Announcements for Shabbat and Shavuot

Dear Congregants and Friends,
Please join us tonight at 7pm for Kabbalat shabbat services.
Tomorrow, Saturday May 26 at 9:45 AM, we will join Congregation Agudas Achim on the Dell Jewish Community Campus for a service in memory and honor of Elaine Shapiro’s late father Jim Novy.
Sunday morning, May 27 starting at 9am, we will have Shavuot services at Beth El, followed by a light kiddush.  There will be a children’s program in the social hall, after the beginning of the Torah reading in the sanctuary.  We hope to see you all!
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s weekly message:
This Shabbat we begin the reading of Sefer B’midbar, the Book of Numbers.  After a year at the foot of Mt. Sinai, the People of Israel are to muster for the march to the Promised Land, a march that would end up taking a generation.  Ironically, the day after Shabbat we read of the arrival of the People of Israel at Sinai, and the Revelation of Torah, on the Festival of Shavuot.  We have been counting towards this day since the second night of Passover-to Z’man Mattan Toratenu, the Time of the Giving of our Torah.  This is after all the purpose of the Exodus-to be free to live the life of the spirit that was simply impossible for slaves.  And the purpose of Torah was so that it could be lived by our People in our Land.  May all of Israel repeat the promise of our ancestors at Sinai, “na’aseh v’nishmah“, “we will do it and we will hear it”.  And may all the People of Israel be privileged soon to live in the Land which was promised to us.  Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameah.

Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
www.bethelaustin.org

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Friday night services 5/18 at 7pm and two “hold the date” announcements

Dear Congregants and Friends,
We hope to see tomorrow, Friday May 18  at 7pm for our weekly, song filled kaballat shabbat service.
Please note these two special events:
Saturday May 26, Congregation Agudas Achim at the Dell Campus is having a special service in memory of Elaine Shapiro’s late father Jim Novy (also Allene Novy’s grandfather) may his memory be a blessing.  We encourage our members to attend this special shabbat morning service which will start at 9:45 at Agudas Achim.  Jim Novy led a fascinating and philanthropic life, supporting the State of Israel, the Austin Jewish community and even receiving a Purple Heart certificate for his clandestine work during World War II.  His personal efforts even helped our very own dear Fred Grant (z”l).   A book has just been written about his life, titled The First Jews of Texas: The Life of Jim Novy, and the author David Chapin will be talking during the shabbat morning services.
Sunday May 27, at 9 am we will have our special Shavuot service.  Please plan to attend this wonderful holiday celebration of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.  Bring your whole family.
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Message:
This Shabbat we conclude the Book of Leviticus with the reading of the double parshah B’har/B’hukkotai. Parshat B’hukkotai include a tokhekhah, one of the two passages of rebuke found in the Torah. When these passages are read in the synagogue, they are read quickly and in an undertone. Unlike some other religious tradition, Judaism does not focus attention on punishments for disobedience. Rather, we focus on the performing of mitzvot for their own sake, for the purpose of bettering ourselves and the world. God doesn’t need to frighten us into following the Tradition. Judaism is a path of love, not of fear. I look forward to seeing everyone Friday night at 7:00 PM. Shabbat Shalom.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
8902 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
www.bethelaustin.org

Annual Meeting and Cookout

Our annual “state of the shul” meeting  is this Sunday, May 6 at 4:15pm, followed by a cookout. We hope you can join us to see all the exciting things happening at Congregation Beth El.