Parashat Ki Tetze and Hurricane Harvey Relief

Please read below for URGENT Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts.
Kabbalat shabbat services Friday September 1 at the regular time of 7:00 PM. We hope to see you. As the Chazzan noted, special prayers go out to all those affected by this terrible hurricane. May God bless and protect all those in harm’s way and all the first responders.
Shabbat morning services are Saturday September 9 at 9!

Beth El beautification Day – Sunday September 17 at 12:00 noon. Please volunteer an hour or two to help clean and spruce up the building.
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday November 5th at 6 PM Beth El is holding our 36th Anniversary dinner! Please plan to attend this wonderful evening celebrating our congregation. Invitations will be mailed out shortly.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:35 PM and
Havdallah is Saturday at 8:28 PM Motzei shabbat.
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message

This week’s parshah, Ki Tetze, begins with a rather curious commandment-a victorious warrior who spies a captive woman whom he finds desirable, cannot take advantage of her then and there, but must bring her home, let her mourn for a month, and only then he may marry her, and he may not sell her into slavery. This is of course a corrective to one of the horrors of war, but Rabbi Alan Lew, of blessed memory, made a connection to our live in his book, “This Is Real, And You Are Completely Unprepared”. Rabbi Lew regards this as a lesson for all of us-that we should not act on impulse, but should take our time and examine our desires. Perhaps upon examination, the thing we desired is not so desirable, and we can do without it. As we prepare for the High Holidays and examine our actions and how we respond to impulses, this is a valuable lesson. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
URGENT COMMUNITY NEWS: HARVEY RELIEF EFFORTS.
Please help donate these urgently needed items for the Jewish Community in Houston. We were going to have the items collected at Beth El, but the need is so urgent that we request you to help as soon as you can by donating items straight to the Dell Campus. There is a truck there ready to go to Houston Friday afternoon. There is also an option below to buy items through Amazon.
Up to date info :
https://shalomaustin.org/ways-you-can-help
Here is the list of items needed.
Heavy Work Gloves Plastic Storage Bins
Sharpies Heavy Duty Trash Bags
Duct Tape Packing Tape
New Boxes Rubber Gloves
Painters Masks Disinfecting Wipes
Hand Sanitizer Rubber Gloves
Mops Jab Saws
Buckets Washcloths/Towels for Cleaning
Rubber Mallets Hammers
Box Fans Inflatable Mattresses
New Pillows Gift Cards to Home Depot, Lowes, HEB
Bubble Wrap
To participate in this effort, view details:
Please complete this Google Form with the item(s) you would like to donate.
https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdbRA8WyZVhD65-H9…/viewform
Drop off-times: Thursday, August 31 from 8am-9pm. and Friday, September 1 from 8am-5pm
Drop-off location: Front circle drive located on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, 7300 Hart Lane
We are only accepting new, unopened items in original packaging from the list above.
Additionally, to donate supplies online, visit our Amazon Wish List (
https://www.amazon.com/…/16A4JZV34DK…/ref=cm_sw_em_r_d_g__wf) . All donated items will be delivered directly to the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston and distributed to those in need. For even more ways you can help and latest updates, please visit our website.
Thank you to those who have donated items and for everyone’s support.
Rabbi Daniel Septimus
Chief Executive Officer
Shalom Austin
Sisterhood planning meeting this week was amazing. From Shereen’s Solar Eclipse Ice Breaker activity to the actual getting on paper a bunch of exciting activities, we have a great year planned. Please be on the lookout for upcoming events and please plan to join us. The sisterhood is open to all and a very welcoming place.