Parasha B’reshit

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Congregation Beth El we will be having services both Friday night, 10/12, and services this Saturday morning, 10/13.  Friday night services start at 7:00 pm and Saturday morning services start at 9:00 am with the Torah reading around 10:00 am.
 
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message  This Shabbat we begin again the yearly reading of the Torah with Parshat B’reshit.  We will read of the Creation of the Universe, and especially of humanity.  Our Parshah also speaks of the creation of the Shabbat, the Queen of Days.  Perhaps the most important creation was that of rest-the idea that we were not created to labor unceasingly, but to rest and just *be*.  This is the gift of Torah to us, and from us to the entire world.
 

Shabbat Re’eh and Rosh Chodesh Elul

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image via http://davidonthelake.blogspot.com
image via http://davidonthelake.blogspot.com

Please join us this evening for Shabbat services at 7 PM.

Cantor’s message:

This week we read Parshat Re’eh, and celebrate Rosh Hodesh Elul, the New Month of Elul. The month of Elul is of course dedicated to preparing for the High Holidays-we blow the shofar every weekday of Elul to remind us to examine ourselves, and the Sepharadi tradition begins s’lihot, penitential prayers at the beginning of the month.  The parshah itself points us in this direction-“Re’eh Anochi noten lifneichem hayom b’rachah u’klalah“-“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”.  We need to choose, today and every day, whether we will bring good or evil upon ourselves.  May we all avail ourselves of this time of introspection to improve ourselves, and in so doing improve the world in which we live.  Shabbat Shalom.

Shabbat Ekev

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This week we read Parshat ‘Ekev, which includes the second paragraph of the Sh’maas well as the commandment to do Birkat HaMazon, the Grace After Meals.Join us Friday evening, August 10  at 7:00pm and Saturday morning, August 11 at 9:00 am for prayer and for reading and discussion of the parshah. Of course, this week our thoughts and prayers are with our Sikh brothers and sisters as they mourn their losses in the horrible crime which took place on Sunday. May the day soon come when there is no threat of violence in *any* house of worship of *any* faith, and indeed may violence and suffering cease everywhere. May this be God’s will.

Shabbat Shalom.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759

Shabbat & Adult Learning Announcements

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Dear Beth El Family and Friends,
Please note that we are having services as with every Friday night, at 7pm where we will welcome shabbat, parashat Va’et’hanan. 
This Sunday at 3 pm we continue our Intro to Judaism class for those who wish to refresh basics or are interested in choosing Judaism.
Cantor Ben- Moshe’s Message:
This week we read in Parshat Va’et’hanan two of the most important passages of the Torah-Moses’ recapitulation of the Ten Commandments, and the first paragraph of the Sh’ma. As we always read Va’et’hanan on the Shabbat after Tish’ah B’Av, it is interesting that so soon after mourning the day when “God turned against us” we once again reaffirm our loyalty to God. Just as we believe that God’s anger is temporary, so too our anger at God is (or should be) temporary. May all of us who mourn-individually over our own losses, or as a People-be comforted. Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin,TX. 78759

Shabbat Korach

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Dear congregatnts and Friends,

Please note that Friday night services this week will be at the special time of 6:30, followed by a congregational dinner.  The following morning we will have Saturday morning services at our regular time of 9 am for Parashat Korach, where we will be celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of David, Son of Kevin and Iris.  Kiddush luncheon to follow.

We wish David’s family and friends a heart mazal tov on this joyous occasion.

David’s favorite Korach video:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnpkLycLUiQ]

Cantor’s message:

This week’s parshah, Korah, is the source of an idiomatic expression in Modern Hebrew.  In English, we draw upon Greek mythology to describe someone of incredible wealth-“as rich as Croesus”.  The equivalent in Hebrew is “ashir k’Korah“-“as rich as Korah“, drawing on the Rabbinic midrash of Korah as the wealthiest of the Israelites who left Egypt.  We will discuss Korah and his wealth this Shabbat, as we also celebrate David K becoming a Bar Mitzvah.  Shabbat Shalom and Mazal Tov to us all.