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=THJGTE1 OUXI5VXFDTWtuZHF4K3 VxUT09.

Beit HaLev has livestream services on Facebook.com/galityomtov, YouTube.com (Beit HaLev 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.

This week’s Torah reading is “Pinchas,” Numbers 28:16-30:1, is a continuation of last week’s cliffhanger reading. Last week the ending verses recounted the murder of an Israeli man, Zimri, and a Midianite princess, Cosbi, by a religious zealot, Pinchas.

The Midianite prophet, Bilaam, after failing to curse the Israelites, suggested to the Moabite king, Balak, that a good way to bring harm to the people, was to send beautiful Midianite and Moabite women into the Israelite camp, seduce the men and entice them to worship an idol before consummating their relationships. The plan worked and HaShem sent a plague that wiped out 24,000 Israelites. Zimri and Cosbi flaunted themselves on the grounds of the Tabernacle in front of Moses and the Kohanim. Pinchas, in a fit of rage, drove a spear through both of them. This week, Beit Halev will learn the result of Pinchas’ murderous act.

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.