designate 10% of the sale to go towards your congregation, Beth El. This week they sent us a lovely check as many of our congregants have indeed been shopping for their Judaica there and designating Beth El as the recipient. What a great deal!
From our friends at CAA: Please join us.
The Roberta Long (a”h) Memorial Concert will be held on Sunday, September 11th at 6 p.m. in the CAA Sanctuary. The Concert will feature instrumental and vocal performances by the CAA Choir as well as Steven Long and soloists from the Gilbert and Sullivan society. In addition, Susan Kleinwill be performing “Viktor’s Theme,” a clarinet solo from the movie The Terminal. Also, Rabbi Neil Blumofe will perform the cantorial solo Avinu Malkeinu with instrumental accompaniment. Please come and enjoy an evening of spirited music in our beautiful Sanctuary to honor the memory of beloved teacher and friend, Roberta Long (a”h). Refreshments and conversation to follow the concert

Parashat Ekev

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Friday Night Shabbat Services
Tonight 8/26, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.
Shabbat morning services are this Saturday August 27. Services start at 9 AM, with the Torah service at approximately 9:45. Immediately following services we will have a lovely kidush lunch sponsored by Bob Miller in honor of Fred Miller’s 90th birthday. Please join us.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:41 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week’s parshah, ‘Ekev, contains two important parts of our liturgy-the second paragraph of the Shema’, and the commandment to say Birkat Hamazon, the blessing after food. I have remarked before how it is distinctive in the Jewish Tradition to pray both before and after eating, as if to say both “please” and “thank you” for our sustenance. Our parshah takes great pains to remind us that we do not exist only by our own efforts, but rather much has been given to us, for which we should be grateful. Let us always cultivate an “attitude of gratitude” in our daily lives-and not only in our prayers, but in all of our actions. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Sunday School is THIS SUNDAY August 28. We welcome Morah Lital Canaani to our terrific team of teachers. The older students with Morah Bev and Cantor Ben-Moshe will have a focus on Jewish ethics as well as bar and bat Mitzvah preparation, while the youngest students will continue their Sunday Fundays and Hebrew with Morah Anat.
The sisterhood has a book club event THIS COMING Thursday September 1 at 7PM at the home of Gail Ellenbogen in Steiner Ranch. This event is open to all. Enjoy some summer reading and we will discuss together with a glass of wine. We will even get an inside scoop from Joyce Lit, member of the Jewish Book council who worked with the author of this great book. The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi.
Please RSVP jacel@yahoo.com
Happy birthday to Genevieve and Mary Butler, Tamara Miller and Rachael Golden
Community News:
You’re invited to the Roberta Long (a”h) Memorial Concert which will be held on Sunday, September 11th at 6 p.m. in the CAA Sanctuary. The Concert will feature instrumental and vocal performances by the CAA Choir as well as Steven Long and soloists from the Gilbert and Sullivan society. In addition, Susan Klein will be performing “Viktor’s Theme,” a clarinet solo from the movie The Terminal. Also, Rabbi Neil Blumofe will perform the cantorial solo Avinu Malkeinu with instrumental accompaniment. Please come and enjoy an evening of spirited music in our beautiful Sanctuary to honor the memory of beloved teacher and friend, Roberta Long (a”h). Refreshments and conversation to follow the concert.
MEGA CHALLAH BAKE!
We hope you all can attend a wonderful event that will be taking place in Austin soon!
Mega Challah Bake
Thursday, September 8, 2016 @ 7pm
JCC Austin Community Hall, 7300 Hart Lane 78731
To register: www.megachallahaustin.com
If you have any questions or if you are interested in volunteering your time please contact Michelle Warech-Philipson at mwphilipson@austin.rr.com
This is going to be the ultimate challah experience, drawing hundreds of women from across the spectrum and we hope that we can share this experience together with you!

