Passover Intermediate Days

We hope you all are having a truly meaningful Pesach and will join us TONIGHT Friday April 14, at the regular time of 7:00 PM for Kabalat Shabbat. Come a tiny bit early and we can light shabbat candles together.

No Sunday school this week due to the Yom Tov of Passover. Please see the lovely photos of the Sunday school children’s posters from last week’s inspiring class.

CLASS ON LEADING MUSSAF:
The first class will start on Wednesday May 3 at Beth El at 7:00 PM and be taught by Cantor Ben-Moshe. The class is free and open to all so please join us and tell your friends.

Candle lighting in Austin is at 7:40 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 is of course Passover, and the Torah reading for this Shabbat is the same as that read for the Intermediate Shabbat of Sukkoth, detailing the list of Festivals. Monday, though, is the Seventh Day of Passover, and on that day we read about the crossing of the Sea of Reeds and the Song of the Sea. The Festival comes to a close as the Exodus came to a close. In the text, Moshe tells the People not to fear-and the Midrash teaches that the Sea did not split until Nahshon Ben Amminadav stepped into the water. The main lesson at the Sea of Reeds was courage. The former slaves needed to learn this lesson-and we, their descendants, need it as well. May we always find the courage do do what we need, no matter what is before or behind us. Shabbat Shalom u’Mo’adim L’simhah.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

HAPPY APRIL BIRTHDAYS:
Jakob U and Andy, Jaia Sara M, Bam R, Betsy M, Iris K, Sasi A, Larry B, Yosef and Sofia A, David H, David W, You all are fabulous! Mazal tov and until 120!
Mazal Tov to Morah Lital on the birth of her baby boy on Passover.

Photos of last week’s Sunday Funday. The children worked in groups of mixed ages and abilities and were each given a Passover theme. They were tasked with researching all aspects of the topic, using books, I pads, laptops or even their phones. The students were so engrossed in the learning that they didn’t even want to go on their break! Each group chose a student to present their finished boards to the rest of the Sunday school. We had such polite and eloquent speakers. Yesher Koach to the students and their unbelievable teachers. We parents were blown away as were all our guests at the Passover Seder when the boards were displayed for the congregation and community.

Huge Passover prep thank yous to Lori and Dave, Michelle, Claudia, Jared and Gracie, Kevin, Yesenia and Joakin, Elaine, Iris, Sara, Shereen and her lovely Mom Debbie, Irene, Tam and Javis. And to all those who helped serve the delicious meal on Passover including Diana, Deborah, Elaine, Anat, Orli, Natalie and others, thank you so much. What a lovely shul where folks see what needs to be done, roll up their sleeves and dive right in. You all make it a very special place!
What an honor to have such wonderful folks attend. We loved having having you all and you helped us fulfill the special passover mitzvah of :”Let all who are hungry come and eat; let all who are in need come share our Passover”. Many helped, many donated and many enjoyed. Le Shana Haba’ah be Yerushalaim or at Beth El.

Community Yom Hazikaron Commemoration:
Sunday April 30 at the JCC from 7-8PM. There will be a moving commemoration of Israel’s fallen soldiers and defenders. Our very own Chazzan Ben-Moshe will be participating. Please join us.

COMMUNITY YOM HAATZMAUT FAMILY CELEBRATION:
Tuesday May 2, 5-7 pm JCC Community Hall.
Please join the Austin Community for a huge celebration of Israel Independence day. Tons of activities, food for sale, and much much more.

28 Israeli-themed activities like: Agam-inspired art, mud face painting, play-inspired shuk shopping, vegetable harvesting, dancing with Israeli lags and music, and MUCH more.

An authentic dinner: Falafel, Shakshukah, Israeli salad, Tehini and Humus, pitas and chocolate balls for desert.To purchase tickets go to:www.shalomaustin.org/israelindependence