Congregation Tiferet Israel 

Austin, TX

8 Iyyar 5783 -- April 29, 2023

What's the Spiel?

Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

Austin Community Eruv

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Rabbi's Reflections

-Eyes Wide Open: A Guide for Holiness-

Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir, also known as the Rashbam, was one of the greatest Pashtanim in our tradition. The brother of the Rivam and Rebbeinu Tam and the grandson of Rashi, the Rashbam was not only respected for his creative interpretations of the Tankah and the Talmud, but he was also legendary for his great piety. In fact, the Rashbam was so pious, he was so holy, that he refused to look at anything that would distract him from thinking about Torah. Whenever he would walk through the streets, the Rashbam would always cover his eyes or look down at the ground, so as to avoid seeing anything unholy. One day, as he was walking through the busy village square, his eyes fixed on the ground, the Rashbam began walking up a plank, not knowing that the plank led to the bed of a wagon which was being pulled by an ox and a donkey in tandem, which a biblical prohibition! Just as the Rashbam was about to enter the wagon, a fellow Jew grabbed him. "What were you thinking?" the Jew cried, "You are so learned and so holy, how could you have almost violated an Issur D'oraita, a biblical prohibition?" Flustered but grateful for the man's help, the Rashbam said, "I think that from now on, I need to look where I'm going."


What I love about this story is that it not only humanizes a giant of Torah in a slightly humorous way, but it also addresses a very important question which is so central to Judaism and living a Jewish life. And that question is, "How does one achieve kedusha, holiness? How can one, how does one, live a holy life?" When the Torah tells us, "You shall be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy" (Vayikra 19:2), what does that mean? How is this supposed to be realized and lived? According to Rashi, based on the Sifra, "You shall be holy," means, “You shall be removed from forbidden sexual relations, and from sin.” Based on this Rashi, it seems that holiness is achieved by distancing oneself from worldly activities, especially those activities that take advantage of the most vulnerable aspects of our humanity. To be holy is to be separate, to be removed. To be holy means to avoid the messiness of society, of human relationships, it means to abstain from anything that could tempt or challenge our religious devotion. To be holy means to walk with our heads down and our eyes on the ground. In other words, it's better to be safe than sorry. By isolating ourselves from the ugliness of the world, by associating only with like-minded people, by staying within the boundaries of our comfort-zones, we can ensure our holiness. But is this really the way? I know a lot of rabbis and chaplains who might respectfully disagree with this. So, if isolating one's self from challenges is not the way to attain holiness, what is?


According to Rav Hirsch in his Commentary on Vayikra, "Kedusha, being holy, means to be absolutely ready for all that is good. It presupposes that our whole being is in such a state of being penetrated by morality, that its opposite, the inclination to evil, finds no longer any place therein. Rashi and others, who explain the demand 'You shall be holy' as 'You shall be removed,' stress just the negative idea of the conception of kedusha. At the same time, though, it indicates the nature of the work that every one of us who would strive for the lofty goal of kedusha...must do on ourselves. Kedusha" Rav Hirsch writes, "is the product of the completest mastery by the God-like free-willed human being over all our forces and natural tendencies, with all of the allurements and inclinations associated with them, and placing them at the disposal of God's Will. The mastery over one's self, the highest possible art which human beings can practice, does not consist of neglecting, curtailing, killing, or doing away with any of one's natural tendencies...They are all given to us for beneficial purposes to accomplish God's Will on earth...In exercising our power of restraint and self-control in things which are permitted but are related to the forbidden, we can gain mastery of our inclinations, and make all of our powers and tendencies subservient to the pure fulfillment of the Will of God. That is the work that everybody is called on to do, all of us, according to our own individual situation. It is work that is done quietly, silently, known to no one but us, on our own inner-selves. 'Removal,'" says Rav Hirsch, "is not yet kedusha, but it is a preliminary stage towards it."


In other words, removal, separation is not the essence of kedusha, it is instead a prerequisite for it. By learning how we can control and channel our drives and desires for the good, by using our free will to transcend our baser inclinations and instincts in order to do what is moral instead of what is easy, to do what is just instead of what feels good, we can move freely in the world unafraid. Kedusha, living a holy life, means that we have to realize our own potential to be holy. 


But here's the thing: We can only realize how holy we can become if we challenge ourselves, if we push the limits of our comfort-zones, if we open our eyes in order to see where we're going. As Rabbi Menachem Genack puts it, "We can only achieve holiness within the context of society, involved and engaged with the community. Human holiness, Jewish holiness, must be achieved not through negation, but through affirmation; not through isolation, but through engagement; not by abjuring the world and adopting a monastic life, but by the riskier approach of confronting the world and its imperfections. This approach chances failure, but it brings us closer to the path of redemption." Unlike the Rashbam, a brilliant scholar, but who hid from the messiness of reality only to nearly violate the very Torah he cherished more than anything, we should realize that if we believe enough in ourselves to be in command of ourselves, to use the free will and the will power God has given to each and every one of us, we can help perfect a broken world because we can see, with eyes wide open, those aspects of the world that need to be repaired.  


