Shabbat Across America 2018
Dinner is almost ready – YOU ARE INVITED! Shabbat Across America, hosted by Congregation Beth El is tonight. Join us for a Friday night dinner and services at the special time of 6:30 p.m. Traditional Shabbat diner of matzah ball soup, chicken, sides and ruach (“spirit”, “yidishkeit”, “Texas Friendliness”!)
Shabbat morning services are also THIS Shabbat morning, March 10 at 9 a.m. We gratefully acknowledge Hal and Elaine Jacobs for sponsoring the delicious Kidish in memory of Hal’s beloved parents Sam and Sarah Jacobs of blessed memory whose yahrzeit is this month.
BETH EL SECOND NIGHT SEDER – SATURDAY MARCH 31 AT 6:30 PM. Email us to save your spot!
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s weekly message:
This week we close out the reading of Sefer Sh’mot , the Book of Exodus, with the combined parshot of Vayyak’hel/P’kudei. In addition, we read the special maftir for Shabbat Parah as we continue our preparations for Passover. Our parshot exhaustively detail the construction and assembly of the Mishkan, the Sanctuary in the desert which would accompany the People of Israel in their wandering, but begin with something different-a reiteration of the commandment to observe Shabbat. The Torah says “You shall not kindle fire in any of your habitations on the Day of Shabbat.” Of course, the plain meaning of the verse is that fire may not be lit on Shabbat-which is what we light candles before sunset, so that we may have light without desecrating our holy day. The Hassidic masters had a deeper interpretation as well-that one should not kindle the fire of anger on Shabbat. Shabbat is a day of peace, of living in harmony with the world around us, especially with our families and community. It is praiseworthy to make an extra effort to control one’s temper on Shabbat, and to refrain from speaking or acting in a way that expresses anger or annoyance. Then Shabbat will truly reflect our greeting-“A Shabbat of Peace”-Shabbat Shalom.
No Sunday School this week. We’ll see our BERS (Beth El Religious School) March 18.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 6:13 p.m.
No Sunday school March 11. Here’s a fun collage of our BERS learning all about Passover. Hands on, experiential learning is the order of the day at Sunday Fundays.
SAVE THE DATE: Congregation Beth El’s 2nd Night Seder.
PASSOVER ACROSS AMERICA!
Saturday March 31 at 6:30 PM.
In partnership with the National Jewish Outreach Program, Congregation Beth El is proud to host a second night seder, open to the Austin Jewish Community. Please RSVP to save your spot for our fun and interactive second night seder, with delicious kosher food, wine and friends. Led by Cantor Ben-Moshe. info@bethelaustin.org
Congregation Beth El Sisterhood Book Club
Join us as we read By Light of Hidden Candles by Daniella Levy.
We will be meeting at the home of Gail Ellenbogen on Wednesday, March 21 to discuss the book and socialize.
The Congregation Beth El Sisterhood invites all Jewish women to join us for any of our events. Please bring a friend. It is our hope to provide programming to bring us all together. For more information about our events and becoming more active, please contact Shereen Ben-Moshe at shereen@homewyrks.com.