Beit HaLev

Rabbi-Cantor Galit-Shirah is conducting a Prayer and Blessings class every Monday at 5 p.m. There is no charge to register; call (562) 715-0888 or email duets@icloud.com to sign up. This is a continuation of the class that was held last fall to learn the meanings of the prayers and blessings as well as the melodies for the Shabbat morning service. The Zoom link for the class is https://us02web. zoom.us/j/9152434704?pwd=T HJGTE1OUXI5VXFDTWtuZ HF4K3VxUT09.

Beit HaLev has livestream services on Facebook.com/galityomtov, YouTube.com (Beit Ha-Lev LIVE! Channel) and Zoom.

Livestream for the Friday Shabbat evening and Saturday morning service can be viewed at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/9152434704. The meeting ID is 915 243 4704, and the passcode is RavGalit.

“Balak” in Numbers 23:27-25:9, recounts the third attempt by the prophet Bala’am to curse the Israelite people for the Moabite King Balak. Cursing one’s enemy before going into battle with them, in ancient times, was to demoralize the enemy so that victory would be certain. HaShem warned the mercenary prophet that he would only be able to say the words that HaShem would put in his mouth, so that no matter how many times Bala’am tried, he would only be able to bless the Israelites. When it became obvious that Bala’am would continue to fail to curse them, Bala’am suggested to Balak that the Moabite King should try a different, more insidious method: send Moabite women into the Israelite camp to seduce the men, luring them into the practice of idolatry.

All Beit HaLev services use special prayerbooks, “Lev L’Lev,” which include excerpts from the Reform Siddur, “Mishkan HaT’filah.” Printed versions of the prayerbooks will be available for sale at in-person services.

Beit HaLev and Rabbi Galit-Shirah are part of the Union of Jewish Universalist Clergy and Communities. It is progressive in thought and traditional in liturgy. Everyone who seeks a path to the Divine is welcome, and Beit Halev doesn’t believe in labels.

To request a membership form, call Rabbi Galit-Shirah at (562) 715-0888 or email duets@icloud.com. Contributions to Beit HaLev are welcome and can be sent to Beit HaLev, P.O. Box 2279, Seal Beach, CA 90740.