Beit HaLev
Rabbi-Cantor Galit-Shirah conducts online services for Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services. The Friday, Feb. 24, service will begin at 5 p.m. and the Saturday, Feb. 25, service will begin at 10 a.m. Note that the Friday evening service begins earlier than last year, at 5 p.m.
Beit HaLev LIVE! Interactive livestream services are on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/9152434704?pwd=THJGT E1OUXI5VXFDTWtuZHF4K3 VxUT09. The meeting ID is 915 243 4704, and the passcode is RavGalit. People can also view on Facebook at www.facebook. com/galityomtov or YouTube at www.youtube.com/beithalev8816.
The First Triennial Cycle Torah reading this week is “Terumah,” Exodus 25:1-25:40, (“Gifts”). Before the Israelites could receive HaShem’s Laws, they needed to build a place of worship and an “Aron Kodesh” (a special, holy cabinet or Ark) to carry the Tablets with the Decalogue (Ten Statements), both the whole and the broken during their journey to the Promised Land. Because some of the chapters of the Book of Exodus are a bit jumbled, the exact order of events that took place at the base of Har Sinai is unknown. Unlike the incident of the Golden Calf, where people were ordered to bring their gold and precious metals to create the idol, the people were asked to bring what their hearts moved them to create the Tabernacle. The people were so overwhelmingly generous in their gifts that Moses and Aaron had to ask the people to stop bringing gifts, that they had more than they needed.
All Beit HaLev services use the special prayerbooks, “Lev L’Lev,” which include excerpts from the Reform Siddur, “Mishkan HaT’filah.” Beit HaLev and Rabbi Galit-Shirah are a part of the Union of Jewish Universalist Clergy and Communities. It is progressive in thought and traditional in liturgy. The services are joyous, meaningful and musical.
Beit Halev welcomes everyone who seeks a path to the Divine and doesn’t believe in labels. It considers all religions holy and valid. To join Beit Ha-Lev, call Rabbi Galit-Shirah at 562-715-0888 or email duets@icloud.com. Contributions to Beit HaLev are welcome and may be sent to: Beit HaLev, P.O. Box 2279, Seal Beach, CA 90740.
