Parashat Vayera

Friday Night Shabbat Services, Tonight 1/08, at 7 PM.

Our Saturday morning services are this shabbat, December 9, at 9 AM. The Kidush is kindly sponsored by Audrey and Barry Mann.

Marion Miller’s funeral service will be held Friday January 8th at 11 AM at Weed-Corley-Fish funeral home, 3125 North Lamar Blvd.
It will be followed immediately after by a graveside service at Capital Memorial Park Cemetary in Pflugerville, at the Beth Israel section III.
14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Shiva minyanim will be held at Bob Miller’s home around the corner from Beth El: Please park across the road in the office lot.
Friday January 8th at 5PM
Sunday January 10 at 7PM
Monday January 11 at 7PM
Tuesday January 12 at 7PM
Wednesday January 13 at 7PM

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week we read in Parshat Va’era of the four promises God made to the People of Israel through Moses-that He would take us out of Egypt, save us, redeem us and take us to be His People. In memory of those four pledges, we drink four cups of wine at the Passover Seder. Our outlook is thus one of gratitude-we thankfully acknowledge all that God has done for us, from the Exodus until now. Gratitude is the basis of our spiritual life-we thank God first for the gift of life, and also for the ability to be conscious of that gift. This week, as we mourn the passing of Marion Miller, and extend our condolences to Fred and to Bob Miller, and to Bob’s brothers, Marc, Steve and Keith and the entire Miller family, we are also grateful that such a wonderful woman was part of our lives. May her memory be for a blessing. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Marion Miller’s obituary: Written by her.
www.tributes.com/Marion-Miller.
Writing this death notice myself serves a dual purpose: 1) it spares family members from trying to recall all the small details of my life, and 2) it provides future generations with some important information. I was born at home in Hartford, Connecticut on 1/19/31 in the midst of the Great Depression. I was pre-deceased by my mother, Clara Simon Cohen, born in Russia, Father, Isidor, born in Russia, brother, Samuel Cohen: brother, Joseph Cohen and half sister, Betty ShermanIn 1933 the family moved to Boston, Massachusetts where WPA work was made available by the then U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Despite the hardship brought on by the Great Depression, we never lacked for the necessities of life, thanks to my father’s hard work as a carpenter.When I was six years old, my mother died of a kidney infection. In 1937 antibiotics were not yet available. Betty at age 21, newly married to Irving Sherman, became caregiver to three younger siblings along with caring for two children of her own, Roselyn and Evelyn. Betty was my father’s first child by a previous marriage.After graduation from Roxbury Memorial High School for Girls in 1948, I worked as a secretary for two years at Kingston Clothing Company in Boston. At age 19, I married Fred G. Miller on March 8, 1950. Four sons were born of this marriage: Marc (married to Lori), Keith (married to Robin), Stephen and Robert. The boys were raised in the Natick/Framingham, Massachusetts area. I returned to the working world as a secretary after the children were all in school. Former employers include the Ahlquist Agency, The Equitable Life Assurance Society, The Interface Group, Medical Park Orthopedics of Austin, TX and Miller Uniforms & Emblems.In 1997 Fred and I moved to Austin to be close to our family, all engaged in the rapid growth of Miller Uniforms. After one year as a medical transcriber, I joined Miller Uniforms in 1998.Fred and I enjoyed traveling to various countries throughout Europe, Paris, France being my favorite destination.On 1/24/10 we traveled to Israel for a fast-paced, week-long tour with a Hadassah group.Fine art and music were among my major interests. Visiting museums was a favorite activity, as was the game of Scrabble. Advice to Future generations: Learn to play a musical instrument and appreciate fine art.I was a life member of Hadassah and a proud member of Congregation Beth El in Austin.Final words: “No need to mourn. It was a wonderful life – fine husband, fine children, fine grandchildren and find great-grandchildren.In addition to my husband, Four sons and their wives, survivors include, 7 Grandchildren, 3 Step Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren my Brother’s widow Phyllis Cohen, Three nieces, Diane, Beverly and Sandy, Nieces Roselyn and Evelyn, several cousins and second cousins.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016 at Weed-Corley-Fish North Lamar Chapel. Interment will follow at Beth Israel III at Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville.Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Beth El, 8902 Mesa Drive, Austin, Texas 78759 or Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd., Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759