Parashat Veyetze

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Happy Thanksgiving weekend! Please note that we have our lovely Friday night services at 7 p.m. tonight as every Friday night of the year. We’ll be there to greet you with a smile!
Shabbat morning services are tomorrow, Saturday November 25 at 9 a.m., with children’s story time at around 10 a.m. Kidish lunch immediately follows, this week featuring Shereen’s lovely soup and salad. Services and soup sure to warm your soul.
No Sunday school for the BERS this Sunday, but it resumes Sunday December 3
HOLD THE DATE : Sunday December 17 at 5 pm The Hanukkah Party of the year. Klezmer music with Los Klezmeros, Latkes (traditional and our famous hippy latkes), hot dog dinner, Israeli sufganiot, menorah lighting, and fun activities for the children and the whole family!
Inaugural Men’s Club event at Beth El. Sunday December 3 at 5p.m. at Beth El. Please join the guys for the first Men’s Club meeting. Camaraderie, a couple of beers, and so much more! Please plan to join.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly Message:
This week we read Parshat Vayyetze, which details the life in exile of the Patriarch Ya’akov. His twenty years of in Haran are some of the most significant of his life-he marries there, and all of his children but one are born there. One may be sure that neither he nor his parents, Yitzhak and Rivkah, expected such a turn in his fortunes. We are often presented with changes to our plans-as the Yiddish proverb goes, “A human plans and God laughs”. Sometimes events are out of our control-but we can always control how we react to events and deal with them. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Chaye Sara and Anniversary Dinner

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dinnercake
Arie speech

Please note that we have our regular and inspiring Friday night services at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday November 10.
Our lovely Shabbat morning services are this Shabbat, Saturday November 11 at 9 a.m. We will have the Torah service at around 9:45 a.m. and a special Veteran’s Day Dvar Torah given by Mike London of the Jewish War Veterans. We deeply honor and appreciate all our Veterans, many of whom are in our congregation. We will have a delicious kidish lunch immediately following services.
Sunday school for the BERS is at the regular time of 10 a.m.
Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe Weekly Message:
This week’s parshah, Hayyei Sarah, begins with a detailing of the lifespan of our ancestress Sarah-“one hundred years, and twenty years and seven years”. The Sages notes this unusual phrasing and assigned meaning to it-“Sarah was as beautiful at one hundred years of age as at twenty, and as pure of spirit at twenty as at seven”. Sarah of course is the archetypal ancestress of our People-an example to emulate. While she was not perfect-as all humans are imperfect, no matter how great-we should certainly attempt to live up to the ideal which she set for us. Of course we cannot control our physical beauty, one way or another, but we can attempt to preserve the innocence and purity of youth. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote about preserving “radical amazement”-that quality of mind which is childlike (but not childish) in refusing to take what we experience for granted. May we, like Sarah, preserve our childlike innocence and sense of wonder. Shabbat Shalom.
Thank you – Toda Raba to all the wonderful folks who supported Beth El’s 36th Anniversary Celebration. We are deeply grateful to all who came, donated of their time and money, and helped make the evening so special. Here are just a few of the photos of this amazing evening, but more to follow. We are so grateful to our original founders who attended including Elaine Shapiro, Bobby and Phyllis Shapiro and the entire Shapiro family, Min Rice and family and Sol and Ruth Stavchansky and family. We were all deeply touched and inspired by the speeches given by Arie and Sol Stavchansky, Kevin Koeller, our current president Yosef Aguilar, Elaine Jacobs (and the gorgeous flowers and gift she presented) and our delightful m.c. Barry Mann. The Koellers especially would like to thank those generous and kind folks who also gave towards the sweet and deeply appreciated gift! They were touched beyond words. The decorating committee was unbelievable and made the place look spectacular. Thank you to Moshe Kass of Moshe K catering who provided a kosher dinner and Sara Kaye for her musical talents. The Silent auction was delightful and most importantly, the evening was an ongoing testament to the vision and commitment of the founders of Beth El. May our shul go from strength to strength and please continue to support Austin’s neighborhood shul, a place where people truly do chesed each and every day. Last but not least the Cantor and Shereen Russo Canadyfor their spiritual leadership of our congregation!
Check out the article in this month’s Jewish Outlook:
http://www.thejewishoutlook.com/…/congregation-beth-el-cele…

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Parashat Vayera and silent auction thank yous!

