chai from b et h el AUGUST 2017 | I SSUE NO 1
T HE CENT ER OF JEW I SH L I FE I N FORT BEND COUNT Y
Everyone w as ready for the Hi gh Holy Days and Rabbi Yi srael Salanter w as on hi s w ay to the synagogue w hen he heard ham m er blow s. The sound cam e from a sti ll-li t atti c w ork shop w here the tow n cobbler sti ll toi led. Reb Yi srael cli m bed up to that atti c and w atched the shoem aker bent over hi s unfi ni shed w ork . These w ere the tow nspeople?s shoes w hi ch they w ould need for the upcom i ng w i nter. ?What are you doi ng here sti ll w ork i ng at thi s late hour before the holi day?? The shoem aker rai sed hi s head and repli ed, ?As long as the candle i s sti ll burni ng, there i s sti ll ti m e to fi x thi ngs.? So Reb Yi srael Salanter w ent out i nto the streets and cri ed out, ?My fri ends! As long as the candle of our souls sti ll burns, there i s sti ll ti m e to repai r the w orld!" Thi s story i llustrates one of the m ost i m portant lessons of the Hi gh Holy Day season; nam ely, that there are alw ays opportuni ti es to change the w orld and there i s no better ti m e than ?hayom ?, today. As w e celebrate the creati on of our w orld, w e recogni ze there i s so m uch i n our w orld w hi ch i s i n need of ti k k un, repai r. Whether w e are look i ng locally, nati onally, or globally, w e are confronti ng seri ous i ssues w hi ch not only dem and our attenti on, but our acti on. As the resoundi ng blare of the shofar calls us to exam i ne our deeds, i t also rem i nds us of our obli gati on to set free the enslaved, shatter the bonds of oppressi on, and root out i njusti ce and di scri m i nati on i n all i ts form s.
Congregation Beth El 3900 Raoull Wallenberg Ln Missouri City, TX 77459 281.499.5066 | www.betheltx.org Ch ai f r om Bet h El is published on the 15th of each month and delivered electronically to members and friends. Want to receive Ch ai f r om Bet h El, email your request to be added to the list to adm in @bet h elt x.or g.
The task seem s i m possi ble. Too m uch to bear. But i n the face of encroachi ng shadow s, w e cannot throw our hands up i n despai r. We m ust not surrender to the dark ness. That i s not the Jew i sh w ay. We are com m anded to be an ?Or L?goyi m ? a li ght to the nati ons. We are obli gated to struggle agai nst the i ni qui ti es and i nequi ti es of the w orld. We m ust nouri sh the candles of our souls and spread i ts li ght to i llum i ne the li ves of those dw elli ng i n dark ness. Not tom orrow , but ?hayom .? L?shanah Tovah, Rabbi Joshua Lobel
by Rabbi Joshua L obel When i t com es to quali ti es a person can possess, Judai sm beli eves that w i sdom i s one of, i f not the m ost, i m portant. As our tradi ti on teaches us, there are certai n obli gati ons w e are responsi ble to perform w hose value cannot be m easured; am ong them honori ng one?s father and m other, vi si ti ng the si ck , perform i ng acts of lovi ng-k i ndness, and prayi ng w i th si nceri ty. But talm ud torah k ?neged k ulam - the study of Torah i s equal to them all. Why? Because i t leads to them all. It i s our beli ef that a person w ell versed i n our tradi ti on, w i th a true understandi ng of w hat i t m eans to be a Jew , w i ll, by defi ni ti on, pursue a li fe dedi cated to justi ce, understandi ng, com passi on, and peace. As w e begi n thi s new year of reli gi ous school, let us all stri ve to dedi cate ourselves to the pursui t of m eani ngful learni ng, thus tak i ng a bi g step tow ards creati ng a better w orld.
From Jodi Buck,
by K acy Rodriguez,
Education Director
Preschool Director CBE Preschool i s getti ng ready for another great year of fun and learni ng! Preschool starts on Monday, August 28th! Our teachers w i ll be busy w ork i ng to prepare the classroom s throughout the m onth of August. We can't w ai t to see everyone's sm i li ng faces out our Meet and Greet on Fri day, August 25th @ 11:30!
