Beit HaLev

Beit HaLev will hold its inaugural Online Passover Seder on Wednesday, April 5, at 4 p.m. The event is held early to accommidate the members of the community who are from the eastern part of the U.S. Rabbi-Cantor Galit-Shirah has created “Haggadah for the Heart,” adapted from JewBelong.com and Haggadot.com. It will be shared on screen as all of the prayerbooks.

As a celebration of Shabbat HaGadol, Beit HaLev is implementing a Shabbaton on Saturday, April 1. The name “Shabbat HaGadol” is taken from the Haftarah reading of Malachi 3:23 in which HaShem promises to send the prophet Eliyahu before 'the coming of “the great fearful day of the Lord,” a foreshadowing of Eliyahu’s role at the Passover Seder and as a harbinger of the coming of the messianic age.

Friday, March 31, Beit HaLev will hold its regular Shabbat Ma’ariv service at 5 p.m. Shabbat Shacharit services will be held on Saturday, April 1, at 10: a.m. Rabbi-Cantor Galit-Shirah invites all to a Mincha (afternoon) service at 3 p.m., which includes short Torah service and reading of “Sh’mini,” Leviticus 9:1-16 followed by a Havdallah (separation) service at 4. This special Shabbaton will be conducted on the first Saturday of each month.

The Passover services are:

• Thursday, April 6, at 10 a.m., including the Full Hallel and the Prayer for Tal (Dew).

• Friday, April 7, at 10 a.m., including Full Hallel. Beit HaLev LIVE! Interactive livestream services are on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9152434704?pwd=THJGTE1OUXI5 VXFDTWtuZHF4K3VxUT09. 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.

This Shabbat is called Shabbat HaGadol: The Great Sabbath. It is the Sabbath that precedes Passover. The Triennial Cycle Torah reading is “Tzav” or “Issue a Command' from Leviticus 6:1-7:10. HaShem tells Moshe to command Aharon and his sons in the ritual of the different kinds of sacrifices, how the priests were to be dressed, prohibitions regarding fat and blood and the affirmation of the Sinaitic laws regarding sacrifices.

All Beit HaLev services, including Festival services, use 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 HaLev, 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.