Parashat Vayeshev

Friday Night Kaballat Shabbat Services, Tonight Friday 12/4, at 7 PM.

Our next Saturday morning services will be December 12 at 9 AM!

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:
This week’s parshah, Vayeshev, deals mostly with the story of Joseph as he is sold into slavery by his brothers and winds up in Egypt. As Joseph entered Egypt, perhaps he saw the pyramids at Giza, built hundreds of years before, and marveled at the mighty civilization, already a millennium old, that flourished on the banks of the Nile. What the Egyptians didn’t realize, of course, is that Joseph was bringing an idea which was greater than all the monuments of Egypt-the idea that there is One God Who created all, and who is concerned with the welfare of the poor and downtrodden. The monuments of Egypt endure, of course-the pyramids, the Sphinx, the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, and many others-but the civilization that built them is long gone, and the civilization founded by the family of Joseph, our civilization, endures. The gods of Egypt-Ra, Horus, Isis, Amon-are artifacts. The One God is now recognized not only by us, the Children of Israel, but by the Egyptians themselves. That is our legacy to Egypt, and to the world. Shabbat Shalom. Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

ONE WEEK AWAY! Our annual Beth El Hanukkah party is Saturday evening, December 12 at 6 PM.
Havdallah, candle lighting, food, fun, music, REAL ISRAELI SUFGANIOT, Kevin’s hippy latkes, lots of traditional latkes, kid goody bags and more. This event has been sponsored by an anonymous donor, but please bring kosher parev deserts, paper goods or kosher drinks.

***Refua shlema to Fred Miller who is currently at Brookdale on Spicewood Springs (room 122) and would welcome visitors during his recuperation.

The BERS making yummy Latkes or Levivot last Sunday. This Sunday, December 6, Dana Baruch will be our special guest and will be doing a wonderful Channukah activity with the kiddos and any adults that want to join us.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

Latkepalooza Sunday December 6th from 12-3 pm
***with Celebrity Chefs• Exciting Announcements• Activities & Entertainment for All Ages! Free and open to the entire community.

Parents of Children with Special Needs Discussion Group — In December, the Parents of Children with Special Needs Discussion Group, Dr. Nakia G. Scott, M.D. will provide brief comments and dialogue with parents about the role of psychiatry in addressing the behavioral health needs of children. Date: Sunday, December 13th· 9:30-11 AM · Jewish Community Center, Federation Trailer To learn more about the group or to RSVP, please contact Mike Hurewitz, LCSW at (512) 250-1043, mike.hurewitz@shalomaustin.org

Shakespeare as Propaganda Theater During Nazi Germany Tuesday December 8 12:15 PM Room 150D Free to attend. Dr. Janice Weiss was on the drama faculty at the University of Houston-Downtown, has directed over 30 plays and musicals across the country, and chaired the TexasCommission on the Arts’ theater panel.Bring your own brown bag lunch. We’ll supply the beverages.