Annual Meeting and State of the Shul

/in , , , , , , /by

Shabbat Shalom and we so look forward to seeing you all tonight at 7 PM via zoom (SEE NEW ZOOM LINK) and in person in our beloved shul (no more than 10 people).

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85895579341

Happy Birthday USA!

Hazzan Ben-Moshe’sWeekly Message:This week we read two parshot-Hukkath and Balak. The time of wandering in the wilderness is coming to an end, and the conquest of the Land is set to begin. Parshat Hukkath begins with the laws of the Red Heifer, the sacrifice that was to bring purification from contact with the dead. The Torah instructs us that anyone who comes in contact with a dead person is to undergo purification rituals for a week before rejoining the community (obviously, this no longer holds true in our time, as we have no Temple, and the rituals have fallen into abeyance). Interestingly, one group which was to undergo such rituals was warriors. Victorious soldiers returning from the field of battle could not triumphantly parade through the camp, but had to isolate themselves for a week. Whether intended or not, this would have had the effect of reducing the glorification of war and warriors. Jewish Tradition from its onset has held that war may sometimes be a necessary evil, but is not to be celebrated, and while we may be happy that a threat is removed, we do not delight in the death of our enemies. We believe that all human life, created in the Divine Image, is holy. Some of our enemies have stated that their disregard for life is their strength-but it is our reverence for life that is the strength of our People. Shabbat Shalom.Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Candle lighting in Austin at 8:18 PM.

Annual Meeting July 12Also, save the date. Our annual “state of the shul” meeting will be held on Sunday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be in person (up to 10) at the shul and via zoom.Annual Meeting Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86767607489

We plan to discuss shul business and elect officers for the upcoming year. To nominate a current member as an officer, please send an email to Bob Miller, secretary and chair of the nominating committee at
bmiller111158@gmail.com

Nominations should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 7 days before the board meeting. The meeting is open to all – they are always a great deal of fun and very inspiring. We are blessed to be part of this small, yet vibrant and truly chesed filled congregation.

Our next Pirkei Avot class is July 14!
Zoom Meeting Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81083498229

Save the Date. Let’s have a fun afternoon at Town Lake this summer, where each family rents a canoe or kayak, or brings their own one from home, and enjoys each other’s company together. The prefect Social Distance event. Please RSVP to bethelaustin@yahoo.com

Beth El can now accept donations of stocks through a brokerage account. Please contact our treasurer at bethelaustin@yahoo.com.

Please consider at tax deductible donation for via our secure site. Being a small synagogue, every dollar goes to good work and continuing our heritage. http://bethelaustin.org/donate/

Hello world!

/1 Comment/in /by

Welcome to Kriesi.at Theme Demos Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Schedule of Services

/in , , /by

Please plan to join us for Friday night services, August 31, at 7:00 PM

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:
 
In this week’s parshah, Ki Tetze, we have a very early example of a building code-the commandment to build a rampart or railing around the roof of one’s house. By way of background, houses in the Middle East traditionally have flat roofs, which serve as kind of an outdoor room, especially in hot weather. The Torah commands us to make sure that anyone on such a roof doesn’t fall off. This commandment has been extended by the Rabbis to include safety features of all kinds. Some might see this as unwarranted interference in the right of individuals to build their houses as they see fit. Our Torah, though, always balances individual rights with an individual’s responsibility to others. Kol Yisrael ‘arevim zeh bazeh-all Jews are responsible to one another, and to humanity at large. We are each precious in God’s sight, but also part of the larger whole of creation.
 
Congregation Beth El’s schedule of services for the next few weeks including the High Holidays.    Our High Holiday services are open to the community, but we request you provide a donation to help us cover our costs and expenses.  In addition to regular services, we will have special children’s services on all of the Holidays.  For additional information or questions, please email us at bethelaustin@yahoo.com

Friday Night, September 7                   Friday Night Services at 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 8,                          Saturday Morning Torah Services at 9:00 AM

September 8 – Saturday                         Havdallah and Selichot Services at 8:00 PM

Rosh Hashanah

September 16 – Sunday Rosh Hashanah Evening Service at 7:00 PM

September 17 – Monday Rosh Hashanah Shachrit Service at 9:00 AM

                                  Rosh Hashanah Torah Service around 10:00 AM

                                  Tashlikh Service at 4:00 PM at Old Spicewood Springs at 360 Under Bridge

September 18 – Tuesday Rosh Hashanah Shachrit Service at 9:00 AM

                                  Rosh Hashanah Torah Service around 10:00 AM                                

September 21 – Friday Shabbat Shuvah Evening Services at 7:00 PM

September 22 – Saturday Shabbat Shuvah Morning Services at 9:00 AM

Yom Kippur

September 25 – Tuesday Kol Nidrei at 7:00 PM

September 26 – Wednesday Yom Kippur Shachrit Service at 9 AM

                                 Yom Kippur Torah Service around 10:15 AM

                                 Mincha at 5:30 PM, Neilah at 6:45 PM

 September 29 – Saturday        Shabbat Morning Services at 9:00 AM

Childrens Services for High Holidays

/in /by

Betsy will be leading a service for 6-12 year old students on the First Day of Rosh Hashanah (Thursday) at approximately 11 AM.  We will pray, read the Torah readings in English, discuss the prayers, and hear the shofar blown.

We’re using the Tiku Shofar Machzor, kindly loaned to us from Congregation Agudas Achim.

Shabbat service tonight at 7pm

/in /by

Congregation Beth El & Guests

We would love to have you join us tonight for Friday night services at 7pm. Look forward to seeing you all.

Shabbat shalom!

CANTOR BEN-MOSHE’S MESSAGE:

The Shabbat on or immediately before the New Moon of Nissan is called Shabbat Hahodesh. In the special maftir for this Shabbat, we read of the commandment to establish the month of Aviv (now called Nissan) as the first month, the beginning of the year. We establish a calendar for ourselves, and in so doing, transition from a large extended family to becoming a people, a nation. No longer would our Egyptian overlords set our schedule-we became a self-reliant people. This was truly the beginning of our liberation from bondage. May we continue our journey of liberation from all that enslaves us, as individuals and as a people. Shabbat Shalom.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
www.bethelaustin.org

20110401-024808.jpg