Parashat Tazria – Passover Prep class

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Friday Night Shabbat Services Tonight 4/8, at 7:00 PM.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:36 PM

Shabbat morning services are this Saturday April 9 at 9 AM, with the Torah service at 9:45 AM. ALL THREE TORAHS ARE BEING USED! Children’s story time at 10:30, delicious kidush following services. Thank you to our kind, anonymous kidish sponsor this week.

Passover Preparation CLASS THIS SUNDAY, April 10 at 10 AM. Details below.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message
This Shabbat we do something unusual, in that we take three scrolls out of the Ark for the reading of the Torah. We read our weekly parshah, Tazri’a, which deals with laws of purity that were observed in ancient times, and we also read about the sacrifices done on the New Moon, since it falls on this Shabbat. In addition, we read Parshat Hahodesh, the reading from Exodus which commands the People of Israel to establish a calendar with the month of Aviv (now called Nisan) as its beginning. We are now two weeks from the Festival of Passover, and the preparations begin in earnest. Parshat Hahodesh describes he preparations for the first Passover, as if to remind us that “freedom isn’t free”-it is a goal to be worked towards, rather than a thing that just happens. This is as true in our days as it was more than three millennia ago. May we always work diligently for freedom and liberty, for ourselves and for all of humanity. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Saturday April 23 at 7:00 PM is our wonderful 2nd night Seder at Beth El. Remember, you can help in the following ways: volunteer to cook with the kidish crew, bring in kosher for Passover items like kosher for Passover deserts from the kosher HEB and kosher for Passover wine or grape juice and of course making a donation.

We have a first for Beth El at the end of Passover! We are going to have a traditional Moroccan Meimuna. What is a meimuna you ask – more details to follow, but it will be a great new and meaningful and extremely delicious event, one that is enjoyed by Jews in Israel and soon, by us here. Sunday evening, May 1.

BERS, Sunday school class meets this Sunday April 10 at 10AM.

Please see the lovely article written by Bev Golden in this month’s Jewish Outlook about our sisterhood and the good deeds and fun moments they share:
http://etypeservices.com/…/jewishoutlook1//Magazine119792/F…

HOLD THE DATE FOR VANIA’S BAT MITZVAH!
May 13 and 14, 2016 is Vania Aguilar’s bat mitzvah!
The whole congregation is invited to share this special weekend with Vania.

Passover Preparation Class
Everything you wanted to know about Passover but were too afraid to ask. Passover is all about asking questions and learning. Come learn the ins and outs of Passover on Sunday April 10, at 10 AM. All your questions will be answered.

Kidish crew thank yous from the heart to Mary, Michelle, Sarah, Jenny and Iris. And last, but not least, happy birthday to Sofia and Iris who both had birthdays this week

Parashat Shemini

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Friday Night Shabbat Services Tonight 4/1, at 7:00 PM. Stay and shmooze after.

Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:32 PM

Shabbat morning services are one week away Saturday April 9

Save the date and get your RSVP’s in! Saturday April 23 at 7:00 PM is our famous 2nd night Seder at Beth El. This special event is already filling up fast. Many people are asking how to help. Please volunteer to cook with the kidish crew, bring in kosher for Passover items like matzah, kosher for Passover deserts from the kosher HEB and kosher for Passover wine or grape juice.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message
This week we read from Parshat Sh’mini and the special reading for Shabbat Parah. The parshah details some of the laws of kashrut, purity of consumption, while the maftir details the laws of the red heifer, a purification ritual that could be necessary in order to partake of the Passover sacrifice. Indeed, The laws of Passover are largely about what we may put into our mouths-but as the Hassidic Masters taught, what comes out of our mouths is even more important. Let us always remember that purity of speech is paramount, and let our words be for healing and peace in the world, at this and every season. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Sunday school kiddos racing frogs before making their Passover plague bags. BERS, Sunday school class meets this Sunday April 3 and will delve further into Passover exploration and learning.

HOLD THE DATE FOR VANIA’S BAT MITZVAH! May 13 and 14, 2016 is Vania Aguilar’s bat mitzvah!

Passover Preparation Class:
Everything you wanted to know about Passover but were too afraid to ask. Passover is all about asking questions and learning. Come learn the ins and outs of Passover on Sunday April 10, at 10AM. All your questions will be answered.

Making Creme Brulle with the sisterhood!

Parashat Tzav

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Friday Night Shabbat Services Tonight 3/25, at 7:00 PM.

Shabbat morning services are This Saturday March 26 at 9 AM.

