Parashat Ekev – Shabbat shalom

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Friday Night Services, Tonight 8/28, at 7 PM. Join us in an uplifting, song filled kaballat shabbat service and leave your worries behind.

Saturday September 5th, at 9:30 PM we will be gathering for a beautiful and inspiring Slichot service, as well as Havdallah.

The next Saturday morning services are Saturday September 12 at 9 am. And of course, Rosh Hashanah starts Sunday September 13 at 7 PM at Beth El.

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Yesher koach to all those who helped lead services while the Cantor was on vacation last weekend. Bam Rubenstein for Friday night and Saturday services and Dvar Torah; Jacob Gilboa for reading the Torah; David Lippa for the Torah service; Rafael Eizraelov for the haftorah and Arthur Gurney for leading Mussaf in memory of his beloved mother Lorraine Gurney, of blessed memory, whose yahrtzeit was this past week.

Thank you also to Arthur for the kind Tzedakah in sponsoring the kidush in his late mother’s memory.

We would also like to wish Arthur a refua shlema and speedy recovery on behalf of the whole congregation.

Finally, we would like to wish Bam a hearty Mazal Tov on his acceptance to Rabbinical School. We look forward to sharing this wonderful journey with him.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week’s parshah, Ki Tetzeh, contains a large number of laws, both ritual and civil. By far, the majority of these laws are what we would call civil procedure-laws regarding debt, marriage and divorce, business ethics. As we approach the High Holidays and the Season of Penitence, we would do well to keep this proportion in mind. Our Tradition has always taught that mitzvot bein adam l’havero, between humans, are more important than those bein adam la-Makom, between humans and God. We are told that we cannot gain atonement on Yom Kippur until we have obtained forgiveness from our fellow humans. Similarly, the Sages taught that when one reaches one’s Final Judgement, the first questions asked will not be about ritual matters such as Shabbat or kashrut, but about business ethics. The synagogue, in other words, is important, but how we conduct ourselves outside the synagogue is even more important. Shabbat Shalom.

Hebrew School is finally starting THIS SUNDAY, August 30!
We are so excited about the coming year with the BERS (Beth El Religious School). Sundays at 10am the children will be having Sunday Fundays with their morot Shiry, Bev and Anat and sneaking in a whole lot of Jewish learning! For more information, go to info@bethelaustin.org

Community News:
JCC Senior Rosh Hashanah Luncheon will be Wednesday September 9th at 11:30 AM and is open to all seniors in the Austin Jewish community. Please go to www.shalomaustin.org for more details and e.mail annie.skelton@shalomaustin.org to RSVP or with any questions.

Grandpa Abe – “What would happen if G-d took a summer vacation?”

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Friday Night Services, Tonight 8/21, 7 PM

Saturday morning services are this week, 8/22 at 9 AM, with the Torah service at 9:45. Kiddush lunch is kindly sponsored by Arthur Gurney. Bagels, lox, ice cream and more will be served following services. There will also be a children’s story time. Please consider sponsoring an upcoming kiddush.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s weekly message:“One thing have I asked of the Lord, this I request-to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life….”. We are now in the month of Elul, approaching the Days of Awe, and we read these words from Psalm 27 morning and evening. At this time of year, we become more aware that we do live in the Presence of the Holy One, and that we should conduct ourselves accordingly. The shofar sounds in the morning, reminding us to wake up and take heed of our actions.May this month of Elul be truly a time of heshbon nefesh, accounting of the soul, for us and for the entire House of Israel.

From Grandpa Abe:
What Would Happen if God Took A Summer Vacation?
The subject of this article is almost frightening. We depend so much on our faith and our trust in the Almighty. It’s most important to worship in our fine sanctuary and to attend as regularly as possible. Our congregation has been extremely attentive and responsible for showing up when services are held. It’s been quite a long time since we were not able to make a minyan. I, for one, consider it an obligation and a pleasure to be able to worship at my synagogue. It is one of my rights as a free American. It falls way ahead of the right to vote and the right to bear arms. The good Lord comes first in my mind. And I hope in your mind. Our synagogue is so special. When I sit in our new pews and worship, I feel so good. I feel that these pews and this house of worship is here for a purpose. This is a good time for me to impress on you about the high holidays coming up next month. For all of you, who are new to our congregation, that is the time of the year to meet all those members that only come out once a year. I am only somewhat joking about that, but a lot of our congregants come as the need arises for yarhrzeits, weddings, high holidays and when we have great food. This old man would be very happy to see all of you here as much as possible. It is a place to find peace, get recharged and remotivated, and hang out with some great people. Isn’t our synagogue really starting to look excellent? So much has happened in the last year. It really has taken on a new look under our current leadership. Dor ‘L Dor,Grandpa Abe

