Parashat D’Varim

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parashat-devarimJFK quoteFriday Night Shabbat Services 
Friday 7/28, at the regular time of 7:00 PM. We’ll light shabbat candles together just before services and enjoy a glass of iced tea. We are having lay led services this week and thank Bam for leading services.

Shabbat morning services are Saturday August 12 and 26
as per our schedule.

Candle lighting in Austin is at 8:09 PM and
Havdallah is Saturday at 9:38 PM Motzei shabbat.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message

This week we begin Sefer D’varim, the Book of Deuteronomy, with the parshah of the same name. Shabbat D’varim is also Shabbat Hazon, the Shabbat before Tish’ah B’Av. This Shabbat we allow a note of mourning to enter Shabbat-we customarily sing L’cha Dodi to the tune of the dirge “Eli Tzion”, and the haftarah is chanted to the cantillation of Megillath Eichah, the Book of Lamentations. We even chant one verse of the Torah to that tune-the verse “Eichah esa’ l’vadi…”-Moses saying “How can I bear this burden….”. That word, “eichah”, “how”, is the plaintive cry that begins the Book of Lamentations, the cry of the prophet who cannot understand how his people came to this state, the cry of God Himself. Next week we will observe the Fast of Tish’ah B’Av, from sundown Monday to sundown Tuesday, to commemorate the destruction of both Temples. As we read the Book of Lamentations, let us concentrate on the second-to-last verse, which we repeat at the end. “Hashivenu Adonai elecha v’nashuva, hadesh yameinu k’kedem”-“Return us to you, o Lord, and we will return, renew our days as of old”. As we begin the seven-week countdown to Rosh Hashanah, let us look at how we may have left the proper path-“eichah”-and how we can return to God. Shabbat Shalom, and may we and all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem be comforted.

Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Beth El Hebrew school starting in the fall. First day BACK September 10th!

For our Hebrew speakers: a Hebrew Immersion class is starting up. We also continue our one of a kind school, Sundays at 10 to 12. Come check us out!

We also have a teen program starting up! This will be a once a month program for children post Bar and Bat Mitzvah and will be focused on volunteer work and group projects.

בית הכנסת ״בית-אל״ מזמין את המשפחות הישראליות/ אמריקאיות, להירשם לשנת הלימודים הקרובה 2017-2018.
כמו כן, בפעם הראשונה ולאור הביקוש הרב תיפתח כיתה לילדים דוברי עברית.
הילדים ימצאו חממה חינוכית וערכית עם אוירה מיוחדת ואישית.
מורות ישראליות עם נסיון רב בלימוד מבתי הכנסת השונים עד לאוניברסיטה.
בית הספר שם דגש רב על חברות ועזרה הדדית ושימור הזיקה היהודית למסורת.
התכנים מועברים בצורה חוויתית אינטראקטיבית כמו בישול, אפייה, אומנות, שירה עם מיס קרול נטיעת גינה בבית הכנסת וטיפול בה והזמנת מרצים אורחים לשיחה בנושאים שונים (כמו ישראל) והשתתפות בפרוייקט ״תיקון עולם״.
בשנה שעברה הילדים בחרו לאסוף שמיכות ולתרום אותן למקלט לבעלי חיים .
כולם מתקבלים בברכה.
גילאים: 5-13
שעות פעילות : ימי ראשון :10:00-12:00
PLEASE HELP SPONSOR A KIDUSH MEAL! Send us an email to info@bethelaustin.org

Thank you to all the Beth El helpers. We have some new paving stones on the front lawn that were kindly donated by Tam as well as new swings in the playground, graciously donated by Hebrew school parents in appreciation of the wonderful education received at the school. The organic gardens are looking and tasting great and the yard over all is looking well loved (thank you Yoaquin et al)! Kudos also to the lovely congregants who helped cook meals recently for a family in need.

To quote JFK rather badly, “ask not what your shul can do for you, but what you can do for your shul?” Seriously, we have a community with truly amazing folks who ask that very question and help in so many ways. There are many more ways to help the shul and all of them are truly appreciated!

In the following inspiring podcast, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks discusses what role spirituality should play in an increasingly secular West.

http://rabbisacks.org/cultural-climate-change-rabbi-sacks-…/