Shabbat Service tonight at 7

Dear Congregants and friends,
Please join us tonight, July 29, for Friday night services at our regular time of 7 pm.  Next week, August 6,  we will be having our shabbat morning services starting at 9 am.
We look forward to seeing you all.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:
This week’s parashah is Mas’ei, the last of the Book of Numbers, Sefer Bemidbar.  The parashah begins with a list of the way stations during the journey of the People of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Why give such an accounting?  If we travel from Austin to Dallas, we’re unlikely to tell people that we went from Austin to Pflugerville, from Pflugerville to Round Rock, from Round Rock to Georgetown, etc.  We’re more likely to mention only our final destination.  I believe though, that the Torah is teaching us a lesson.  While our destination matters, our route matters as well.  We need to pay attention to the process by which we arrive at our destinations, whatever they may be.  The People of Israel may have been bound for the Land of Israel, but it was the journey in the wilderness that made them into worthy inheritors of the Land. So too, our journeys are what make us who we are, before we arrive at our final destination.  Shabbat Shalom.
Congregation Beth El
www.bethelaustin.org

Shabbat Matot – Services Tonight & Tomorrow

Services Friday at 7pm & Saturday & 9AM, with a light kiddush lunch.

 

From the Cantor:

This week finds us in the period of “Bein HaMetzarim”, “In the Narrow Place”, the Three Weeks before Tish’a B’Av, the Ninth of Av.  This is a mournful period on the Jewish calendar, as we are approaching the day of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple.  The Haftarot, the Prophetic readings for the next three Shabbatot are rebukes to the People of Israel for wrongdoing and prophecies of the coming destruction.  As every year, Tish’a B’Av reminds us that nothing on this Earth is permanent-a good lesson to remember as summer begins to wind down to the High Holidays in the fall.  Shabbat Shalom to everyone.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759

Shabbat Pinhas – Services tonight at 7pm

Dear Congregants and Friends,
We look forward to seeing you tonight, July 15 for Friday evening services, starting at 7 pm.  Our next shabbat morning services are a week from now, July 23.
Cantor’s message:
This week’s parshah, Pinhas, is familiar to those who know the Musaph, the Additional Service on Shabbat and Holidays.  Parshat Pinhas details the additional offerings in the Temple Service for Shabbat, the New Month and all of the major holidays.  As such, it is also the source of maftir readings for Rosh Hodesh and the Holidays.  While we no longer offer sacrifices in the Temple, may we always remember the spirit of thanksgiving to God which inspired those sacrifices.  Wishing a Shabbat Shalom to all.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
www.bethelaustin.org

55 Greeting Card Designs!

click to enlarge

The kids have been busy, and so have I.  Here are 55 designs we have created, and there will be samples available at shul this weekend.  No cards will be sold on Shabbat, but we will begin taking orders by phone, email or in person, beginning next week. Remember also that we can custom paint, draw, or create a collage.  More info and order forms are here.

—Betsy

The Kids are Painting and Fundraising!

The much-anticipated children’s services fundraiser is here.  The children of the congregation got together this week with Morah Betsy to draw, paint and color artwork for a new set of greeting cards.  We are selling kid-designed holiday and Shabbat cards, with envelopes. Many of the designs are here, but more are coming.  We’re also happy to take custom orders for a small fee.  The cards we’ve printed are only $15 if you purchase 5!  And it goes to a good cause.

Beth El fundraiser announcement

Children’s Services Fundraiser Purchase Order

 

The kids have assembled a wish list for Shabbat/holiday children’s services:

WISH LIST:

  • child-size ark & Torah scroll
  • child-size tallitot
  • costumes for kids & puppets
  • materials for holiday crafts
  • Torah books & stories

For more info, contact Morah Betsy at BethElAustin@gmail.com, or MorahBetsy@gmail.com.