Parashat Shemot
Join us for Friday Night Shabbat Services. We’d love to see you, TONIGHT January 20, at the regular time of 7:00 PM. Rabbi Daniel Septimus, the CEO of the JCC, will join us for services and we greatly look forward to welcoming him to Beth El as he delivers a Dvar Torah. It is also Natalie’s birthday and she would love to have her congregation celebrate with cake after services.
Shabbat morning services are a week away, Saturday January 28.
Sunday school THIS SUNDAY morning January 22 at 10 AM.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 5:40 PM
Friday January 6, Rabbi Daniel Septimus CEO of the Austin JCC will likewise be our guest speaker at Beth El.
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message
This week’s parshah, Shemot, begins the book of the same name (Exodus in English). Our parshah presents us with examples of courage-the courage of the midwives, Shifrah and Pu’ah, who refused to carry out Pharaoh’s genocidal orders, and of course the courage of Moshe, who left the comfort of the palace to stand up for his Israelite brethren, and then to return to challenge Pharaoh himself. The Midrash also tells us of the courage of Amram and Yocheved, Moshe’s parents, in bringing another child into the world despite Pharaoh’s decree. Many have taken the courage of the heroes of our parshah as an inspiration, including the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday we celebrated this week. May we always be inspired by the courage of our ancestors, who dared to dream of freedom. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
HOLD THE DATES: Guest speakers at Beth El.
TONIGHT Friday January 20, Rabbi Daniel Septimus CEO of the Austin JCC will be our guest speaker at Beth El.
And the third Friday in February, Jay Rubin, former CEO of Shalom Austin and avid historian will come to speak!
In March we will welcome Rabbi-Cantor Marie Betcher, who among other things is a Police Chaplain, ordained Rabbi and Cantor, as well as a former Opera Singer.
Also coming up in the Spring, Ami Pedhazur, UT Professor in Israel and Diaspora Studies will give a guest talk at Beth El on the 50th Anniversary of the Six Day War. Date to be confirmed.
SO GOOD TO HAVE OUR BERS (Beth El Religious School) BACK dancing their hearts our with Ms Carol Rubin!!! A great time was had by all. Please see the website for the Spring calendar.
The Children of Beth El religious school unrolling the beginning of their Sefer Torah – just like we finished reading Genesis, they too have finished the first book of the Torah and continue this weekend.
Read the lovely sisterhood article in The Jewish Outlook.
https://etypeservices.com/…//Magazine151411/Full/index.aspx…
Sisterhood Book Club Event! NEXT WEEK.
**On January 24th at 7:00 p.m. we will be having another book club event, The event will be at the home of Yael Shacham, who has graciously volunteered hosting our evening get together. The name of the book and its author, that we will be discussing, is “A Pigeon and A Boy” by Meir Shalev. PLEASE come even if you haven’t finished the book or are just interested in reading the book. The discussion promises to be lively and inspiring.
Happy January birthdays to Sara Pollack, Javis Howeth, Daniel Freedman, Bev Golden, Idit Katz, Natalie and Shirley Koeller, Idan Nahum, Jay Rubin and Ira Shapiro!
Check out the Friday night services on our website:
http://bethelaustin.wpengine.com/education-2/kabbalat-shabbat-songs/
http://bethelaustin.wpengine.com
Community News:
*Stand with Israel event on February 9!
* JCC Austin is sponsoring a trip to Spain and Israel October 2017 : www.shalomaustin.org/MeltonSefarad
or contact Lisa Quay at 512-735-8086 or lisa.quay@shalomaustin.org.
*Please join the JCC on Sunday January 29 from 9 Am to 4:30 PM for the 15th Annual Tapestry of Jewish Learning. Wonderful key note speakers and a full day of Jewish learning. Please see www.shalomaustin.org
for more information. Cost is only $10 if you register ahead of time.