We would like to thank our dear friend and congregant Arthur Gurney for sponsoring the kidush in memory of his beloved late father, Samuel Gurney, may his memory be a blessing. Samuel z’l, as well as sharing a passion for basketball with Arthur, was very involved with his shul, Arthur’s swimming, was an Eagle scout, a business owner and an avid reader. Come and enjoy a wonderful meat kidush and share good memories with Arthur.

Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:28 PM

PURIM- was a HUGE hit! Los Klezmeros were amazing, the costumes delightful, hamentaschen all got gobbled up, the megillah reading inspiring and hilarious. A special thank you to Bev Golden and family for sponsoring the event. See our Facebook group and below for photos.

Save the date and get your RSVP’s in! Saturday April 23 at 6:30 PM is our famous 2nd night Seder at Beth El. This event is just beautiful and we fill up fast.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
As we leave Purim behind, we begin the countdown to Passover with Parshat Tzav. Our parshah among other things deals with the rules of the zevah, a sacrifice which was eaten by the person or persons offering it. The meat from a zevah had to be eaten on the same day that it was offered, or in some cases by the next day. The Sages say that this is to encourage sharing, since one could scarcely eat an entire sacrificed animal by oneself. This is certainly the case of the zevah Pesah, the Paschal Offering, which was to be shared among families in order to avoid waste, since it had to be eaten on the night of Passover.Jewish holidays are meant to be celebrated in community, sharing what we have with others. We are enjoined not to keep our blessings to ourselves, but to spread them out. As we approach our Festival of Liberation, let us remember to celebrate that liberation, which was the liberation of the entire People of Israel, and may it someday mark the liberation of all humanity. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Sisterhood event: THIS SUNDAY March 27! 12: 00 noon. Passover baking with THE CHEMIST IN THE KITCHEN. We will have a hands on baking class with Tamar Wiener, blogger at “Chemist in the Kitchen”,
http://chemistinthekitchen.com/
who will be sharing her culinary skills with the sisterhood and Beth El Sunday school. Tamar is a biochemist by day and food enthusiast by night. Event is open to all! Learn how to make Passover creme brulee!

BERS, Sunday school class also March 27 and are welcome to join the cooking class with a parent.

HOLD THE DATE FOR VANIA’S BAT MITZVAH!
May 13 and 14, 2016 is Vania Aguilar’s bat mitzvah!

Cooking kudos to Mary, Rachel and Genny as well as Mr Gregg for bringing cookies galore. And talking of Gregg and Michelle, please check out the wonderful article and exhibit at the Georgetown library:
https://library.georgetown.org/gregg-philipson/

Rabbi Peter Tarlow, Rabbi emeritus at Texas A&M and the Center for Jewish hispanic relations:
This week we study the first two sections of the Torah’s third book, the book of Leviticus. Leviticus begins with the words: “VaYikra el Mosheh vYiddaber elav…/He called out to Moses and said to him…” What follows is a less than inspiring detailed description of the sacrificial codes. These were the “sacrifices”, or in modern parlance, “the fines” that one was to pay for breaking a law. This week’s section expands on the ideas of last week’s parashah. Parashaht Tzav brings together a double theme, it speaks of our offerings to G’d and tells us that uncleanness (ethical mistakes) of deeds leads to impurity of thought. In other word, this week’s parashah gives us the proposition that our negative actions often produce other negative actions, which in turn, lead to the tendency to justify the negative rather than admit a wrong and to correct it.This text also challenges us to judge how we see our place in the world. It forces us to ask if human beings have the tendency to find pretenses to justify their unjustifiable actions. It reminds us that it is easy for the “enslaver” to justify enslavement, or for the taskmaster to show how the whip is not an instrument of torture but of discipline. It reminds us that anti-Semites and racists are always ready to offer or to find a pretext for his or her prejudice(s).This section’s message is that we all too often find ways to justify to ourselves and to others what we do. It reminds us that when we are convinced that someone or something is correct, we justify that person’s actions rather than examine the facts of the case. When we do the unholy or the unclean, we tend to seek ways to convince ourselves that we, are simply not wrong. It is all too easy to say, this is how the world is, or “everyone does it” so I am justified in my actions. The tragedy of Nazi Germany is that all too few people were ready to stand up to hate and evil. Parashat Tzav serves as a warning against this type of sophistry. It argues that actions ought to be born from ethical values rather than finding ethics to justify our actions. It is the parashah that teaches us that everything in life has a price, including our ability to create free and moral societies. What is the price that you are willing to pay?

