Shabbat shalom – Parshot Mattot-Mas’ei
Friday Night Services, Tonight 7/17, 7 PM
Next Saturday morning services, next week on 7/25 at 9 AM
Tisha B’Av evening service, Saturday July 25 at 9 PM. We will have one of the most beautiful services of the year; a soulful reading of the book of lamentations, led by Hazzan Ben-Moshe
Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This Friday we begin the month of Av-the polar opposite of Adar and on Shabbat we conclude the Book of Numbers with Parshot Mattot-Mas’ei. “When Adar comes in, we increase joy”, but “when Av enters, we decrease joy”. Adar is the month of Purim, a day of complete celebration, while the 9th of Av is devoted entirely to mourning. During the first 9 days of Av, it is customary to refrain from wine and meat, which are associated with celebration, and to indulge in these things only on Shabbat. Some will refrain from concerts and from swimming as well. Of course, the day of Tish’ah B’Av is a 24-hour fast, similar to Yom Kippur (though work is permitted). Still, our Tradition never emphasizes the negative without looking towards the positive. Tish’ah B’Av is of course a day of tragedy, according to some traditions from the Torah itself, but some traditions also say that it will be the day on which the Mashiah arrives. May that day come speedily and soon, and may we all be comforted. Shabbat Shalom.
This Friday we begin the month of Av-the polar opposite of Adar and on Shabbat we conclude the Book of Numbers with Parshot Mattot-Mas’ei. “When Adar comes in, we increase joy”, but “when Av enters, we decrease joy”. Adar is the month of Purim, a day of complete celebration, while the 9th of Av is devoted entirely to mourning. During the first 9 days of Av, it is customary to refrain from wine and meat, which are associated with celebration, and to indulge in these things only on Shabbat. Some will refrain from concerts and from swimming as well. Of course, the day of Tish’ah B’Av is a 24-hour fast, similar to Yom Kippur (though work is permitted). Still, our Tradition never emphasizes the negative without looking towards the positive. Tish’ah B’Av is of course a day of tragedy, according to some traditions from the Torah itself, but some traditions also say that it will be the day on which the Mashiah arrives. May that day come speedily and soon, and may we all be comforted. Shabbat Shalom.
Morah Shiry’s Conversational Hebrew class continues Thursday July 23
Join us at 7:00 PM for another in the interactive, hands on class with our very own Morah Shiry. At 8 PM, Gabbai Bam will give a short, but informative class on Judaism and you are invited to attend Bam’s class, even if you are not in the Hebrew class. It is free and open to all and you will definitely learn something new.
Join us at 7:00 PM for another in the interactive, hands on class with our very own Morah Shiry. At 8 PM, Gabbai Bam will give a short, but informative class on Judaism and you are invited to attend Bam’s class, even if you are not in the Hebrew class. It is free and open to all and you will definitely learn something new.
SISTERHOOD SUMMER FUN!
Hold the dates: Sunday August 2nd, at 1 PM at Beth El, we will have another crafting afternoon and Thursday August 13 at 6 PM, we will have a cake decorating class. Pencil it in, invite your friends and we’ll see you then!