Parashat Yitro, sisterhood meeting and more

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Congregants and Friends,
Don’t miss our lovely Friday night or kaballat Shabbat services tonight, Friday January 17 at 7pm.  We would love to see you all!
This Sunday, January 19th, at 2pm, we will have our sisterhood meeting at the home of Juliette Meinstein.  All ladies in the congregation and their friends are welcome. We will be having a class on how to make Tamales at Juliette’s home on Sunday. Please RSVP to Elaine Jacobs to let her know if you will be attending.  You can email her at (jaqel@yahoo.com). Please bring a healthy dairy or parev desert, or little nosh (like cut up fruit, veggie plate, etc.) to share.

Torah Trope Tuesdays continues this coming Tuesday and even if you missed the first class, do join us and learn this useful synagogue skill. Open to everyone.
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:
This week’s parshah, Yithro, has as its central theme the Revelation on Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments.  This is actually the first of two times that the Ten Commandments are found in the Torah-they are recapitulated in the Book of Deuteronomy.  In both versions, the wording is very similar.  The most striking difference is in the Commandment of Shabbat-our parshah says “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it”, while Deuteronomy renders “Observe the Sabbath day….”  The Midrash teaches that both words, “remember” and “observe” were spoken at the same time, but written separately.  Of course, both are necessary parts-we need to remember Shabbat, to be aware that this is a special day and not merely a weekday, a workday.  On the other hand, remembrance is not enough.  We must observe Shabbat, take concrete action to make it a special day, by refraining from ordinary activities, eating Shabbat dinner, coming to synagogue for worship and for fellowship with our community.  We must remember and observe the Shabbat in order to fulfill the mitzvah.  May we all do so, on this and on every Shabbat.  Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Tarlow of Texas A&M Center for Crypto Judaism:

This week’s parashah is perhaps central to our understanding text until the final chapter of Deuteronomy. Named after Moses’ father-in-law, the section is called “Yitro”. You can find the parashah in Exodus 18:1-20:23. This week’s parashah is divided into two main parts: (1) Yitro’s advice to Moses in establishing Israel’s legal system, and (2) the giving of the Aseret Ha’Dibbrot, or as they are mistranslated into English, the Ten Commandments.

Although in Hebrew tradition the parashah usually takes the name of the first important word in the text, it may still seem odd that this week’s parashah, containing the Ten Commandments, takes the name of Moses’ non-Jewish father-in-law. Yet if we study Yitro’s life we will soon note that his life encompasses the universal concepts of justice and integrity that form the underlying basis of these commandments. Perhaps Yitro represents the concept of bi-culturalism. He is a non-Jew who is the father-in-law of Moses, high priest, politician, and philosopher. Does Yitro represent humanity’s universality and the fact that we have more in common with our fellow humans than we have differences?

Yitro, (also called by a number of other names) the non-Jew, teaches us that Israel’s leaders must be “anshei-chayal, yirei-elokim, anshei-emet sonei batzah/capable men who fear G’d, who are trustworthy and spurn ill-gotten gain (18:21)”. It was Yitro who forced Moses to cease being a micro-manager and to permit others to take responsibility. It was also Yitro who showed Moses how to create a functioning bureaucracy. As such, we may call Yitro the founder not only of our legal system, but also as a symbol of good leadership.

Yitro argued that for a political and legal system to have credibility, it must have people in charge who are wise, posses discernment, and are incorruptible. From Yitro’s life we also learn that when a nation looses confidence in the integrity of its national leadership, then failure is assured. Yitro taught us, through his comments to Moses, that leaders must not be afraid to admit they have erred. Leaders are human and, unlike Pharaoh, ought not to consider themselves to be gods. Are these principles not only the basis of the covenant between G’d and Israel and symbolized by the Ten Commandments, but also the basis for inter-human relationships?

This need for inter-personal relationships is seen by Yitro’s presence in the same section as the Ten Commandments. Throughout history scholars have argued that the “people” are good, but that the leadership is corrupt or evil. Judaism takes a different position. Was it Yitro who taught us that leadership is a reflection of a national ethos, that it is all too easy to blame leaders when often a nation’s leaders are nothing more than a mere reflection of a people’s morals? Is this section teaching us that leadership is a reflection of the quality of whom we are; that what we do affects how we are governed? Do we tend to blame others for what we lack in ourselves?

In this week’s parashah, the Torah establishes one of the underpinnings of Jewish life: that a people in a covenant relationship is not free to do whatever it pleases. Instead, what we do and how we act should serve to turn us into a “segualah” or “treasured possession” within the family of nations.

It is that sense of “brit” or “covenant” that has governed Jewish life ever since Moses ascended Mount Sinai well over 3,000 years ago. What do you think? Do your actions impact national policy? Should we each take responsibility for the leadership that collective we choose?

