Parashat Ki Tavo

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Honey cake bakers
Friday Night Shabbat Services
Tonight 9/23, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.
Shabbat morning services are this Saturday September 24 at 9AM. It is generously sponsored by Arthur Gurney in loving memory of his late mother Lorraine of blessed memory. It will be a delicious meat luncheon.
Havdallah and Slichot services are this Saturday evening at 8 PM. Children please bring your PJs.
Sunday School at 10 AM Sunday September 25, followed immediately by the Beth El work day. Please help us make the shul extra beautiful for the High Holidays.
Check out the High Holiday schedule at www.bethelaustin.org
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:06 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week, our parshah, Ki Tavo, deals mainly with what the People of Israel are to do when they enter the Land of Israel. Moses’ instructions to the People include the laws of bringing First Fruits to the Sanctuary and the laws of the triennial Poor Tithe. The parshah also deals with two ceremonies which are to take place immediately upon crossing the Jordan. In one, the People are to build a stone monument, plaster it, and then write the text of the Torah upon it. In the other, they are to go to the valley between Mt. G’rizim and Mt. ‘Eival, outside the city of Sh’chem. There, they are to recite a litany of curses against those who commit crimes which would upset the order of society. The Levites were to recite the curses, and all the People were to answer “amen”, signifying agreement and acceptance. The first things that our ancestors were commanded in the Land of Israel was to bind themselves to law, to the Covenant. Moses would no longer be there to lead the People-it would become the responsibility of the People to govern themselves. As we enter the High Holiday season in earnest-we begin saying S’lihot, penitential prayers on Saturday night-let us pledge to govern ourselves, as individuals and as a community, in a way that reflects our Covenant with God. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Slichot and some truly meaningful soul searching! Do not miss this wonderful once a year pre-high holiday evening service.
Challah fundraiser. The Sunday school kiddos and volunteers will once more make a culinary delight. We will bake special round holiday challot and you can order your holiday challah for pick up. Either plain, chocolate chip or raisin. Suggested donation of $5 a challah with all proceeds going to help the Sunday school. PLEASE EMAIL US AT info@bethelaustin.org to place your order.
PLEASE HELP SPONSOR A HIGH HOLIDAY KIDUSH MEAL. We will gratefully accept donations of paper goods, kosher challah juice and wine, kosher deserts and of course, monetary donations.
A fabulous day was had by all of the kids, teachers and volunteers at the Beth El Religious School on Sunday.
We welcomed four new friends: Stella, Max, Izzy and Mia. We are so happy they have joined our BERS!
What a busy morning we had! A big thank you to Juliette Meinstein, Iris Daniel, Tamara Miller, Judith Golden, and Iris Koeller for helping make our honey cake baking extra sweet. We could not have done it without you!
We made delicious honey cakes to deliver to some of our friends and to Jewish residents at several senior homes.
The children also made adorable, apple print Rosh Hashanah cards to go along with the sweet treats. What a beautiful and tasty mitzvah!
Kitah alef: the children enjoyed Morah Anat’s reading of “Zen Ties,” a book about a panda who baked goodies for older people in her community. This was a great introduction to the happenings of the day.
Kitah bet: Morah Lital taught her class a beautiful Israeli song called “Be Rosh Hashanah.” They continued working in their new Hebrew books and completed a challenging Hebrew word search.
Kitah gimel: Morah Bev continued to work with her class on reading and writing in Hebrew and the senior class followed the honey cake recipe with little assistance and made beautiful cards.
There were some V.I.P.s meeting in the sanctuary on Sunday. Mike Miller, Hal and Elaine Jacobs, Barbara Goldin and their fellow Jewish War Veterans held their meeting and then came out to say hello. Mike Miller shared that he had served in the Navy in Vietnam and described what the Jewish War Veterans do). The children thanked him for his service (see photo above). It was a sweet, memorable teachable moment, in the sunshine during Hebrew school recess.
Next week, Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe will continue teaching his group the High Holiday melodies and prayers as they prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
We wish everyone a wonderful week! Fill out those mitzvah leaves as you do something to help someone.
L’Shalom,
Shereen Ben-Moshe
Grandpa Abe :Times have changed
It was about 40 something years ago that I felt the need and obligation to pay my dues at my house of worship. At that time, I was a youngster, married with several children. We had all we could do to keep the bills paid. My wife stayed home with the children because we thought the children needed supervision. Our financial state was so tight that each year I would go to the bank and borrow the money to make sure that my dues were paid on time. I felt that the synagogue needed my money to operate and also I felt an obligation to pay my dues. As time went on, I would get dues statements with no amount on them. I always paid what I felt was my fair share, trying to raise the amount whenever possible.
Now that all the children are grown and left the nest, I feel even a bigger obligation to see that my synagogue has my share. Without people donating their fair share to our synagogue, we would not have one. And if we did not have one, it would be very hard to perpetuate our fine religion. I’m writing this letter just after I wrote a check to my synagogue or I should say, OUR synagogue. The dues have gone up by me for my fair share since I took that first loan out. I now do not need to take a loan out and feel extra special when I write a check to OUR synagogue. I have been told by several people that that is one way to becoming a good Jew, that is to support our synagogue.
This is the time of the year that the synagogue is asking for your help. It comes in different shapes and forms. It may be called donations or even dues. The bottom line is help keep our synagogue going. It doesn’t run entirely on love. We must have money.
Dor ‘l Dor,
Grandpa Abe
I see something in our congregation that I feel is just wonderful. It’s all the new life we’ve got started. When I mean new life, I mean all the children we have. We have them at nearly every age and they all are enjoying Judaism. We have some of the best singers anywhere around. The girls just sing their hearts out. The children have really done well in their studies at Sunday School being taught by some wonderful teachers. I was speaking to one of the parents and the dad was telling me that they had to rearrange their vacation so the children wouldn’t miss Sunday School. It wasn’t his doings. It had to do with the children. They wanted to attend. It’s wonderful to see the children wanting to get all the knowledge they can. Although I see the children having fun, I also see them taking it very seriously. When I was younger (that was before dirt) we would ask the teacher if we could go to the restroom and never return. Before we knew it the whole class was out of the room. Need I tell you how much we learned. Now we pay the price. I am so glad to see these children grow up in such a fine synagogue as ours. They are the future. “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
I see something in our congregation that I feel is just wonderful. It’s all the new life we’ve got started. When I mean new life, I mean all the children we have. We have them at nearly every age and they all are enjoying Judaism. We have some of the best singers anywhere around. The girls just sing their hearts out. The children have really done well in their studies at Sunday School being taught by some wonderful teachers. I was speaking to one of the parents and the dad was telling me that they had to rearrange their vacation so the children wouldn’t miss Sunday School. It wasn’t his doings. It had to do with the children. They wanted to attend. It’s wonderful to see the children wanting to get all the knowledge they can. Although I see the children having fun, I also see them taking it very seriously. When I was younger (that was before dirt) we would ask the teacher if we could go to the restroom and never return. Before we knew it the whole class was out of the room. Need I tell you how much we learned. Now we pay the price. I am so glad to see these children grow up in such a fine synagogue as ours. They are the future. “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Our Honey Cake Bakers Tamara Miller, Iris Daniel, Juliette Meinstein and Shereen Ben-Moshe! Thank you ladies!
Happy September birthdays to Vania Aguilar, Ilan Ben-Moshe, Carmen Rodriguez, Kay Shapiro, Judith Golden, Doris Hochman, Orli Carmel and Gail Ellenbogen. May you have an amazing and blessed year ahead. If we don’t have your birthday, please do send it to us.
NOW OPEN: US Holocaust Memorial Museum Exhibition: “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” Exhibition
UPCOMING: Public Program Wednesday, September 28
Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave, Austin
State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda is a traveling exhibition produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It examines how the Nazis used propaganda to win broad voter support in Germany’s young democracy after World War I, implement radical programs under the party’s dictatorship in the 1930s, and justify war and mass murder. This most extreme case study emphasizes why the issue of propaganda matters and challenges citizens to actively question, analyze, and seek the truth.
Public Program:
US Holocaust Memorial Museum Event – Fueling Extremism in a Wired World: The Balance of National Security and Personal Liberty
Wednesday, September 28, 7- 8:30 PM
Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave, Austin Free
Check out a piece about Gregg and Michelle Phipson!
http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/…/collecting-to-remember-gre…
Senior Rosh Hashanah Luncheon
Wednesday, September 28, 11:15-1:00 PM
JCC Austin, Community Hall
Make your reservation today!
The Jewish Federation of Greater Austin Women’s Division will host this year’s Rosh Hashanah Luncheon at the JCC, 7300 Hart Lane. Services and music will be led by Rabbi Alan Freedman and Cantorial Soloist Abby Gostein from Temple Beth Shalom. Reservations are needed by today. Door to door transportation is available.
For more information or to register, please contact Annie Skelton at 512-735-8088 or annie.skelton@shalomaustin.org.
For transportation requests, please contact Julia Sparks at 512-735-8024 or julia.sparks@shalomaustin.org.
NOW OPEN: US Holocaust Memorial Museum Exhibition: “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda”
Exhibition
UPCOMING: Public Program Wednesday, September 28
Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave, Austin
State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda is a traveling exhibition produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It examines how the Nazis used propaganda to win broad voter support in Germany’s young democracy after World War I, implement radical programs under the party’s dictatorship in the 1930s, and justify war and mass murder. This most extreme case study emphasizes why the issue of propaganda matters and challenges citizens to actively question, analyze, and seek the truth.
Public Program:
US Holocaust Memorial Museum Event – Fueling Extremism in a Wired World: The Balance of National Security and Personal Liberty
Wednesday, September 28, 7- 8:30 PM
Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave, Austin
Free
Registration Required: https://www.ushmm.org/events
In 1924, Adolf Hitler wrote, “Propaganda is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert.” While digital tools are fostering unprecedented global conversation, extremists are using them to foment hate, recruit followers, and incite violence. The Museum is prioritizing this timely conversation to explore the tension between free speech, incendiary propaganda, and personal liberty. What responsibility do technology companies, governments, and individuals have to shape the reach of social media and technology to keep our world safe?
Questions/Contacts: USHMM Southeast Regional Office at 561-995-6773 or email southeast@ushmm.org

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 Re’eh

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Book club photoFriday Night Shabbat Services
Tonight 9/2, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.
Our next Shabbat morning services are a week away Saturday September 10.
Check out the High Holiday schedule at www.bethelaustin.org
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:33 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week’s parshah, Re’eh, begins with the words “See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”. The Book of Deuteronomy talks of choices throughout-blessing and curse, life and death. Our ancestors likely took this literally, that God would either bless us or curse us, make us live or kill us. However, there is another way to look at this verse. We can choose to look at our lives as either a blessing or a curse. We can see the positive things in our lives, and be hopeful and therefore blessed, or we can be fearful of all the perceived negatives in our lives and regard ourselves as cursed. Our attitude determines our situation to a large extent. This weekend begins the month of Elul, the lead-up to the High Holidays. May we enter the New Year that is to come with joy, gratitude and blessing. Shabbat Shalom v’Hodesh Tov.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Thank you to Gail Ellenbogen for hosting an absolutely fascinating Book Club evening. We had the pleasure of hearing from Joyce Lit who works for the Jewish Book Council and helped the author in her upcoming tour of the US. A last minute surprise was also being joined by Yael Shacham who shared stories from Israel about the author Sarit Yishai-Levi whom she knows personally. It made for a fascinating discussion. The following link is from Joyce with more info about the author.
http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/Default.aspx…
YASHER KOACH to all the great kids and teachers on a fantastic first day of Hebrew School last Sunday! The children delighted in seeing all their friends and welcomed some new smiling faces to the classes. I had the pleasure of substituting for Morah Anat in Kitah Alef. Our morning centered on getting to know each other, writing our names in Hebrew, and creating a mitzvah tree. We read a PJ Library favorite, “Michael Says No!” and then created a list of classroom rules to help the class run smoothly. In Kitah Bet, our new teacher, Morah Lital reviewed the Hebrew alphabet with her class, practiced some writing, and made beautiful necklaces. Meanwhile, Kitah Gimel spent an hour with Morah Bev discussing Jewish history, and then an hour with Hazzan Ben-Moshe in the sanctuary reviewing some prayers. In the future this group will be working on strengthening their Hebrew reading and writing skills.
A fun, meaningful morning was had by all!
Remember, there will be no class next Sunday, in observance of Labor Day. The teachers look forward to seeing all the students on Sunday, September 11, as each class begins to learn about and prepare for Rosh Hashanah.
We wish all our cuties a terrific WEEK #2 in school this coming week!
L’Shalom,
Shereen Ben-Moshe
Grandpa Abe :They are the Future
I see something in our congregation that I feel is just wonderful. It’s all the new life we’ve got started. When I mean new life, I mean all the children we have. We have them at nearly every age and they all are enjoying Judaism. We have some of the best singers anywhere around. The kids just sing their hearts out. The children have really done well in their studies at Sunday School being taught by some wonderful teachers. I was speaking to one of the parents and the dad was telling me that they had to rearrange their vacation so the children wouldn’t miss Sunday School. It wasn’t his doing. It had to do with the children. They wanted to attend. It’s wonderful to see the children wanting to get all the knowledge they can. Although I see the children having fun, I also see them taking it very seriously. When I was younger (that was before dirt) we would ask the teacher if we could go to the restroom and never return. Before we knew it the whole class was out of the room. Need I tell you how much we learned. Now we pay the price. I am so glad to see these children grow up in such a fine synagogue as ours. They are the future. “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Dor ‘l Dor,
Grandpa Abe
Thank you to Galit Lavie and Refael Eizraelov who kindly donated a complete and brand new set of the Zohar from the Kaballah Center of Dallas. Beth El has a lovely library and this is an amazing addition to our collection.
Rabbi Peter Tarlow of the Center for Hispanic-Jewish relations weekly parasha:
This week’s parashah is called “Re’eh” (See). You will find it in the Book of Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17. This section is part of Moses’ great summation speeches emphasizing blessings and the curses. The section begins with a strange Hebrew grammatical phrase: “Re’eh, Anochi noten lifnechem hayom brachah uklalah/See, I am giving you today (right now) a blessing(s) and a curse(s).” The power of this sentence is lost on the non-Hebrew reader. The command (see) in the singular, as if it were saying to us: “Each one of you, take the time to see”. The verse also uses a present participle, a verbal form the Bible rarely uses. When the Bible does use this tense, it is expressing a sense of on-going continuity, as if to say, -every single day both blessings and curses are placed before you. It is up to you to decide where you are going in your life, do you want the blessings or the curses?
This week’s section is filled with challenges. It challenges us to make the right decisions. It challenges us to develop a sense of group spirit. It challenges us to observe G’d’s festivals, and it challenges us to be wise enough to distinguish between ‘false prophets’ (poor leaders or the trends of the time) and real prophets (people who place the national good before their own economic gain).m
We can interpret these verbal structures plus challenges on both the micro and macro levels. On the micro level the text provides us with a reminder that when things go wrong, it is we who must take responsibility and seek ways to turn our lives around. Taking personal responsibility is the first step toward teshuvah (or personal redemption). It is incumbent on us to ask: How did I not see the mistakes that I was making? Is the parashah teaching us that to be an adult is to view the world through reality rather than make-believe? Is the text reminding us to appreciate the blessings that come into our lives even during the hardest of times? Does our self-centeredness blind us to finding solutions to the challenges in our lives?
On a macro (group) level the section reminds us that (1) we dare not believe everything we see (or hear) and (2) that there must be a balance between the individual’s desires and the national good. In an age of dishonest media and a public that has been educated to be uninformed, these two admonitions are warnings and challenges that we need to take more seriously than ever.
This week’s parashah reminds us that false leadership can make us believe (Re’eh = See) that good is evil and evil is good. The media’s often poor (or dishonest) coverage of the news is an example of such a warning. How often does the media create untrue realities by turning small events into large crisis and then underreporting major news stories? How often has the media placed its own agendum ahead or truth or taken facts out of context so as to make good seem evil and evil appear as good? This week’s parashah reminds us to see/read with a careful eye and to question whatever we are told.
Re’eh teaches us that when we allow ourselves to be deceived, when we simply believe without questioning then in the end chaos will become crises. Moses warns us concerning the consequences not only of our singular actions but also of our collective actions when he states at the beginning of the parashah (Deut:11:26 and 11:32): “Behold I place before you a blessing and a curse …”.
How we act then touches not only our singular life, but also the lives of all with whom we live. Do you question not only what the media tell us what they do no? Do you take the time to ask why some stories are emphasized and others are underreported? Can democracy survive if the media are not honest? What do you think?

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?