The fact that the Rashbam nearly violated a Torah law because he refused to look at the world around him, means that in order to fulfill the Torah, we need to look at the world around us, because it is in this world that holiness can be achieved. As Rav Soloveitchik notes in his Halakhic Man, "Holiness does not wink at us from 'beyond' like some mysterious star that sparkles in the distant heavens, but appears in our actual, very real lives...Holiness is created by man, by flesh and blood...The peak of religious ethical perfection to which Judaism aspires is man as creator. When God created the world, He provided an opportunity for the work of His hands -man-to participate in His creation. The Creator, as it were, impaired reality in order that mortal man could repair its flaws and perfect it."


Yes, "You shall be holy." The Hebrew word, "you shall be," indicates that this commandment is not meant for one moment, but for all time. It is a commandment which requires us to constantly be involved in the process of becoming. The holiness we have achieved in our lives last year cannot be the same this year – we must always be moving, always evolving, developing, deepening our understanding of our own ability to become holy. As partners with God in creation, we all have the ability to perfect the imperfect, to repair the broken and redeem the lost. We can do it. We all have this quality, this power inside of us. But we must engage the world, we must confront reality, warts and all, if we really want to be as holy as we can be, and by reaching out and engaging the world, we can inspire others to reach for kedusha as well. As the saying goes, "You can't inspire others unless you're inspired.” And you can't make others holy unless you feel holy." 


And so, my bracha for us all is that we do not shy away from the ugly, that we do not hide our eyes from seeing brokenness. In order to heal, we must be able to see what and who needs healing. In order to live in this world, we must not flee from it, we must engage it. In order to perfect, we must understand what is imperfect. This is the harder way, but it is the Jewish way. May we always look for areas in our lives, our relationships and in our community that need improvement, and if we commit ourselves to doing that holy work, on ourselves and for others, then we can all live the mitzvah of constantly working towards becoming holy. May we never fail to recognize the holiness of our beings and our great spiritual capacities to make others holy as well. May we always seek holy challenges and embrace holy callings. May we always rise in holiness and remember to engage those challenges and callings with eyes wide open, so that we can see where we're going, and hopefully, guide others towards on the path of becoming holy as well.


Shabbat Shalom!

  -Rabbi Dan

Schedule of Services at B'nai Abraham

We encourage everyone to daven privately when unable to attend services. Use the private time to connect to Hashem. Public prayer definitely adds to our prayer experience. Yet we also have the capacity to create a profoundly meaningful private experience with the Divine. Let us seek such an experience in the coming days.  

Friday Night


Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

7:30PM


Candle Lighting

7:48PM


Shabbat Morning


Shacharit

9:00AM


Youth Services

10:30AM


Shabbat Evening


Mincha

7:45PM


Havdalah

8:46PM


Sunday

Shacharit

8:20AM


Weekday Services



Monday - Friday

Shacharit

7:05AM


CTI Announcements

Sign Up Here!

Parking in front of Bnai Abraham will be limited on Sunday, April 30, due to the Shalom Austin Yom Ha'Atzamut event. Please plan accordingly.

Register Here!
Register Here!
Register Here!

CTI is looking for a man or woman to serve as a backup shmira coordinator for when Larry Smith is out of town of otherwise unavailable. This involves a couple of hours of training to learn how to set up and manage shifts and communicate with the shomrim. Please contact Larry at 512-923-3964 or by email at lsmith@egsanalytics.com if you are interested or would like more information.


If you are new to the community and want more information about Austin Shmira, here is a link to their website: 

https://lastresponder.net/austin


Sponsor Kiddush!

Thank you Vicky Gould for sponsoring Kiddush in honor of the CTI family and their gracious support.

Sponsoring a Kiddush is a lovely way to honor a loved one on their birthday, for an anniversary, to commemorate a Yarhtzeit, or just because you want to help out the community! Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush in June or July, and give us the opportunity to thank YOU for kiddush! 



Sponsor a Kiddush

Classes!

Click Here! for more information on how to join these exciting classes:


Torah Classes at CTI!

Take Your Tanakh Series


TYT Tuesday Night - The Book of Isaiah

Tuesday 7:00pm




TYT Wednesday Mornings - The Book of Job

Wednesday 8:15am

For those new to the community, check out this introductory video 
featuring Rabbi Dan and a few of our wonderful CTI community members! 

Birthdays


Molly Kress on April 29


Yoni Pack-Cosme on April 29


Andrea Sutter on May 1


Arthur Altman on May 5









Anniversaries




If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would like to add,

please update your profile on our website.


Yahrzeit Remembrances








May their souls be bound up in the bond of life.


If you have a Yahrzeit that you would like the congregation to acknowledge, or if you have a correction that needs to be made, please update your profile on our website.

DONATIONS 


Thank you to our anonymous donors.


Thank you to Reuven Robbins, Solomon Sultan, and Offer Shavit for their aliyah donations.


Thank you to Isaac Reitberger for his yahrzeit, misheberach, and yizkor donations and to Reuven Robbins for his yahrzeit donation.


Thank you to Beth Steinberg for her donation "in honor of Rabbi Dan, Eric Shapiro and all who came to minyan so I could say Kaddish for my mother."



