Trumah and Grandpa Abe

Friday Night Shabbat Services, Tonight 2/12, at 7 PM. Get ready for some soulful prayer, camaraderie and lots of singing!

Saturday morning services are this shabbat February 13, at 9 AM. We will have a children’s story time and kidush lunch after. Please consider sponsoring upcoming kidushes or just making a donation to our precious shul.

You can always donate securely online at
http://bethelaustin.wpengine.com/donate/

Shabbat Across America!
Last Friday’s services and dinner were a huge success. Our next one is soon:
Friday March 4, also at 6:30 PM we will be having another service and dinner as we celebrate with congregations across the US and Canada in SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA!

Happy birthday to dear congregants Gregg Philipson and Rachael Stavchansky! Let us know yours and you’ll get a shout out!

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
Our parshah this week, T’rumah, give the first description of the Mishkan, the Sanctuary that was the center of Israelite worship from Mt. Sinai until the building of the First Temple. The description includes the kapporeth, the golden lid to the Holy Ark which had two carven cherubs on top(incidentally, k’ruvim, “cherubs”, are not the plump winged babies of Christian iconography, but something closer to the Sphinx of Greek mythology-the body of a lion, the wings of a bird of prey, and a human head). The Torah goes on to say that God would be present between the two cherubs-in other words, the kapporeth was to be the throne of God in the Sanctuary. We know that pagan temples of antiquity had thrones, on which statues of the gods would be seated. The kapporeth had no statue, though, only the throne itself. The Presence of God, the Shekhinah, was there, palpable but not visible. The Mishkan thus made a bold statement-that God, while present in the world, is not confined by the material world or universe, but is in fact beyond it. When we read this parshah, we are called upon to remember and bear witness to God’s simultaneous immanence and transcendence. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Sisterhood Yoga Class – Free and open to all! Please join the Beth El sisterhood on Sunday February 28 at 1PM with professional corporate Yoga instructor Lisa Feder of Being Well Yoga. The class is tailor made for us and will be a great way to relax, hang out and chill. No previous Yoga experience needed. Please bring a healthy, kosher nosh and yoga mat.

BERS, Sunday school class meets this Sunday, February 14.

Grandpa Abe’s Words of Wisdom:
They will be missed!
As most of you already know, Phil and Keren Harvey are moving to Israel. This is a special event as it’s both sad and happy. We at the synagogue will miss them ever so much. It’s happy that they will be starting a new life together in Israel. Their Jewish life started in our synagogue with conversion by our Hazzan . They have studied hard and I might add often. They have been such friendly people, loving people and very special people. This is their dream. They’re on the road to following it. The road in life is never smooth. Phil had a lot of medical issues which have very much improved. His wife Keren is so sweet and so loving. This is what makes it hard for our congregation to let go. We will let go and never completely get over it. I’m sure if one of us makes the trip to Israel, we could stop in and bring some of our Austin love to them. They have gotten rid of most of their possessions. There are still a few things to settle up like closing on the house in Israel and disposing of their present home and car. I know if I mention to Phil about this story, he would say I’m also shipping some things. Life in our little synagogue without Phil and Keren here will go on, but there will a big hole where they were. Our loss is Israel’s gain. Wishing both of you the very best and safe travels to your new home.
Dor L Dor,
Grandpa Abe