Hebrew School is re-starting August 30!
We are so excited about the coming year with the BERS (Beth El Religious School). Sundays at 10am the children will be having Sunday Fundays with their morot and sneaking in a whole lot of Jewish learning! For more information, go to info@bethelaustin.org

PLEASE note that the High Holiday Schedule is up: http://bethelaustin.wpengine.com/high-holidays/

PLEASE note that the High Holiday schedule, updates from the shul and yearly dues statements were mailed out this week. Please let us know if you didn’t receive your copy. We appreciate everyone’s continued commitment to our special congregation and depend on donations and contributions to maintain this Jewel in the Austin Jewish community. Please note that you can make a donation online at our website www.bethelaustin.org/donate

Rabbi Tarlow’s weekly Parasha brought to you from the Center for Latino Jewish relations.
This week’s parashah’s name is “Shoftim.” You will find it in the Book of Deuteronomy: 16:17-21:9. The parashah presents us with the second part of Moses’ great third soliloquy. We began this speech last week. Now in part two of Moses’ speech he defines what it means to be a “holy people”. The text tells us that to be an “am kadosh/a holy nation” there must be a fair system of administrative justice. Furthermore this state must administer this equally and fairly to all of its citizens. The text argues for standardization of laws and a system in which both the judges (shoftim) and the administrators of justice (shotrim/law enforcement) work in unison. The state is to show no favoritism to any citizen simply because of his (her) social class, or wealth. Instead the person is to be judged merely on the merit of his (her) actions. It is not easy to translate the Bible’s idea of justice. The Hebrew word “tzedek” has no English equivalent. Tzedek is the point of encounter between justice and righteousness. Tzedek is not justice for the sake of vengeance, or simply for the sake of punishment, but rather justice for the sake of repairing the world (tikkun-olam). Although in the Western world we often associate the word justice closely with the word “punishment,” the Biblical text ties the concept of “tzedek” to the word “tzedakah,” meaning actions that allow another to stand on his/her own and be(come) a useful member of society.” Perhaps we may say that tzedek is closer to repairing a wrong then to taking vengeance for that wrong.This week’s parasha’s theme is best stated in its opening verses when it states: (16:20) “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof/Justice, Justice, you shall pursue.” The word is repeated twice to emphasize the concept that it is the pursuit of tzedek/justice upon which a legal system must be based. The rabbis understood that we must pursue tzedek even if it means that incurring financial loss or a loss of prestige. Instead the Halachah (Rabbinic law) insists that we pursue “tzedek” not for gain, but simply because the pursuit of justice/tzedek is the right thing to do.It is for this reason that the Halachah also recognizes that tzedek requires an element of mercy. It demands that we ask ourselves if punishments meted out meet the standard of pursuing “ zedek.” Later on in the chapter (Deut. 17:11) we read the phrase: “lo tasur min-ha’davar asher-yagidu l’chah yamin usmol: you shall not turn aside from this sentence (given by the judges) once it is pronounced, neither to the right nor to the left”. What does this phrase tell us about the role of judges? Is this simply a sentence upholding the rule of law? Yet the Halachah asks freely admits that judges too can err. What then if the judge’s verdict is wrong? The text challenges us to ask how we both uphold the law and at the same time seek tzedek when the law is either no longer valid or wrong?How do we face a judge that may be corrupt and makes a morally unacceptable judgment? These are questions that go to the heart of this week’s parashah and are as valid today as they were over three thousand year’s ago. What do you think? How do you pursue the idea of “tzedek”?