Ms. Kacy Rodri guez Ms. Mari lyn Gorel Ms. Marlene Chezes
From Rachel Paras, BEFT Y Advisor Beth El NFT Y Chapter
Ms. Cara Gehri ng Ms. Ili ssa Hoffpaui r Ms. Ali yah Rudoff
Beth El's NFTY group and advi sor w i ll be attendi ng thi s year's NFTY Sum m er Palooza at Greene Cam p Sept 1-4. Watch for the Septem ber i ssue for m ore on thi s fabulous w eekend.
5778 Hig h Holy Day Ser vice Sched ule Seli chot | 16 September Havdalah, fi lm , di scussi on and servi ce...........................................8:00PM
Rosh Hashanah Erev Rosh Hashanah: 20 September Servi ce........................................................................................................7:30PM Fi rst Day Rosh Hashanah: 21 September Morni ng Servi ce..................................................................................10:00AM* K-5th grade enri chm ent program ................................................10:30AM** Fam i ly Servi ce at Lost Creek Park ....................................................4:00PM Tashli ch at Lost Creek Park ................................................................4:30PM Second Day Rosh Hashanah: 22 September Servi ce......................................................................................................10:00AM
Shabbat Shuvah | 22 September Servi ce........................................................................................................7:00PM
Kever Avot v'Imahot | 24 September Cem etery Mem ori al Servi ce, Em anu El Mem ori al Park .............9:30AM
Yom Ki ppur Kol Ni dre: 29 September Servi ce........................................................................................................7:00PM Yom Ki ppur: 30 September Morni ng Servi ce..................................................................................10:00AM* K-5th grade enri chm ent program ................................................10:30AM** Yi zk or Servi ce...........................................................................................1:00PM Study Sessi on...........................................................................................2:00PM Fam i ly Servi ce..........................................................................................4:00PM Afternoon Servi ce/ Ne'i lah....................................................................5:00PM
Suk k ot | 4 October Di nner follow ed by servi ce.................................................6:00PM | 7:00PM
Sh'mi ni Atzeret - Si mchat Torah | 11 October Di nner follow ed by servi ce.................................................6:00PM | 7:00PM
Consecrati on | 9 October Servi ce........................................................................................................7:00PM *Babysi tti ng i s avai lable w i th pri or reservati ons. **Parents are encouraged to bri ng thei r chi ldren i nto the sanctuary at the start of servi ces at 10:00AM unti l aprox. 10:30AM, at w hi ch ti m e they w i ll i nvi ted to head to the enri chm ent program .
Shana Tovah
5778 BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE We w i ll soon be publi shi ng the Book of Remembrance for the Hi gh Holy Days, and i t i s our desi re to provi de a book that i s as com plete and correct as possi ble. The nam e of each yahrzei t i n the m em bershi p w i ll be i ncluded. If you w ould li ke to add a yahrzei t to your m em ber profi le, please call the Tem ple Adm i ni strator at 281.499.5066. You m any choose to add a speci al rem em brance, i n the form of a li ne or box, to the Book of Remembrance. The suggested donati on for each li ne i s $18.00 and for each box $36.00. Please return thi s form w i th a check for the total am ount of your donati on no later than Fri day, September 11, 2017. *Please note: there i s a m axi m um of tw o yahrzei ts per box. YAHRZEIT NAME: ____________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NAME: RELATION TO MEMBER: _____________________________________________________________ PICK ONE: _____LINE ____BOX