Parashat Va’et’hanan and back to school ice cream party

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Friday Night Shabbat Services
Tonight 7/19, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.
ICE CREAM PARTY! Tonight after services, we have a special back to school bash for all the kiddos and adults who love ice cream. We extend our gratitude to Gregg and Michelle Philipson for sponsoring such a fun event.
Our next Shabbat morning services are Saturday August 27 and will be in honor of Fred Miller’s 90th birthday.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:49 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
With Parshat Va’et’hanan, we move past the mourning for the Temple and Jerusalem, and into the countdown to Rosh Hashanah. There are seven Shabbatot between Tish’ah B’Av and Rosh Hashanah, and on each we read one of the Haftarot of Consolation-prophecies of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the redemption of the People of Israel. It is important to remember that for all of their solemnity, the High Holidays are a time of hope. We believe that redemption is always possible, and indeed what God desires. God is merciful and forgiving, of us as individuals as well as of our People as a whole. So let us celebrate this Shabbat and the others to come in a spirit of hope and of joy. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Happy birthday to Tamara Miller, Rachael Golden, Mary Butler and Alice Friedman!
The sisterhood has a book club event on Thursday September 1 at 7PM at the home of Gail Ellenbogen in Steiner Ranch. This event is open to all. Enjoy some summer reading and we will discuss together with a glass of wine. We will even get an inside scoop from Joyce Lit, member of the Jewish Book council who worked with the author of this great book. The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi.
Please RSVP jacel@yahoo.com
Sunday School is fast approaching. August 28 will be our first class of the fall. We welcome Morah Lital Canaani to our terrific team of teachers. The older students with Morah Bev and Cantor Ben-Moshe will have a focus on Jewish ethics as well as bar and bat Mitzvah preparation, while the youngest students will continue their Sunday Fundays and Hebrew with Morah Anat!
Grandpa Abe : Patience and Wisdom
As we go down the road of life, we gain patience and wisdom. This is not obtained at an early age. It only comes with a lot of trial and error. As I look through our congregation, I see a lot of people who demonstrate these qualities. I don’t wish to list them as I’m afraid I might leave someone out. When I was very young, when i say young I was 29 years old, I wished to be on the cemetery committee as I had lost a child and didn’t feel that I was treated fairly by the committee. I had a long talk with the chairperson of the committee and we discussed the problem. It was explained to me that I was entirely too young to be on such a committee. It was somewhat explained to me their reasoning. But now that I’m a more mature person (emphasize on mature), better known as old), I understand. I understand that you’re dealing with families with feelings. You’re dealing with families who you know and can collect the money for the land at a later date, not in advance. I learned that a 29 year old does not have the wisdom, nor the patience, as yet to assist grieving families. These are very special traits that take a long time to achieve. It was this person, who was the head of the committee, who put the seed in my head to start understanding what life is all about. In the picture below, you will see Rascal has learned this with his friend Stinky.
Dor ‘l Dor,
Grandpa Abe
Jewish War Veterans Post 757 presents: “Perspectives on Israel’s Security: Local, Regional and Global Threats,” a Brunch and Panel Discussion. Sunday, August 21st, 2016, at 11 AM at the Shalom Austin JCAA. Panelists include Ami Pedahzur, UT Professor and expert on Israeli special forces; Davida Charney, UT Professor and executive committee member of J Street Austin; and Gregg Philipson, Executive in the technology, communications and security industries and past commissioner of the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission. Cost $10 per person in advance or at the door; RSVP 512-730-1223 or jwvaustin@gmail.com
Rabbi Peter Tarlow’s Weekly Parasha. Director of the Center for Jewish-Hispanic Relations.
Last week we dedicated a part of our Torah analysis to the fast day of Tishah b’Av. This week we turn to Deuteronomy’s second parashah, called Va’Etchanan and found in Deuteronomy 3:23-7:12. This week’s parashah is one of the book’s most powerful portions, and contains both a repetition of the “Aseret Ha’Dibrot” (Ten Utterances or as they are mistranslated into English: the “Ten Commandments”) and the watchword of Judaism, the Sh’mah Yisrael. While there is enough material in this one section to occupy a graduate class for a year’s worth of study, there are certain verses that serve to unify the text.
In Deuteronomy’s second parashah we see a different type of Moses. Now instead of the strong almost mystical an atemporal leader we see the temporal human Moses, a man pleading with G’d to allow him to pass over the Jordan river and enter into the Land of Israel. Here is a man who does not want to die.
What makes this parashah so special is that Moses is realistic enough to admit that it is not easy to die, that although we must all exit the stage of history few of us choose to do so. In this week’s parashah, we catch a glimpse not only into Moses the man, but we are reminded of the basic principles upon which Israel is to be found. Thus, in we find the Aseret Ha’Dibrot, the Ten Commandments in chapter 5:6-5:18 as the basis for Jewish Jurisprudence.
In Chapter 5:26 we read that G’d, speaking of Israel, states: “May they always be of such mind as to revere Me and to follow all My commandments…” It is of note that G’d must “hope” that Israel obeys. The verse implies that Israel is free to disobey. In other words, by giving the people of Israel the right to disobey, the text underscores the idea of free will. G’d can guide us, urge us, even threaten us, but G’d cannot force us to listen or to obey the law. Does this mean that the text implies that we have the freedom to choose wisely or poorly?
From the Bible’s very beginning, what distinguishes us from the other forms of life is that we have the right to listen, to understand, and to choose our own path in life. The Hebrew Bible clearly argues that each of us, as both individuals and as a collective whole, has the right to choose our life’s paths. Having made that decision the text then reminds us that we must accept the consequences of those decisions.
Perhaps that is the reason that in Deuteronomy 4:1 Moses states: Vatah Yisrael shama el ha’chukim v’el ha’mishpatim asher anochi mlamed etchem la’asot l’maan techu/Now Israel, pay attention to the statues and ordinances that I am teaching you so that you may live…” How well are we paying attention, both on an individual and on a collective basis, to what Moses has taught us? What do you think?

