Chaye Sara and Anniversary Dinner

Please note that we have our regular and inspiring Friday night services at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday November 10.
Our lovely Shabbat morning services are this Shabbat, Saturday November 11 at 9 a.m. We will have the Torah service at around 9:45 a.m. and a special Veteran’s Day Dvar Torah given by Mike London of the Jewish War Veterans. We deeply honor and appreciate all our Veterans, many of whom are in our congregation. We will have a delicious kidish lunch immediately following services.
Sunday school for the BERS is at the regular time of 10 a.m.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe Weekly Message:
This week’s parshah, Hayyei Sarah, begins with a detailing of the lifespan of our ancestress Sarah-“one hundred years, and twenty years and seven years”. The Sages notes this unusual phrasing and assigned meaning to it-“Sarah was as beautiful at one hundred years of age as at twenty, and as pure of spirit at twenty as at seven”. Sarah of course is the archetypal ancestress of our People-an example to emulate. While she was not perfect-as all humans are imperfect, no matter how great-we should certainly attempt to live up to the ideal which she set for us. Of course we cannot control our physical beauty, one way or another, but we can attempt to preserve the innocence and purity of youth. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote about preserving “radical amazement”-that quality of mind which is childlike (but not childish) in refusing to take what we experience for granted. May we, like Sarah, preserve our childlike innocence and sense of wonder. Shabbat Shalom.
Thank you – Toda Raba to all the wonderful folks who supported Beth El’s 36th Anniversary Celebration. We are deeply grateful to all who came, donated of their time and money, and helped make the evening so special. Here are just a few of the photos of this amazing evening, but more to follow. We are so grateful to our original founders who attended including Elaine Shapiro, Bobby and Phyllis Shapiro and the entire Shapiro family, Min Rice and family and Sol and Ruth Stavchansky and family. We were all deeply touched and inspired by the speeches given by Arie and Sol Stavchansky, Kevin Koeller, our current president Yosef Aguilar, Elaine Jacobs (and the gorgeous flowers and gift she presented) and our delightful m.c. Barry Mann. The Koellers especially would like to thank those generous and kind folks who also gave towards the sweet and deeply appreciated gift! They were touched beyond words. The decorating committee was unbelievable and made the place look spectacular. Thank you to Moshe Kass of Moshe K catering who provided a kosher dinner and Sara Kaye for her musical talents. The Silent auction was delightful and most importantly, the evening was an ongoing testament to the vision and commitment of the founders of Beth El. May our shul go from strength to strength and please continue to support Austin’s neighborhood shul, a place where people truly do chesed each and every day. Last but not least the Cantor and Shereen Russo Canadyfor their spiritual leadership of our congregation!
Check out the article in this month’s Jewish Outlook:
http://www.thejewishoutlook.com/…/congregation-beth-el-cele…