Thank you to Aaron Grimes for his donation to the Youth Educator Fund "in memory of Coach Gould. He helped me through some difficult times when I was younger. He was a wonderful person and will be dearly missed."

We encourage you to use electronic payments by credit card or eCheck through CTI's website at www.tiferetaustin.org when fulfilling the mitzvah of giving Tzedakah to mark family events and milestones, including Yahrzeits, and in honor of CTI and our community. 

***

Spiel sponsorships are now available for a donation of $18. Advertise your business or dedicate an issue of the spiel in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a Simcha.

Contact admin for more details. 


Donations can be made via our website at www.tiferetaustin.org or by sending your check to:

Tiferet Israel P.O. Box 27254, Austin, TX 78755. Please make check payable to Tiferet Israel and please indicate what the donation is for. 


Refuah Shelayma to: 
  • Allene Novy-Portnoy; Hannah Bassa bat Sarah Osnat 
  • Avshalom ben Hannah Bassa
  • Cindy Newman 
  • Janet Goldberg; Shayna Masha bat Chasha Mina
  • Ken Friedman
  • Rebecca Millner; Rivkah bat Shoshana
  • Sheina Ruchel bat Henya Leah
  • Tzvi David ben Rivka Golda
  • Yoel Simcha ben Chaya Risha 
  • Sulta bat Nedgma
  • Zvi Aharon ben Bayla
  • Yaira bat Sarah
  • Tamar bat Chaya
  • Ilana bat Gheita
  • HaRav Avram Meir ben Eli Yosef v'Shira Chanah.
  • Rabbi Harold Liebowitz, Ha Rav Chaim Alter ben Necha. 
  • Baruch Akiva Ben Rivka
  • Miriam bat Helen
  • Rivka Michal bat Sarah Chana
  • Lori Garza 
  • Yisroel Natan ben Sarah
  • Masha Gitil bas Chaya Yita
  • Allen Levinson; Avraham Yitzchak ben Gittel
  • Moshe ben Reizel
  • Sandra Freed
  • David Chapin
  • Avigail Malkah bat Devorah
  • David Moshe ben Sylvia
  • Shoshana bat Yocheved
  • Miriam bat Rachel v'Mordechai
  • Alta Shoshana bat Shulamit
  • Meir Psachia ben Tziril
  • Geni Berman Abitbol
  • Beilya Golda bat Leah
  • Yosef Yehoshua ben Sarah
  • Jonathan Malawer (Yosef ben Bracha)
  • Bowie Alarcon
  • Fivel ben Sarah HaLevi
  • Adam ben Chanah
  • Rafael ben Sheindal Leah
  • Aharon Asher ben Chaya Naomi
  • Esther Malka Fraida bat Serel Chaya Raiza
  • Kalev Boaz Chai ben Aliza
  • Esther Reva bat Malka
  • Avraham ben Rut
  • Peter Janson, Fievel ben Devorah
  • Sheva Eva bat Bella.
  • Dorit Iken, Dorit Chana bat Orah
  • Moshe ben Rut
  • Shulkah Malka bat Tziporah
  • Chandal bat Basia
  • Shmuel Dovid bat Malka
  • Anthony Ben Devorah
  • Shayna Leah bat Yehudit
  • Reuven ben Shira
  • Batyah bat Sara
  • Akiva ben Sara
  • Jake Wolfson
  • Rachel Tzivia bat Malka

 Wishing all Cholei Yisrael a Refuah Shlayma. 


Dear Tiferet Friends, 

If you placed a name on the Refuah Shelayma list and G-d willing the person is well, 

please let us know. Also, if you have a friend or family member who needs 

prayers for healing, again please let us know at admin@tiferetaustin.org  

Using the CTI Website

Logging in is easy via the login button at the top of the web page. Your login ID is your email address. Once logged in, many of the fields are pre-filled for you, to make it easier and quicker to register for an event or make a donation.


But that's not all! You will also have access to the online Member Directory, the CTI Bylaws, the minutes of Board meetings and the President,Treasurer and Rabbi Reports and other documents, all under the Resources tab. With more coming all the time!


If you have any questions or comments about the website, please contact our webmaster at admin@tiferetaustin.org.

Contact Us!

On the web: www.tiferetaustin.org


Rabbi:

Dan Millner: rabbidan@tiferetaustin.org 

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 101


President:

Alana Pompa: president@tiferetaustin.org  

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 102


Vice President:

Sarah Wander vp@tiferetaustin.org 


Secretary:

Chuck Kaufman, secretary@tiferetaustin.org


Administrator:

Sarah Church Carroll 

admin@tiferetaustin.org 

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 103

Treasurer:

Larry Smith treasurer@tiferetaustin.org  

Phone: 512-923-3964


Membership:

Alana Pompa 

membership@tiferetaustin.org 

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 106


Kiddush Committee:

Beth Shapiro kiddush@tiferetaustin.org


Youth Educator:

Emily Yaffe CTIyouth@tiferetaustin.org


Chesed Committee:

Jeanette Brickman jpbrickman22@gmail.com

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