Chag sameach and shabbat services

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Friday Night Services, 5/22, at 7:00 pm

Saturday morning 5/23, at 9:00 am – Children’s Torah study and Shavuot story time at 10:30

We gratefully acknowledge Hal and Elaine Jacobs for sponsoring a delicious kiddush in honor of their family and our fellow Veterans.

Gregg Philipson will be giving a special Memorial Day talk in honor of all our Veterans.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message

This week we begin the reading of Sefer B’midbar, the Book of Numbers. While the latter part of Sh’mot, Exodus, and most of Vayikra, Leviticus, were occupied with rules and regulations, the narrative of the journey of B’nai Yisrael now resumes. One of the characters we see in our narrative is Nahshon Ben Amminadav, the chief of the Tribe of Judah. We know that Nahshon is well-connected, as he is the brother-in-law of Aharon, the High Priest. But the Midrash gives us a more compelling reason for his position of leadership. According to legend, when Moshe raised his staff to part the Sea of Reeds, at first nothing happened. Then Nahshon entered the water and began walking. When the water reached his chin, then the Sea parted. Nahshon’s faith and determination were the catalysts for the parting of the Sea of Reeds. And this faith and determination made him the natural leader of the tribe that was at the head of the march from Sinai to the Promised Land. May Nahshon’s example inspire acts of faith and determination in our own lives. Shabbat Shalom v’Hag Shavu’ot Sameah, a Joyous Holiday of Shavu’ot

Got kosher?

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Got kosher? Come tomorrow morning and find out! We continue this truly inspiring class about the ins and outs of kashrut at 10:30 am. LADIES, don’t forget the sisterhood evening in white at 6:30 pm! And just had to post the super fun photos of the kiddos dancing Israeli folk songs with Carol Giller Rubin while the grown ups hauled 16 Tons of gravel to beautify the playground! Yesher koach – the children are already enjoying it immensely!

  

Shabbat shalom and Annual meeting

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Friday Night Services, 5/08, at 7:00 pm
Saturday Morning Services, 5/09, at 9:00 am.
Children’s storytime Saturday Morning at 10:30.
Kidush sponsored by Hal and Elaine Jacobs
Following Shabbas Services and Kiddush Rabbi Gisser will hold his Advanced Text Class….
Rabbi Gisser’s Kashrut Class, Sunday, 5/10, at 10:30 am
Sisterhood Event, “An Evening in White, Sunday, 5/10, at 6:30 pm. Open to all women and teenage girls. Enjoy an evening of friendship and pampering at Beth El.

Annual meeting and kosher BBQ cookout Sunday, May 17 at 4:45 pm.
We will start off with our annual meeting followed by good food and conversation & a BBQ dinner.

As we lead up to this annual meeting, please consider getting more involved in Beth El. We have a number of committees and ways to get involved in Beth El. If you are interested or have any questions, please talk or send an email to Kevin.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week in Parshat Emor we read about the special rules that applied to Cohanim, the ancient priestly caste. A Cohen, in addition to the mitzvot that apply to all Israelites, was also restricted as to who he could marry, whose funeral he could attend, and had other restrictions as well. Of course, the Cohanim no longer offer sacrifices in the Temple-their role today is a sort of vestigial memory of their former function. We can learn from this parshah, though, for all the People of Israel are called upon to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy people”. We have rules that apply only to us-not because we are better or worse than other nations, but because we have a particular function. We are to act as God’s witnesses, and are therefore to keep ourselves in a state of priestly holiness, by acting in a scrupulously ethical manner. This is the lesson which we can carry forward, all of us, from this parshah. Shabbat Shalom.

Weekend services

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Friday Night Services, 24 April, at 7pm

Saturday Services, 25 April, at 9am with Kiddush immediately afterward.

Rabbi Gisser’s Kashrut Class will resume on May 10. Final class May 17.

Annual meeting and kosher BBQ Sunday, 17 May, 4:45pm.
Join us for our annual meeting and kosher BBQ cookout. We will start off with our annual meeting followed by good food, conversation and dinner.

As we lead up to this annual meeting, please consider getting more involved in Beth El. We have a number of committees that need help and we have an opening on the Board of Director’s. After several years of dedicated service, Diane Shapiro is stepping down as treasurer. To nominate a member to serve as treasurer, please send an email to Bob Miller, chair of the nominating committee. Nominations should be submitted no later than 15 days before the board meeting – 2 May, 2015.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
As I write this message, the Jewish world is celebrating Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day. 67 years ago, we realized our long-held dream of self determination and return to our homeland. While Israel faces challenges, both external-the threat of war and terrorism-and internal, as witnessed by the cowardly attack on a good friend of mine by the hired thugs of the Rabbi of the Kotel-Israel is strong. President Reuven Rivlin, a true statesman, said recently that while we have our challenges, we won’t let fear rule us. Let us celebrate our ability to hold our heads high as full members of the family of nations, and work together to make Israel the best country that it can be-a light unto the nations. Join us this Shabbat as we read the combined parshiot of Tazri’a-Metzor’a, and celebrate Israel. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe