Parashat Metzorah

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Friday Night Shabbat Services Tonight 4/15, at 7:00 PM.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:36 PM

Passover countdown – one week away.

Shabbat morning services Saturday April 23 at 9 AM.
Second Night Seder, 7PM

This month, we are adding a special shabbat morning service on the fifth shabbat, Saturday April 30, with a special Yizkor service.

Our deepest condolences to the Shapiro family and relatives on the passing this week of Milton Simons, z’l, who passed away at the age of 99. May his memory be a blessing and may you be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message
Our parshah this week, Metzora’, details the ceremony by which one became purified after the affliction of tzara’at clears up. The first step is that a Cohen, a priest, is notified of the change in status, and then goes outside the camp to inspect the afflicted person, to validate that the affliction has indeed passed. This is significant-the Cohen “lowers” himself to approach the impure person, in order to more swiftly facilitate his or her return to the community.
In the haftarah for Shabbat Hagadol, the Shabbat before Pesah, we read that Elijah the Prophet will come to turn “the hearts of parents to children, and of children to parents”. In the context of ancient Israelite society, this is remarkable. It was the norm that children were subservient to parents in ancient times-so for parents to first attempt to reconcile with their children, and only then for the children to reciprocate would be unheard of.
In both of these instances, our Tradition is teaching us an important lesson. Too often, we humans allow conflict to go on and fester because we are unwilling to “lower ourselves” by reaching out to an opponent. It is in our nature to hold a grudge rather than to “pursue peace”. However, we are called upon by our Torah to overcome our nature and to seek reconciliation even when it is uncomfortable. Unchecked pride can lead to fatal deterioration of relationships. Indeed, we are taught that God approaches us for reconciliation-and we are called upon to walk on God’s ways.
At this time when families gather together to celebrate and retell the Liberation from bondage, let us also liberate ourselves from the bondage of pride and of holding grudges. May we all celebrate true freedom-us, our families, all the People of Israel and 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.

Mini work day and afternoon of cooking this Sunday April 17 at 12 PM – just after Sunday school. We need help with light yard work, cleaning and setting up the tables, as well as cooking. Next Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21 we will also be cooking, from 11 AM on both days. Please let us know if you can help.

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.

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, page 108. Also, check out a wonderful article about the Szyk exhibit from the Philipson collection on page 100. Go the the website directly
http://shalomaustin.org/outlook. E-edition.

BERS, Sunday school class meets this Sunday April 17 at 10AM. “Ms Carol” Rubin is coming to do a special activity and songs with the children.

Happy birthday to our Gabbai Bam! (20 April) Until 120!

 

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!