Parashat Re-eh – shabbat shalom

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Friday Night Services, Tonight 8/14, 7 PM

The next Saturday morning services are next week, 8/22 at 9 AM

This Sunday August 16 from 10 am onwards, we are having a mini-workday getting the shul ready for the High Holidays. Please stop by and lend a hand; cleaning, sorting, touch up painting and general shul beautifying.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This Shabbat begins the month of Elul, and we read Parshat Re’eh. The parshah contains the words “…therefore choose life”. As we begin to enter the High Holiday season, and begin to blow the shofar to awaken us to examine our deeds, we need to see that our choices lead to life. We must live our lives in as positive a way as possible. Therefore choose life-not stagnation, but renewal. Shabbat Shalom v’Hodesh Tov-a peaceful Shabbat and a Good Month for us all.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

MORE SISTERHOOD SUMMER FUN!
THIS Sunday August 16, at 1 PM at Beth El, Shiry will be showing us how to decorate a cake for special occasions or shabbat. Please bring your own undecorated cake – like a simple sponge cake, and get ready to turn it into an edible work of art. All are welcome! Please bring a healthy kosher nosh to share.

Morah Shiry’s Conversational Hebrew class concludes this Thursday August 20
Join us at 7:00 PM for another in the interactive, hands on class with our very own Morah Shiry. This class will feature an awesome ISRAELI Falafel meal from MAOZ ! Students will practice their Hebrew speaking skills as well as eating a yummy kosher meal! At 8 PM, Gabbai Bam will be davening mincha and give a short dvar! It is free and open to all and you will definitely learn something new.
New classes are forming in September so let us know if you are interested.

Hebrew School is gearing up to start on August 30!
We are so excited about the coming year with the BERS (Beth El Religious School). Sundays at 10am the children will be having Sunday Fundays with their morot and sneaking in a whole lot of Jewish learning! For more information, go to info@bethelaustin.org

PLEASE note that the High Holiday Schedule is up: http://bethelaustin.wpengine.com/high-holidays/
Rabbi Tarlow’s weekly Parasha brought to you from the Center for Latino Jewish relations.
The name of this week’s parashah is: “Re’eh” (meaning “See”). You will find it in the Book of Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17. The parashah seems to be one of continual challenges. It challenges us to make the right decisions. It challenges us to develop a sense of group cohesiveness. It challenges us to observe G’d’s festivals. It challenges us to be wise enough to distinguish between ‘false prophets’ (poor leaders/the trends of any particular time) and real prophets (people who place the national good before their own). It asks us to be discerning in what we see and how we interpret what we see. Perhaps its underlying question is: “Should you believe what you see?”This section revolves around two major themes: (1) Seeing is not necessarily believing and (2) too much freedom may lead to anarchy. The parashah seems to be stating that we must create a balance between the individual’s desires and the national good. We are free, but only to a certain point. Throughout this week’s parashah we learn that false leadership can make us believe (Re’eh = See) that good is evil and evil is good. The media’s often poor (or dishonest) coverage of the current events and especially the Middle East is an example of such a warning. How often have the media placed their own agendum ahead of truth or taken facts out of context so as to make good seem evil and evil appear as good? Perhaps what is even more tragic is that when facts get in the way of the media’s politics then facts are simply eliminated. How often do we need to worry more about what we do not see, then what we do see? How often do the media cover up inconvenient facts or issues that go against their narrative? Perhaps this ancient but very modern text is reminding us that what we see/read must be carefully scrutinized with a bit of rational skepticism. How often has Israel suffered due to the media’s falsification of facts? How often do the media simply repeat false ideas or publish misleading headlines and then quote each other? Re’eh is all about consequences. It teaches us that when we allow ourselves to be deceived, when we simply believe without questioning then in the end chaos reigns. Re’eh reminds us not simply to accept a political agendum but to think for ourselves, to ask if the statement is logical and if we are being propagandized by the way that so called facts are presented. Moses warns us of the consequences of believing all that one “sees”. He reminds us that when we allow group-think to overtake rational thought then a society faces an uncertain future. The way that we perceive reality leads to how we act, and those actions then touch not only our personal life, but also the lives of all those with whom we live. What do you think? Do you trust what you see in the media?

Shabbat shalom – Parashat Ekev

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Friday Night Services, Tonight 8/7, 7 PM

Saturday morning services, this Saturday 8/8 at 9 AM, with the Torah service at around 9:45 and children’s story time at 11. A delicious kidush follows services.