Welcome back to BERS! First day Spring Semester

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  The first day back after winter break, the Beth El Religious School students or BERS made challah and  practiced a full Shabbat with their very own Shabbat siddur which Morah Michelle made with them.  Morah Lisa’s students painted beautiful Tu Be Shevat trees and learnt all about the New Year of the trees.  Pictured above are both classes, with our teachers Michelle, Lisa, Rachel and Cantor Ben-Moshe.

Shabbat Shira, weekend services and Crypto Judaism class…

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Congregants and Friends:
Join us for an action packed weekend of services and classes.  Friday night, January 10,  we welcome Shabbat with Kabbalat Shabbat services at 7pm.  Saturday morning, January 11, we have our bi-monthly Shabbat morning services, starting at 9am, with the Torah services at 9:45.  We will have children’s story time and the older Hebrew school children will help lead Ashrei.  A lovely kidush lunch will follow services.

Crypto Judaism Lecture – January 11 at 6:30 pm
Rabbi Peter Tarlow of A&M Hillel will continue his ongoing series of lectures on Crypto Judaism, Saturday night January 11, at Congregation Beth El. Rabbi Peter Tarlow is currently the Director for the Center of Hispanic-Jewish Relations at Texas A&M Hillel.  An interesting and knowledgeable speaker, Rabbi Tarlow will discuss Jews who were forced to convert on the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th and then 16th centuries.  The lecture will be given in both English and Spanish.

TORAH TROPE TUESDAYS!
If you missed the first class, it’s not too late to be able to join.  Torah trope is a beautiful and lifelong skill to have, so please join us next Tuesday at 7pm with our very own Bob Halperin.  An experienced and skilled reader, Bob Halperin learned Torah trope from Cantor Jacob Mendelson and also learned how to daven the Amud from Saul Wachs.  One of the most exciting things that you can do in Synagogue is be a leader – lead services, or chant from the Torah or Haftarah portions.This will be an ongoing class every Tuesday night at 7:00 and will continue for a few months.   If you’ve not yet learned to chant Torah, here is your opportunity. It is an amazing skill to learn.to learn Torah Trope?  Join us Tuesday nights starting January 7th for an ongoing class in Trope.

Hazzan Ben-Moshe’s weekly message:
Our parshah this week, B’shallah, deals mostly with the crossing of the Sea of Reeds and the subsequent Song of Redemption.  The Song, as well as the Song of D’vorah in the haftarah have caused this Shabbat to be called Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song.  We should not, however, overlook the end of the parshah, with the Divine promise that “all the diseases with which I put on Egypt I will not put on you, for I am the Lord your Healer”.  The Sages explain that while healing ultimately comes from God, it is effected on Earth through doctors.  Jewish Tradition teaches us that it is forbidden to live in a place without a doctor, and a doctor’s orders can override commandments such as the observance of Shabbat or the fast of Yom Kippur.  We humans thus become God’s partners in healing, as in so much of His work in this world.  Shabbat Shalom.

Start 2014 off At Beth El – Amazing classes coming up

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Congregants and Friends,
Please join us for our regular, but inspiring Friday night services at 7pm tonight, January 3, 2014.  We have a host of exciting classes coming up, truly something for everyone.  Please read below and join us for these fascinating classes.
Enhance Your Davening:
Interested in sharpening your synagogue skills and learning more about the service?  Gabbai Bam Rubenstein will be teaching an ongoing Enhance Your Davening class on second Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 pm at Congregation Beth El.  Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 pm This class will cover Shucheling, mumbling, clapping and bowing, why we do these things and their history. Wanting to share his knowledge and help inform and educate the community, Bam Rubenstein is a lively speaker whose classes are sure to be educational and entertaining.  Bam, a native of New York, grew up in Queens, graduated from Hebrew High School at Forest Hills Jewish Center, and attended both extension courses and Torah Leadership Seminars at Yeshiva University.  Bam will share his knowledge and education in this ongoing series, which was originally termed Davening for Dummies, but was renamed to indicate that the class is open to all regardless of your level of knowledge. 

Torah Trope Tuesdays – 7:00 PM Want to learn Torah Trope?  Join us Tuesday nights starting January 7th for an ongoing class in Trope from Bob Halperin.  An experienced and skilled reader, Bob Halperin learned Torah trope from Cantor Jacob Mendelson and also learned how to daven the Amud from Saul Wachs.  One of the most exciting things that you can do in Synagogue is be a leader – lead services, or chant from the Torah or Haftarah portions.This will be an ongoing class every Tuesday night at 7:00 and will continue for a few months.   If you’ve not yet learned to chant Torah, here is your opportunity. It is an amazing skill to learn.