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Vayera 1gift basketsLight your candles by 6:23 and welcome in shabbat with Congregation Beth El, a place where everyone knows your name and greets you with smile!
Friday November 3- Friday Night Services will be at the regular time of 7:00 PM! We look forward to greeting you with a smile and a song.
Sunday school is at 10 AM this Sunday. We look forward to seeing the children.

This weekend! Beth El’s Double Chai Anniversary is THIS Sunday, November 5 at 6:15 PM. We have such a lovely celebration planned to honor our Beth El community and founders.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:

Rabbi Hamma the son of Rabbi Hanina said: “What is the meaning of the verse ‘You shall follow Hashem your God’?Is it possible for a human to follow the Divine Presence? Is it not written: ‘For Hashem your God is a devouring fire’? Rather, this means to follow the attributes of the Holy Blessed One….The Holy Blessed One visited the sick as it is written: ‘And (God) appeared to (Avraham) at Elonei Mamre’-so too should you visit the sick.”
Rabbi Hamma teaches us that it is a mitzvah, a commandment, to visit the sick and derives the mitzvah from this week’s parshah, Vayyera. The Midrash deduces that one of the purposes of the visit of three angels to Avraham was to comfort him after his circumcision, which is discussed immediately prior. The Sages teach that visiting the sick reduces their suffering by 1/60, especially if the visit is from a friend or family member. Numerous opportunities exist to fulfill this mitzvah in our community-please let me know if you are willing and able. And if you or a loved one is ill, please inform me or a board member so that we may visit you. May all who are ill find healing of body and spirit. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe
Congregation Beth El’s 36th Double Chai Anniversary is THIS Sunday November 5th 2017 at 6:15 PM. We will have an elegant kosher dinner by Moshe K catering, awesome silent auction and entertainment. Thank you to the many amazing people who have given countless hours and love to help make this event possible!

Thank you to our generous silent auction sponsors:
HEB Far West
Congregation Agudas Achim Sisterhood Judaica Shop (please note that CAA gift store will donate 10% of any purchase made at the gift store to Congregation Beth El if you designate us as the recipient).
Alamo Draft House
Amy’s Ice Cream
Austin Yoga Tree – Jonathan and Edith Troen
Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood Judaica Shop
Biderman’s Deli
Black Walnut Cafe
Blue Baker
Cap City Comedy Club
Chuy’s
Doubletree Hotel Northwest Arboretum
Esther’s Follies
Galaxy Cafe
Glow Spa & Wax House
JCC Fitness Center
Jorge Eduardo Salon
Koren Talmud set
Kriser’s Natural Pet Store
Massage Harmony
Mother’s Cafe
Nelo’s Cycle
P. Terry’s
Petticoat Fair
Phydeaux & Friends
Ready to Run
Rocket Electric Bikes
Smudge Studio
Starbuck’s
Sushi Zushi
The Moviehouse & Eatery
Trader Joe’s
YCN Media Group – Yifat Cohen Media Group
Noa Noa Design Solutions
Anita Lavie therapy
Amos Therapy
Jacob Gilboa – King Solomon glassware
Crafts by Sandy Massman
Yeti cooler valued at $300
Framed Beatles poster from 1964 US Tour
Beth El Men’s Club Inaugural meeting is Sunday December 3 at 5 PM! Several exciting events are planned.
PLEASE don’t miss.
Texas Liberator Project Ceremony
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Texas State Capitol
Senate Chamber
Austin, Texas
Time: 1:30 PM-3:30 PM*
*A private lunch for liberators will take place earlier.
Please join us as we honor the Texas Liberators of Nazi Concentration & Death Camps of the Second World War.
Please RSVP at the following link:
http://thgc.texas.gov/about/thgc-liberator-ceremony