Sefer Vayikra

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Friday Night Shabbat Services Tonight 3/18, at 7:00 PM.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:23 PM

Our next Shabbat morning services are March 26 at 9AM.

PURIM- THIS Wednesday March 23 at 7:30 PM – Klezmer Music with Los Klezmeros, costumes, hamentaschen, fun and much more! Less than a week away- we are gonna rock the house. Special treats in store. Entertaining Megilla reading, music, delicious hamentaschen, some L’ Chaims and a few surprises!

Save the date and get your RSVP’s in! Saturday April 23 at 6:30 PM is our famous 2nd night Seder at Beth El. This event is just beautiful and we fill up fast.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week we begin the reading of Sefer Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus. The name “Leviticus” comes from the fact that much of the book deals with the laws of sacrifices and other duties of the Cohanim, who were of the Tribe of Levi. Those who look at Vayikra as merely an instruction manual for sacrifices overlook the other main job of the Cohanim-in ancient times, the Cohanim were the main teachers of the People of Israel. Therefore, Sefer Vayikra contains the Holiness Code (“You shall be holy, for I Hashem am Holy”). Vayikra gives us rules of ethical conduct as well as methods of sacrificing animals. While the order of sacrifices is no longer a part of our lives, we are all called upon to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Next sisterhood event: March 27! 12: 00 noon. Passover baking with THE CHEMIST IN THE KITCHEN. We will have a hands on baking class with Tamar Wiener, blogger at “Chemist in the Kitchen”,
http://chemistinthekitchen.com/ who will be sharing her culinary skills with the sisterhood and Beth El Sunday school. Tamar is a biochemist by day and food enthusiast by night. Event is open to all!

BERS, Sunday school class is off for Spring Break. We will see you all March 27. Don’t miss the Purim party though.

Our very own Alex Freeman performed this week at SXSW with his band Charlie Belle. Yesher Koach Alex!

What My Dog Has Taught Me
There have been many articles and stories about “what I’ve learned from my dog”. In my house, my dog is on the same plane as anyone else. She sleeps in the bed with me, and I might add, where she wants on the bed. One of the most important things I have learned from her is patience. She is always so patient. No matter what she wants she has patience in waiting for it to happen. If it’s going outside for a walk or to sniff the flowers, she can wait. And forgiveness? My gosh, how many times have I stepped on her and said I’m sorry and she just looked at me like that’s ok. She never remembers what had taken place. The other day I was watching the Westminster Dog Show on television. She sat next to me watching the television as attentive as I was. Every now and then I would turn to her and ask her, “do you see someone there you would like to meet?” and, of course, her ears would perk up. Let’s not forget the wonderful feeling I get when I return home and she meets me at the driveway. I open the door, she jumps in, and gives me a kiss and snuggles right next to me for her ride the rest of the way. You might be asking what has this taught me? This has taught me what unconditional love is. In a special way, she and I speak the same language. It doesn’t come from our mouth. It comes from our heart and our eyes. This can be related to my time in synagogue. The feeling I get from worshiping in our small sanctuary is unexplainable. I might also add that the words of wisdom we learn from the Hazzan reflects in my life each and every day. As my dog or better know as my “little girl” teaches me to be kind and understanding, so does my spiritual leader. I am so lucky to have a fine dog to love on and to love me back. This can be related to my Hazzan also. He teaches me to be loving and to love people and things. In philosophical terms, this is known as growing. On behalf of myself and my little girl, we thank you for reading this article. Dor L’Dor,
Grandpa Abe

 

Pictured below our own Alex playing a concert at SXSW!

Parashat P’kudei

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Friday Night Shabbat Services Tonight 3/11, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.

Shabbat morning services tomorrow, March 12 at 9AM, with the Torah services at around 9:45, and a children’s story time and kidish lunch.

Candle lighting in Austin is at 6:19 PM

SAVE THE DATE FOR PURIM- March 23 at 7:30 PM – Klezmer Music with Los Klezmeros and much more!

Huge thank yous to all who attended Shabbat Across America! We filled the house, had a great shabbat dinner cooked and sponsored by the Aguilars, Javis Howeth, the Rodriguez, the Butlers, the Koellers, the Stavchanskys and many others who came and brought kosher items for the dinner. We were part of 633 shuls across America that proudly participated!

