It's PURIM and we thought we'd share a brief bit of the festivities from Beth El Jacob the Orthodox Congregaiton of Des Moines and Iowa. Several of our members, friends and family here and a great ending by Rabbi Aaron Schwarzbaum. Have a great holiday! See you in SHUL!
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February 2010
February 28, 2010
February 23, 2010
It's PURIM at Beth El Jacob
Mixing, rolling, filling and baking! We're making ready for Purim and YOU are invited to come and share a wonderful weekend!
We get started with the holiday right after Havdallah this Saturday evening with the Megillah reading (from the Book of Esther). THEN...it's on to music, food, stories and fun! We'd love to have you come and be part of the event! It is FREE if you reserve in advance by calling the shul at 515-274-1551. OR...IF YOU JUST SHOW UP it's just $10.
Then...are we done? NOPE: On Sunday morning following services it's More Megiallah! Stop by for Shacharis on Sunday morning, and don't miss a word of Megillas Esther!
We must be DONE by now? NO.......
Then...on Sunday afternoon: It's the Purim Seudah will be held at 5PM. Sample Purim cuisine from around the world...(Seudah is $12 per person, pre-paid reservations are required.)
SOOOO...what do YOU have to do to take part in all of this? FIRST: Call to make sure we know you are coming...OR just respond to this notice with an e-mail. NEXT...COME!
It's Purim at Beth El Jacob..
See you in Shul!
February 18, 2010
"Hey Ma...We Made the New York Times!"
Welcome to Beth El Jacob the Orthodox Congregation of Des Moines and Iowa. Sure, we're proud of our city of Des Moines...but when we get great press from The New York Times... Well, we've got to brag a little.
This week the Times did an article about Des Moines. How impressed they were with the ability of business and government to work together on projects. About how leaders and everyday citizens get behind projects and get them done. How the city, not too long ago, realized that to be a vital community people actually had to LIVE downtown.
Sure we're proud...and thought you might like to read what the times wrote.
The next question: When are you going to make the move...and come to a community that is affordable and willing to help you grow in a congregation that really needs your input.
See you in shul...
February 14, 2010
Begging For Support?
Nearly every house of worship I know of finds they must stand on their head, beg or otherwise find a cool and nifty way to gather funds to keep the door open. This goes for churches, synagogues, temples you name it. Bet El Jacob is no different.
There are people here, and no doubt at your shul, that withhold their contributions because they don't like the rabbi or they don't like the way a prayer is said or they get angry because somebody did not announce their birthday.
Oh...how small and sad and pitiful...
This week's Torah Portion speaks to your responsibility...and mine. Parsha Terumah (Exodus 25:1 - 27:19) in the opening line gives us the direction, "G-d spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to the Children of Israel and let them take for Me a raised up portion (Terumah) from every man that motivates his heart."
The Jews were building the Tabernacle and nearly everything that was to go into the building of this holy place was to be given voluntarily. The people were so filled with a desire to create a resting place for the Shechinah that they were overwhelming in their response.
But...elders, leaders, members, boards, congregates, deacons, ministers, rabbis...today you know better? You find ways to not support your house of worship, you deny building a community, you withhold your gifts?
We, at Beth El Jacob, are so very proud and lucky to have people who have stepped up their donations. People from here and from far away who realize that having a truly Orthodox Congregation in the Middle of the Midwest is critical. And...we thank you. Thank you for increasing your dues, thank you for increasing your gifts, thank you for helping us grow and thrive....but most of all, thank you for paying attention to what G-d demands.
See you in shul!
February 09, 2010
Sunday School for You?
One of the really cool things about being a member of a small shul like Beth El Jacob is the opportunity to get involved in loads of programs. Back in October, at the urging of the membership, Eric Michaels began teaching Prayerbook Hebrew...The Easy Way. (By the way...the title is not so accurate.) We started with a couple of folks and it's grown in both students and time. We're now meeting for 90 minutes each Sunday Morning.
One of our members recently sniffed, "Sunday School? Where are the children?" We're right here and never too old to learn. Big UPS (thumbs up) to Eric and to my fellow students. You guys are "wicked smart"!
See you in Shul!!
February 07, 2010
Meeting New Folks...
Des Moines, Iowa seems to be at the crossroads of America. Each month we host Jews heading north or south or east or west. We're grateful to have Beth El Jacob this Orthodox Oasis here in the Middle of the Midwest.
This past Shabbat we met a great guy out of Brooklyn, NY. Bet you didn't know we have a Brooklyn, Iowa... Ed Weintrob was in town for the Iowa Newspaper Association meeting what an interesting person. Ed launched The Brooklyn Paper, a very successful (perhaps the first) free neighborhood newspaper in the crowded market of New York. That was back in 1978 and the paper was the hallmark of "community journalism". Today, we call it "hyper-local". At it's peak The Brooklyn Paper issued 55,000 copies a week. Long before many, The Brooklyn Paper went digital in the early 1990's.
Very Cool...
Ed sold his paper in 2009 and started Coney Media an mix of newspaper news and hyper-local information...once again, cutting edge. On Saturday night, Ed met me at our radio/TV station, Des Moines Local...LIVE to learn more about what we're doing in hyper-local broadcasting.
Ed, come back and bring the family...we really enjoyed the visit!
See you in Shul!
