Mishkan and news from a special congregant

Friday Night Shabbat Services are Tonight 2/26, at 7 PM.
Candle lighting in Austin is at 6:09 PM

Our Saturday morning service is TOMORROW shabbat February 27, at 9 AM. Special children’s Purim story time at 10:30, kidush following services.

Shabbat Across America!
Friday March 4, at the special time of 6:30 PM we will be having another service and dinner as we celebrate with congregations across the US and Canada in SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA! Bring yourselves and your friends!

Cantor Ben Moshe’s Message
This week’s parshah introduces B’tzalel and Oholiav, the chief artisans of the the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. God tells Moshe that He has filled these two artists, as well as the other craftspeople doing the skilled work of design and building, with a “spirit of wisdom”-in other words, talent. What the Torah does not say, being parsimonious with words, is that their God-given talent was only the beginning point. The text does not tell us of the years of practice which B’tzalel and Oholiav and the others must have invested in order to become worthy of crafting God’s home among the People of Israel. We all have our gifts, and some may be more gifted in certain areas than others. However, those gifts can only reach their full potential if effort is applied to them. As humans, created in the Image of God(which is the translation of the name B’tzalel), we are called upon to use our God-given talents for holy and good purposes. Otherwise, they remain mere potential. Shabbat Shalom.
Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Sisterhood Yoga Class – Free and open to all! Please join the Beth El sisterhood THIS Sunday February 28 at 1PM with professional corporate Yoga instructor Lisa Feder of Being Well Yoga. The class is tailor made for us and will be a great way to relax, hang out and chill. No previous Yoga experience needed. Please bring a healthy, kosher nosh and yoga mat.

BERS, Sunday school class meets this Sunday, February 28.

Are you ready for Purim at Beth El – we are gonna rock the house. Special treats in store for Wednesday March 23, 7:30 PM. Entertaining Megilla reading, music, delicious hamentaschen, some L’ Chaims and a few surprises – such as….. KLEZMER MUSIC with LOS KLEZMEROS! Back by popular demand!

Kidish Crew Kudos! Thank you to the wonderful crew of Mary, Genny, Sarah, Sara, Iris, Allene and Michelle!

News from a special congregant:
Wanted to share with you that one of our longtime congregants Herb Kadish sends his best wishes to Beth El and all his dear friends here. Herb, who was a regular at Friday nights for more than 25 years with his beloved Phyllis of blessed memory, moved to Chicago at the young age of 89 four years ago to be closer to his family. Herb, we miss you too and were so happy to hear from you!

Community News: The Mysteries of the 613 Commandments.
Beth El is proud to be a host and sponsor of this fascinating educational program. Wednesdays 12-1:30 PM $18/class or $50 for the entire three part series.
By tradition, there are 613 commandments, or mitzvot, in the Hebrew Bible. For Jews, these mitzvot – taken together – inform the life by which God calls us to live. Jews have all sorts of differing ideas about which of these mitzvot should actually be followed and how. But rarely do we give them a fresh look to study and discuss how they might give guidance to how we live in our own time. This session will attempt to begin that discussion in our community by exploring a way of examining the mitzvot as classified by Maimonides. Taught by Sandy Kress. This is a lunch and learn, please bring only dairy, parve or veggie.
Series 1: “Our Relationship with God”: February 24, March 2, 9 at Temple Beth Shalom, 7300 Hart Lane
Series 2: “Our Relationship with Others”: March 23, 30, April 6 at Congregation Beth El, 8902 Mesa Dr.
Series 3: “The Requirements of Justice” : April 20, 27, May 4 at Congregation Agudas Achim, 7300 Hart Lane To register please go to:www.shalomaustin.org/jll