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week we conclude the reading of the Book of Exodus with Parshat P’kudei. For weeks we have been reading about the component parts of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Now we read about the assembly of these components. There is a refrain that runs throughout-as each section is assembled, the Torah says “and the Mishkan became one”. The important lesson is not from the different materials-wood, cloth, metals, precious stones-but how all of these came together to form one whole. The Mishkan was greater than the sum of its parts. Similarly, when the People of Israel come together, no matter how different we may be one from another, we are greater as a kahal, a community. May we always be able to look past our differences to see unity. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Next sisterhood event: March 27! 12: 00 noon. Passover baking with THE CHEMIST IN THE KITCHEN. We will have a hands on baking class with Tamar Wiener, blogger at “Chemist in the Kitchen”,
http://chemistinthekitchen.com/
who will be sharing her culinary skills with the sisterhood and Beth El Sunday school. Tamar is a biochemist by day and food enthusiast by night. Event is open to all!

BERS, Sunday school class is off for Spring Break. We will see you all March 27. Don’t miss the Purim party though.

Are you ready for Purim at Beth El – we are gonna rock the house. Special treats in store for Wednesday March 23, 7:30 PM. Entertaining Megilla reading, music, delicious hamentaschen, some L’ Chaims and a few surprises – such as….. KLEZMER MUSIC with LOS KLEZMEROS!

Happy birthday to our dear congregants
Morris Shapiro and Barbara Cramer. Until 120 in good health to you both! Let us know if you have an upcoming birthday.

A refua shlema to Fred Miller who is in hospital at Seton Main. Please have a speedy recovery Fred.

Rabbi Peter Tarlow’s Weekly Parasha – The Center for Jewish-Latino relations
This week we bring the Book of Exodus to its conclusion. This section, the final weekly section of the Book of Exodus, is simply not easy to read. There is no doubt that many readers would prefer to skip it. Beginning at Exodus: 35:21 until the book’s end, the reader goes through a great amount of detail regarding the sanctuary, the clothing to be used in it, the materials for the priestly breastplates, and the holy table. The text ends this litany of detail with a cloud hovering over the “ohel-moed/ the meeting tent,”. The whole scenario seems to be more than a bit confusing. Furthermore, the Hebrew reader cannot help but note the linguistic similarities between this section and the beginning of the book of Genesis. Just as in Genesis, we now read about a self-generating light. The fire (energy and matter mixed as one) in Exodus is no different from the earth’s ultimate power generator, the sun. And just as in Genesis, power can be both proactive (the sun) and reflective or reactive,( the moon) or in Exodus’ case the cloud. Again the Hebrew reader will see the similarity between the words anan (ayin-nun-nun: cloud) and the verb anah (ayin-nun-hey meaning to force an answer, to torture). Is the cloud symbolic of the fact that the people still do not understand freedom, that they seek the easy rather than the correct? Just as in Genesis we learn that energy can go to waste or energy can be harnessed to create. Energy can be destructive or it can be liberating. Is the text teaching us that the choice is ours as to whether our own lives are dynamic or passive?Exodus is more than a book of historical hope. It is a book of “hope in action.” It opens with the people being in a state of slavery and degradation, and it ends with a call for doing. At Exodus’ conclusion Israel is no longer a slave people, but the question remains, is it yet a free people? Has it accepted the responsibilities of freedom or simply escaped slavery?The tabernacle was the very symbol that Israel would have no place for pessimism or despair. The lesson of Exodus is that freedom requires more than mere hope it also requires actions, hard work, and commitment. Have we learned the lessons of Exodus or are we still between Egypt’s slavery and the freedom of the Promised land?

Community News: The Mysteries of the 613 Commandments.
Beth El is proud to be a host and sponsor of this fascinating educational program. Wednesdays 12-1:30 PM $18/class or $50 for the entire three part series.
By tradition, there are 613 commandments, or mitzvot, in the Hebrew Bible. For Jews, these mitzvot – taken together – inform the life by which God calls us to live. Jews have all sorts of differing ideas about which of these mitzvot should actually be followed and how. But rarely do we give them a fresh look to study and discuss how they might give guidance to how we live in our own time. This session will attempt to begin that discussion in our community by exploring a way of examining the mitzvot as classified by Maimonides. Taught by Sandy Kress. This is a lunch and learn, please bring only dairy, parve or veggie.
Series 2: “Our Relationship with Others”: March 23, 30, April 6 at Congregation Beth El, 8902 Mesa Dr.
Series 3: “The Requirements of Justice” : April 20, 27, May 4 at Congregation Agudas Achim, 7300 Hart Lane To register please go to:www.shalomaustin.org/jll