Weekend services and Grandpa Abe’s Column

Show your love for the shul – come to services this weekend! **Services Friday Night, 2/13, at 7:00 pm and Saturday Morning, 2/14, at 9:00 am

**Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly message:
Our parshah this week begins with the words “V’eleh hamishpatim”, “And these are the laws”, beginning a series of commandments about various aspects of life. The word (in Hebrew, prefix) “and” is significant. Last week we read of Revelation on Mt. Sinai and the giving of the “Ten Commandments”. Of… course, our Tradition teaches that there are 603 more mitzvot in the Torah, and that Revelation continued. That is the meaning of “And these are the laws”-the laws of our parshah were given on Sinai as well, and are just as important as the “Ten Commandments”. May we all fulfill as many of God’s mitzvot as possible. Shabbat Shalom.

**Grandpa Abe’s Column
The Loss of A Special Person
As you all know by now, Irene Kanter has left us. I have known Irene for over 35 years, maybe longer. My mother and dad used to live around the corner from them on Shoal Creek Blvd. Irene was an educator in the Austin Independent School District. Ordinarily, this would not mean a whole lot to me, but I remember one day that my son had to take the first half of a class to get credit as he had not taken it. Irene, or should I say, Mrs. Kanter was more than helpful getting him enrolled in summer school and back on track. I found her to be a very compassionate and all-around sweet person. Over the years, I would help the family out with some of their problems on their home. She and Marvin were most appreciative of whatever I would do for them. If any of you have ever been to Irene and Marvin’s house, it’s got to be the cleanest house in Austin. I realize that there were only two people living in that house, but what an excellent housekeeper. I know that Ann Richards once said, “when I go, I don’t want to be remembered for my clean house, but for what I did.” In this case, Irene did a lot. She, for years, took care of the grounds at the synagogue and headed up the Sunday School. We would not have a sprinkler system today if it wasn’t for Irene. She took so much pride in keeping the lawn looking good. I might add with her husband Marvin. We are a creature of habit. Irene and Marvin always sat on the right side, in the middle, near the door. Marvin with his baseball yarmulke and Irene looking like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Such an attractive woman. I think this story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Irene’s daughter. Irene and Marvin had one child, Shelly. I met Shelly several times. She has taken on a lot of her mother’s traits such as being extra sweet and compassionate.

Dor V’Dor Grandpa Abe

**Movies in the Shul A Night With the King February 21, at 6:30 pm. Movie followed by a discussion led by Rabbi Michael Gisser.

**Save the Date PURIM Wednesday March 4 7:00 PM

**Save the Date Shabbat Across America Friday Night, March 13, 2015