___________________________________________________________________
CONTACT PHONE AND/OR EMAIL: ___________________________________________________________________
YAHRZEIT NAME: ____________________________________________________________________ RELATION TO MEMBER: _____________________________________________________________ PICK ONE: _____LINE ____BOX
_____ x $18 = $_________________ _____ x $36 = $_________________
YAHRZEIT NAME: ____________________________________________________________________ RELATION TO MEMBER: _____________________________________________________________ $__________ Total Donation PICK ONE: _____LINE ____BOX
_____I have enclosed a check _____ I have made my donation online at BethElTX.org
YAHRZEIT NAME: ____________________________________________________________________ RELATION TO MEMBER: _____________________________________________________________ PICK ONE: _____LINE ____BOX
CHILDCARE REGISTRATION 5778 HIGH HOLY DAY
Chi ld care i s avai lable for chi ldren ages 18 m onths through 5 years. Chi ldren under the age of 10 for the Yi zk or servi ce only) Non-m em bers please add $2 per chi ld, per sessi on. Snack s and art acti vi ti es w i ll be provi ded. Make check s payable to Congregati on Beth El and return your paym ent w i th thi s form by September 15 to Congregati on Beth El | 3900 Raoul Wallenberg Lane | Mi ssouri Ci ty, TX 77459. Questi ons? Call the Temple offi ce at 281.499.5066 PARENT'S NAME: ____________________________________________________________________ PHONE: ________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________________________________________ CBE MEMBER: _____YES _____NO
Ch ild's Nam e
TOTAL AMOUNT ATTACHED: $_____________________________________________
Age
Er ev Rosh Hash an ah
Rosh Hash an ah Day
Kol Nidr e
Yom Kippu r & Yizkor
Af t er n oon & Ne'ilah
Sept 20 7:00pm $5 per ch ild
Sept 21 9:30am $7 per ch ild
Sept 29 6:30pm $5 per ch ild
Sept 30 9:30pm $7 per ch ild
Sept 30 4:30pm $3 per ch ild
Tot al Am t Du e per Ch ild
LET'S PUT THE "SISTER" BACK IN SISTERHOOD BRUNCH The CBE Si sterhood wants to RE-ENERGIZE, and we need YOU! Please come for BRUNCH at CBE on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 10:30 AM Your adm i ttance i s a "dai ry" di sh (frui t, eggs, tuna, veggi es, bli ntzes, m uffi ns, etc., etc.! - w e w i ll provi de bagels, spreads, coffee and jui ce).
Please RSVP by August 17 to the Temple offi ce at admi n@betheltx.org or CBE M M on the Web Questi ons? Contact Rachel Rosen, r3rosen@law -crg.com or Mi chelle Marlow e, m i chellere@earthli nk .net
HOPE TO SEE ALL THE WOM EN OF CBE THERE! Though there i s no obli gati on, thi s w i ll be an opportuni ty to pay your Si sterhood dues of $40.00 to help support Tem ple program s and needs.
START THE NEW YEAR W ITH A MITZVAH BE AN USHER We have several opportuni ti es for you to joi n our HHD Usher Corp. Select the date and ti m e, from the li st below and em ai l your request to Harry Hi m m elstei n, Usher Coodi nator at hhi m m elstei n@yahoo.com no later than Fri day, Septem ber 15.
2017/5778 USHER SCHEDULE Erev Rosh Hashanah - Wednesday, September 20 (servi ce begi ns at 7:30PM, ushers arri ve at 7:00PM) Rosh Hashanah Day 1 - Thursday, September 21 (servi ce begi ns at 10:00AM, ushers arri ve at 9:30AM) Rosh Hashanah Day 2 - Fri day, September 22 (servi ce begi ns at 10:00AM, ushers arri ve at 9:30AM)
Kol Ni dre/Erev Yom Ki ppur - Fri day, September 29 servi ce begi ns at 7:30PM, ushers arri ve at 7:00PM) Yom Ki ppur - Saturday, September 30 (servi ce begi ns at 10:00AM, ushers arri ve at 9:30AM) Yi zk or - Saturday, September 30 (servi ce begi ns at 1:00PM, ushers arri ve at 12:30PM) Ne'i lah - Saturday, September 30 (servi ce begi ns at 5:00PM, ushers arri ve at 4:30PM)
