Parashat Toldoth
Friday Night Shabbat Services
December 2, at the regular time of 7:00 PM.
We have a special guest Gil Levy Director of Jewish Family Services who will give our Dvar Torah. Light deserts following.
Shabbat morning services are Saturday December 10 at 9 AM.
Sunday school THIS Sunday December 4.
Sisterhood painting class also this Sunday December 4 at 1PM. Painting with artist Sharon Yam-Sananes, wine and cheese and camaraderie.
HOLD THE DATE : THE HANNUKAH PARTY OF THE YEAR! Only a month away, plan to join us on Sunday December 25 at 5 PM at Beth El for one cool Hannukah party. Live music, food and candle lighting! Free and open to the community.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 5:12 PM
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week we read Parshat Toldoth about the life of Yitzhak, his wife Rivkah, and the conflict between his sons ‘Esav and Ya’akov. The friction between the brothers is not the only conflict in the Parshat, though. Yitzhak is driven out of Gerar because of jealousy over his success. This is a common theme throughout the history of our people-wherever Jews succeed, and we often do, we are resented for it, as though our success is somehow undeserved. Jewish history is littered with sad examples of banishments and pogroms due to envy. Even the Shoah, the greatest tragedy to befall us since the destruction of the Second Temple, was in large part armed robbery of the Jews of Europe, just as the Jews of the Middle East and North Africa were robbed of their property. The Torah, however, gives us hope. Eventually, Avimelech the king of Gerar concludes a treaty with Yitzhak, recognizing the justice of his position. May the day come soon when all envy ceases, and all the nations of the world choose to live in peace with our People. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
HOLD THE DATES: First Friday speakers at Beth El.
We look forward to welcoming Gil Levy, head of Jewish Family Services who will come and give a talk/Dvar Torah on Friday December 2 THIS FRIDAY.
Friday January 6, Rabbi Daniel Septimus CEO of the Austin JCC will likewise be our guest speaker at Beth El.
On the first Friday of February, we welcome Rabbi/Cantor Marie Betcher who will talk about the great work she does as a Police Chaplain. And the third Friday (OK, just to change it up a bit), Jay Rubin, former CEO of Shalom Austin and avid historian will come to speak!
** Sunday school at 10 AM this Sunday with special guests Aviv Canaani who led Birthright trips to Israel while serving in the IDF and Judith Golden who attended Birthright.
PAINTING AND WINE!
**THIS Sunday December 4th at 1 PM please come for a Hannukah themed art project with artist Sharon Yam-Sananes. We will be making a beautiful canvas hamsa. Please also plan to bring items for a clothes exchange that afternoon – adult and children’s clothes, small household items, chachkes, shoes, and other items that we can swap with each other and donate the leftovers to charity. Huge thank you to Sharon for volunteering her time and supplies!!! You may bring a healthy kosher nosh – dairy – to go along with the wine!
**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 consider a generous donation to our shul.