Sukkot Dinner
We want to wish you all a Chag Sameach for the Joyous festival of sukkot which begins tonight at sunset.
Sukkot
Friday October 6 – Friday Night Services at 6:30 PM with Dinner in the Sukkah immediately following. We will have a delicious Italian dinner a la Yosef and invite you and your friends to help us fulfill the mitzvah of celebrating this joyous holiday. Free and open to the community.
Huge Toda Rabas/Thank yous!!
Once again, the Beth El High Holiday volunteers knocked it outta the ballpark with a spectacular set of services. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who contributed— from Cantor Ben-Moshe’s amazing services, to all the service helpers, readers, kidush food preppers and stuff schleppers, the many visitors who found a warm shul to celebrate in, and everyone in between—we couldn’t have done it without you. Next up, the celebrations continue with Sukkot this Friday night. Next Shabbat morning services are a week away, Saturday October 14.
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:
We begin the Festival of Sukkot on Wednesday evening, the ancient festival of the fall harvest. As our ancestors did when they were farmers in the Land of Israel, and needed to stay in the he fields as long as possible, we will dwell (or at least take our meals) in temporary huts, sukkot, for the duration of the holiday. The Torah tells us that this is also to remind us of our homelessness as we wandered in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt.
As Rabbi Alan Lew taught us, this holiday season actually begins with Tish’ah B’Av, when we remember the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. Rabbi Lew points out that Tish’ah B’Av teaches the difficult lesson that nothing of this earth is permanent-not even God’s House, certainly not our own homes. These past few weeks it has been brought home to us how fragile a house can be-in Houston, in Florida, in Mexico or Puerto Rico. The sukkah reminds us that houses are ultimately temporary-but God’s Presence and love are eternal, and in that recognition we can find joy even in the midst of fear and doubt. May this Sukkot Holiday hold joy for us and all of the House of Israel, and may all people everywhere be at peace and secure in their dwelling places. Hag Sameah.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Sunday school this week is at 10 a.m. We look forward to seeing our BERS and learning more about Sukkot and Simchat Torah, shaking the lulav and etrog and making Jewish learning fun for our children.
PLEASE note that the Beth El sukkah will be available for all to use over the festival of sukkot. You may use the side gate and bring your snack or meal there. If you would like to borrow our lulav and etrog, just let us know.