Friday Night Services, 5/29, at 7:00 pm

Shabbat Morning Beginner’s Services, 5/30, at 10:00 am
Rabbi Gisser and Cantor Ben-Moshe will lead us through the shabbat morning services with explanations and meanings.
Whether you know the service or are fairly new to it, you will definitely learn the ins and outs of the shabbat morning service. A light kiddush will follow the service.

Sunday at 10 am the Beth El Religious School will be in session.

This last week the congregation gathered to wish Esther Kadoch farewell as she embarks on her new adventures in Colombia. We wish her a safe trip and all the best! May you always think of your friends here at Beth El when you look at the lovely quilt that Keren and friends made for you. We will miss you.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
In this week’s parshah, Naso, we see words of blessing that we still use today-Birkat Hakohanim, the Priestly Blessing. In ancient times, this blessing was recited by Aharon and his descendants in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, and even today Kohanim recite this blessing in our synagogues, in the Ashk’nazi tradition using a tune that is at least 1100 years old. The familiar Vulcan Salute from the TV series Star Trek was taken from actor Leonard Nimoy’s memories of seeing the kohanim hold their hands in that fashion as a boy in synagogue. We also use this blessing for our children on Shabbat and Festival evenings. Not long ago, in my capacity as a chaplain at Seton Medical Center, I was called to see a woman who was suffering from mental illness. She related to me that she had found out that she had some Jewish ancestors, and asked me to bless her with the”Aaronide Blessing”-Birkat Kohanim. Hearing those words, as I laid my hands on her head, seemed to bring her comfort-words of blessing reaching forward from over three millennia ago to soothe a troubled soul. May the words of our Torah always bring such blessing to all who hear them. Shabbat Shalom.