Tisha Be Av services

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Tisha B’Av and weekend of services! Tonight 8/12, at 7:00 PM. We will have a beautiful kabbalat shabbat service. TOMORROW: Shabbat morning services Saturday August 13 at 9 AM, with the Torah service at 9:45 AM. Thank you to our sponsors this week, Carmen and Efrain Rodriguez who are celebrating their 25th wedding Anniversary. We will enjoy a delicious kidush immediately following services.
Tisha B’ Av is this Saturday night. We will have a meaningful and moving service at 9 PM and hope you can join us.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:56 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message:
This week we read Parshat D’varim, beginning the Book of the same name, known in English as Deuteronomy. Shabbat D’varim is also known as Shabbat Hazon, after the first word of the haftarah, the third Haftarah of Rebuke. For Shabbat D’varim is always the Shabbat before the fast of Tish’ah B’Av, and in fact this year falls on the Ninth of Av. Shabbat Hazon is the only time when we let sadness overtake the joy of Shabbat-we sing L’cha Dodi to the tune of the dirge “Eli Tzion”, and we chant most of the Haftarah with the cantillation for the Book of Lamentations. The fast itself is postponed to Sunday, as fasting (except for Yom Kippur) is forbidden on Shabbat. May it be God’s will that the grief of Tish’ah B’Av soon be replaced by the joy of redemption, and that we experience no more sadness on Shabbat D’varim or on any other Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Special shout out THANK YOU to Kimberly Bernstein who led us in an invigorating Yoga class last Sunday afternoon. More below on how to find out more about essential oils from Kimberly.
Sunday School is fast approaching. August 28 will be our first class of the fall. We welcome Morah Lital Canaani to our terrific team of teachers. Lital taught Hebrew at both Duke and Columbia and has a great Hebrew curriculum for the students. The older students with Morah Bev and Cantor Ben-Moshe will have a focus on Jewish ethics as well as bar and bat Mitzvah preparation, while the youngest students will continue their Sunday Fundays and Hebrew with Morah Anat!
Let your friends with children aged KG through bar and bat mitzvah age know about this special, quality school, with its amazing teachers and sweet children. info@bethelaustin.org
This week’s “Shabbat Shef’s” were Mary, Genevieve, Shereen, Michelle, Yesenia, Iris and Genesis. It will be so yummy!
The sisterhood has a book club event on Thursday September 1 at 7PM at the home of Gail Ellenbogen in Steiner Ranch. This event is open to all. Enjoy some summer reading and we will discuss together with a glass of wine. We will even get an inside scoop from Joyce Lit, member of the Jewish Book council who worked with the author of this great book. The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi.
Please enjoy photos of Fred Miller’s 90th! Mazal tov from all your friends at Beth El Fred! Happy birthday wishes to Yuval Adi, Refael Eizraelov and Nathan Aguilar. As always, send us your birthday, and we would love to send you a happy birthday wish!
You can contact Kimberly Bernstein at 512-663-1278 cell essentialbreath@gmail.com You can learn more here: http://essentialbreath.myoilsite.com/ If you want to place an order as a retail customer, or sign up for a wholesale membership (to receive a 24% discount on oils and other bonuses)- please use my affiliate link: http://bit.ly/essentialbreathkb.