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This weeks parshah, ‘Ekev’, gives us the origin of one of the unique practices of Jewish Tradition-that of reciting Birkath Hamazon, the “Grace After Meals”. Many, if not most religious traditions incorporate a prayer before eating, to express gratitude for one’s meal. Our practice is to recite a prayer afterwards-“And you shall eat and be satisfied, and praise Hashem your God for the good Land which God gave you.” We are to say Birkath Hamazon after eating bread in the amount of an olive’s bulk or more. It has been pointed out that in so doing, we go above and beyond the Commandment-we praise God even if we are not satisfied by our meal. Quite possibly the most important religious attitude to take is one of gratitude, for everything that we receive in our lives. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

MORE SISTERHOOD SUMMER FUN!
Sunday August 16, at 1 PM at Beth El, Shiry will be showing us how to decorate a cake for special occasions or shabbat. Please bring your own undecorated cake – like a simple sponge cake, and get ready to turn it into an edible work of art. All are welcome! Please bring a healthy kosher nosh to share.

Morah Shiry’s Conversational Hebrew class continues Wednesday August 12 (new date)
Join us at 7:00 PM for another in the interactive, hands on class with our very own Morah Shiry. This class will feature an awesome ISRAELI Falafel meal from MAOZ ! Students will practice their Hebrew speaking skills as well as eating a yummy kosher meal! At 8 PM, Gabbai Bam will be davening mincha and give a short dvar! It is free and open to all and you will definitely learn something new.

New classes are forming in September so let us know if you are interested.

Hebrew School is gearing up to start on August 30!
We are so excited about the coming year with the BERS (Beth El Religious School). Sundays at 10am the children will be having Sunday Fundays with their morot and sneaking in a whole lot of Jewish learning! For more information, go to info@bethelaustin.org

 

Rabbi Tarlow’s weekly Parasha brought to you from the Center for Latino Jewish relations.
This week’s parashah (weekly section) is called “Ekev.” You will find it in the book of Deuteronomy 6:12-11:25. Like much of Deuteronomy, this parashah teaches us its lessons by means of farewell speeches. Moses continues his review of Israel’s history, emphasizing the rights of the people to the land, and their need to love the stranger. Deep within the text we find one of the most famous of all of Deuteronomy’s refrains. In Chapter 8:3 we read; “Lo al ha’lechem lvado yichey ha’adam/Humans do not live/survive by bread alone..” Read out of context it appears to be a text that preaches the need for spirituality. If we read the full text a different concept appears to emerge. The second half of the verse reads: “ki col-motzah fi Adoshem yechey ha’adam/for rather humans live/survive on whatever it may be that G’d decrees.” In other words, despite the fact that we might like to think that we control our lives, in reality we do not control the events of our lives, but rather we merely control the way we choose to face those events. Is this concept far removed from modern religious thought that is far less deterministic and argues that we are responsible for our actions? Linguistically, however, the text reinforces this dual notion The Hebrew reader cannot fail to connect the word “lechem/bread” to the word “milchamah/war,” and the word “motzah/product” to the word “motzie/he who brings forth nourishment.” Is the text reminding us that we have both a spiritual and pecuniary side? Our challenge then becomes: how do we balance the material and the spiritual? Do we control both aspects of our lives? Is the text teaching us to be humble and the same time it also provides us with a gentle reminder that all nations, and all creation, exist at the will of G’d? From this perspective, both war and bread come from G’d, and both good and evil are part of G’d’s plans. How do we combine this concept of G’d with a G’d who gives us “free will”? Taken as a whole, this entire parashah reminds us that it is dangerous to be too sure of oneself, and it is especially dangerous for a nation to believe too much in its leaders. When people are convinced of their total goodness they become both arrogant and failures. When nations refuse to see their leaders’ errors, and when nations turn their leaders into gods, tragedy follows. This week’s parashah argues that success in life is not determined so much by what we do as by what we do with the ”hand in life that we are dealt.” In other words, no one controls life, but we do control how we choose to react to life’s events. What do you think? As we in the US gear up for our almost continuous election cycle, how do we use these concepts to judge candidates from both parties? What does the text say to you about your life and any nation’s political life? Does the text make you uncomfortable or contemplative?