Shabbat shalom

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Friday Night Services, 5/29, at 7:00 pm

Shabbat Morning Beginner’s Services, 5/30, at 10:00 am
Rabbi Gisser and Cantor Ben-Moshe will lead us through the shabbat morning services with explanations and meanings.
Whether you know the service or are fairly new to it, you will definitely learn the ins and outs of the shabbat morning service. A light kiddush will follow the service.

Sunday at 10 am the Beth El Religious School will be in session.

This last week the congregation gathered to wish Esther Kadoch farewell as she embarks on her new adventures in Colombia. We wish her a safe trip and all the best! May you always think of your friends here at Beth El when you look at the lovely quilt that Keren and friends made for you. We will miss you.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
In this week’s parshah, Naso, we see words of blessing that we still use today-Birkat Hakohanim, the Priestly Blessing. In ancient times, this blessing was recited by Aharon and his descendants in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, and even today Kohanim recite this blessing in our synagogues, in the Ashk’nazi tradition using a tune that is at least 1100 years old. The familiar Vulcan Salute from the TV series Star Trek was taken from actor Leonard Nimoy’s memories of seeing the kohanim hold their hands in that fashion as a boy in synagogue. We also use this blessing for our children on Shabbat and Festival evenings. Not long ago, in my capacity as a chaplain at Seton Medical Center, I was called to see a woman who was suffering from mental illness. She related to me that she had found out that she had some Jewish ancestors, and asked me to bless her with the”Aaronide Blessing”-Birkat Kohanim. Hearing those words, as I laid my hands on her head, seemed to bring her comfort-words of blessing reaching forward from over three millennia ago to soothe a troubled soul. May the words of our Torah always bring such blessing to all who hear them. Shabbat Shalom.

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.