Wonderful things happen at Beth El – Barashat Balak

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Wonderful things happen at Beth El. Read on and see what I mean. Friday Night Shabbat Services

Tonight 7/22, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.

Tomorrow morning at 9 AM, come join us for Shabbat morning services. Torah service at 9:45. This week the service is in memory of Bam Rubenstein’s beloved late father Ralphie z’l. There will be a lovely kidush lunch after as well as a children’s story time.

Candle lighting in Austin is at 8:12 PM

Pictured below is :
Hazzan Ben-Moshe and Shereen Canady at their wedding last week. Again, we all wish you many blessings and nachas and a terrific life together.
Sisterhood is reading The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem to be discussed with a glass of wines in September.

Sunday School is fast approaching. Let your friends with children aged KG through bar and bat mitzvah age know about this special, quality school, with its amazing teachers and sweet children. info@bethelaustin.org

Happy birthday to Genesis! And also to Edith Troen. Mazal tov and ad 120.

Huge kidish kudos to the kidush crew who put together a culinary delight! Michelle, Yesenia, Genesis, Sara and Natalie and Iris. Next kidish crew Thursday August 12 at 11 am at Beth El.

We also gratefully thank Hannah de la Conception and her family for another bag full of amazing books and toys for the children of our shul. Some absolute treasures and brand new books all the way from Israel. We are truly fortunate.

And more appreciation to our lay led davening crew last Friday night who really rose to the occasion. Vania and Sara led us in beautiful songs. Kevin, Yosef and Gregg – led us in joyful prayer and powerful drash.

CANTOR BEN-MOSHE’S WEEKLY MESSAGE: This week we read in Parshat Balak how the title character, the king of Mo’av, hired a prophet named Balak to curse the People of Israel, but God turned the curses into blessings. In particular, we note the words “How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places O Israel.” These are the words that we say when entering a synagogue-though we should perhaps say them when entering our houses as well. The Midrash states that “tents” refers to individual homes, while “dwelling places” refers to sanctuaries. Our homes are also holy, and what we do in them is just as important spiritually as our synagogue life, if not more so. May our homes, like our synagogue, be places where we draw closer to God and to each other. Shabbat Shalom.

AND FINALLY – WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN AT BETH EL BY GRANDPA ABE (WHOSE EXACT IDENTITY IS STILL A MYSTERY)

Well, if you haven’t already noticed the air and the ambiance around our synagogue has really taken on an exciting and beautiful feeling to it. First of all, our beloved Hazzan has taken a new bride. We are so happy to welcome her into our family. I am so sure that she will have a lot to add to our little Jewish community. We have several super families who have converted to Judaism. They add so much to our congregation. And let’s not forget the new members we have been getting, along with more and more visitors. I guess the best kept secret in Austin has been let out. When the congregation communicates with each other, there is such a feeling of love and concern for each other. Everything is always upbeat and positive. I feel in a round-about way that this is due to our lovely and caring congregants. This is a place that people are wanting to attend now. They enjoy the worship service and the gatherings afterwards. We’re having a lot of growing pains which is just wonderful, such as needing new air conditioning and lovely new landscaping in the front. This is one special place on earth. If you feel that something could benefit and make our little synagogue a little better, let Iris or Kevin or any of the wonderful board members know. They are always open to suggestions. Well, it’s getting sundown now. Another Sabbath begins. Shabbat Shalom.