Crypto Judaism Lecture – January 11 at 6:30 pm
Rabbi Peter Tarlow of A&M Hillel will continue his ongoing series of lectures on Crypto Judaism, Saturday night January 11, at Congregation Beth El. Rabbi Peter Tarlow is currently the Director for the Center of Hispanic-Jewish Relations at Texas A&M Hillel.  An interesting and knowledgeable speaker, Rabbi Tarlow will discuss Jews who were forced to convert on the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th and then 16th centuries.  The lecture will be given in both English and Spanish.   A warm, friendly and welcoming congregation, Congregation Beth El, provides an alternative to larger synagogues.  A traditional conservative shul, Congregation Beth El is located in northwest Austin only a few miles from the Dell Jewish Community Campus.  We invite you to join us at one of our services or events.  For additional Information check out our web page at www.bethelaustin.org

Hazzan Ben-Moshe’s weekly message:  
In this week’s parshah, Bo, we read of the establishment of the Jewish calendar, and of the first of the month of Aviv (Nisan) as the first of the year. According to the Mishnah, this was the beginning of the royal and administrative year, and was one of four New Years.  Of course, we are all familiar with Rosh Hashanah in the fall, the first day of Tishrei.  In addition, the first of Elul was the New Year for tithes, and in two weeks we will celebrate T’u BiSh’vat, the fifteenth of Sh’vat, the New Year for trees.
I hope that everyone had a Happy New Year on the secular calendar, and that we take this new secular year as well as the New Month of Sh’vat to renew ourselves and our commitment to our Jewish path.  Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Tarlow’s Weekly Parasha:
This week’s parashah is called Bo. You will find it in the Book of Exodus: 10:1 – 13:16.  On a superficial level the parashah deals with the three final plagues, that act as the coup de grace and culminate in Pharaoh’s demanding that Israel leave Egypt.  In this week’s parashah we read about the plague of locusts, the plague of darkness, and finally the ultimate plague: the slaying of the first born. Throughout the parashah there is a sense of turning to the past, of wondering about the future, and of living in a present marked by fear.

On this first level of analysis we can argue that all three plagues have to do with darkness.  The Hebrew word used for this darkness is “choshekh” meaning both a physical and moral darkness. Choshekh is more than merely not seeing with the eyes, it is also the darkness that does not permit us to see with the heart.  Choshekh  is more than the mere absence of light, rather it is the looking away of another’s pain, the lack of respect that we show each other and the depriving of another person of his/her freedom. It is the choosing not to see another person in need.  Choshekh is the darkness that fell across Europe during the days of the Portuguese and Spanish Inquisitions and then again during the Holocaust. Choshekh is the almost intentional looking away at another’s person’s suffering, the choosing to see no evil, to hear no evil and to do nothing about evil

On a political level, upon reading last week’s and this week’s parashah we see Pharaoh as a symbol of a leader who was incapable of adapting to new realities.  Pharaoh was a leader who was afraid of change. In this week’s parashah we see Pharaoh, immersed in intellectual darkness.  The text presents Pharaoh as a tragic figure, lingering on the empty stage of history and fearful that his plans had gone astray.

This week’s lesson then is about leadership. Pharaoh was consumed by the darkness of his mind.  Pharaoh could not see beyond his paradigm, he was caught in an ideology that was no longer working, and surrounded by yes-men.  Pharaoh could not understand that his world was changing, that he would cease to be the master of his slaves, instead his slaves would worship G’d rather than a man.  Pharaoh represents the idea that a government that sees itself as all knowing and all-giving is in the end trying, like those in the Tower of Babel, to replace G’d with man and in the end would fail.
Parashat Bo teaches us that ideology of any kind that exists to serve the power of the state is false, be that ideology from the right, such as fascism or from the left, such as communism.
Does the text teach us this basic lesson by showing us that Pharaoh, a symbol of other false so called Messiahs throughout history, had become a mere prisoner of his own accumulated choices?  Contrast Pharaoh with the leadership in Nineveh in the book of Jonah.  In one case we see leaders who had the vision to change course when confronted with error, in the other case, we see a leadership consumed by the plague of darkness.   The text teaches us this lesson with the term “hachbadat lev faro” is “the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart”
The Hebrew phrase means more than merely being stubborn. It infers a sense of false pride, r a refusal to see reality, of choosing to live in moral choshekh/darkness.   How often do each of us become so prideful that we are willing to harden our hearts and live in darkness rather than allow the light to open our eyes to the realities in which we live? How often are we blind to our own mistakes or become enslaved to an idea or concept that is no longer valid?

This week’s parashah then is about choice, of living in the realm of choshekh, of darkness, of ignorance and of moral decay or exposing ourselves to “or” light and hope, freedom and new beginnings.  G’d gives us choices, the decision on which one to choose is up to us. How will you choose, darkness or light?