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST Ali ce Schi ffm an
8
Luci lle Braverm an
9
Jeff Novy
11
Yaffa Steubi nger
13
Henry Fackeldey
16
Larry Li nzer
18
Dale Rosen
1
Teresa Fri edm an
5
George Stark schall
11
Darrell Caraw ay
12
Ali son Hernandez
13
Natali e Kase
14
Rosa Gordon
16
Patri ci a Gui llory
16
Marc and Shelley Frank
10
Scott York
16
Andrew and Leah Caplan
16
Jeff Worm ser
17
Barry and Sharon Shapi ro
19
Kay Danzi ger
18
Jessi ca Sherm an
18
Douglas and Susan Selw yn
20
Angela Perry
20
Mark and Ellen Elli son
22
AUGUST
Douglas Li ftm an
20
Ji ll Morgenstern
24
Allan Meyer
26
Davi d Green
21
Marvi n and Ellen Greenfi eld
22
Aaron Schnei der
31
Rachel Rosen
22
Leonard and Jan Sadek
31
Bri an Perry
23
Shane Appelbaum
2
Ethan Maltz
4
Stacy Turner
23
Seth Stei ner
4
Eri c Rei ter
27
Deni se Selbst
27
Leti ci a Hi m m elstei n
28
Stanley Poscovsk y
28
Eli Spei ser
4
Logan Burke
5
Anni e Gri ppaldi
9
Brandon Wade
9
Melani e Wei nstei n
10
Zachary Sherm an
10
Benjam i n Levi nson
11
Eli zabeth Levi n
13
Hai ley Mescon
14
Ryan Beckelm an
15
Mackenzi e Turner
Matthew Ri ojas
1
Jordan Selbst
1
Ethan Hatti ngh
3
Jared Eason
10
Marc York
10
Dali a Kohn
11
17
Matthew Wolf
13
Asher Levi nson
19
Dali a Hatti ngh
14
Lucas Schei ner
20
Alexander Schei ner
14
Saw yer Kaplan
21
Em i ly Ferrei ra
15
Li ri Mendelbaum
22
Jake Sack s
18
Sofi e Mari no
24
Sam uel Berk o
19
Gi deon Allen
25
Megan Marlow e
21
Golan Allen
25
Mi a Li tofsk y
25
Charli e Maltz
26
Alexander Gui llory
26
Tara Brom fi eld
27
Ava New li n
26
Kam eron Lesovsk y
30
Ryan Claret
27
Katheri ne Krafcheck
31
Oli vi a Haas
27
Dani elle Cloni nger
29
Loui s Eagleton
29
SEPTEMBER Alan and Andrea Croft
1
Stanley and Jani ce Poscovsk y
2
Larry and Judy Ostrow
6
Ira and Hi lary Goldstei n
16
Mazel Tov to Judy and Larry Ostrow on the bi rth of thei r new granddaughter.
Th e con gr egat ion ext en ds it s h ear t f elt con dolen ces t o t h e f am ilies of M ar ia Capet illo an d Sh ir ley M u casey.
AUGUST 2017
AUGUST cont.
14 - Mem bershi p Com m i ttee Meeti ng
23 - Educati on Com m i ttee Meeti ng
20 - RS Teacher In-servi ce
25 - PS Meet & Greet
20 - Si sterhood Brunch
27 - CBE Open House
21 - PS Teacher In-servi ce (w eek long)
27 - Fi rst Day of Reli gi ous School
22 - Seni or Group Current Events
28 - Fi rst Day of Preschool
SEPTEM BER 2017
SEPTEM BER cont.
3 - Seni or Group lunch
10 - Reli gi ous School
4 - Labor Day (No Preschool & Tem ple Offi ce Closed)
10 - Intro to Hebrew & Judai sm (Adults)
5 - Hebrew Classes begi n (Hebrew School Parent Meeti ng)
10 - Li sa Li lli en i n Houston @ Beth Yeshurun sponsored by CBE Si sterhood 12 -Seni or Group Current Events
5 - Executi ve Board Meeti ng
13 - Hebrew Classes
9 - Torah Study Returns
13 - CBE Board Meeti ng
10 - Confi rm ati on Class
16 - Seli chot
FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT SERVICE: 7PM SATRUDAY M ORNING TORAH STUDY: 9AM WEEKLY EVENTS: Boy Scouts meet ever y Monday; Tor ch meets ever y Thur sday FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE EVENTS VISIT WWW.BETHELTX.ORG
DedicateA Mahzor or Commentary
Ou r High Holy Day Pr ayer book gu ides ou r spir it u al jou r n ey du r in g t h e m ost of sacr ed of season s.
Tor ah com m en t ar y: -
-
In clu des t h e Tor ah , Haf t ar ah an d addit ion al r abbin ic com m en t ar y. Used f or Sh abbat ser vice an d Tor ah st u dy.
Dedicat ion s can be m ade in celebr at ion of a m ilest on e or in h on or / in m em or y of a loved on e M ah zor Book plat es - $36; Com m en t ar y Book plat es - $54 Limited dedication opportunities available for the Commentary
Con t act t h e Tem ple of f ice t o r eser ve you r dedicat ion plaqu e Em ail: adm in @bet h elt x.or g - Ph on e: 281.499.5066