What's the Spiel? - Parshat Balak

Parshat Balak is unique among the parshiyot found in the Torah. Not only is it devoid of any mitzvot, but it is also the only parsha the Jewish people did not personally witness, as the Chatam Sofer writes, "We, the Jewish people, were eyewitnesses to all that is written in the Torah, except for one thing- the [episode] of Bilaam. Our eyes saw the miracles of Egypt and also those that the Lord wrought for us in the wilderness. Everything was done in front of more than six hundred thousand adult Jewish males, not excluding one of them" (Responsa, Yoreh Deah 356). However, it seems that Parshat Balak is the exception. No Jew was present during the interaction between Balak, King of Moav, and Bilaam, the sorcerer-prophet. No Jew was present to hear what transpired between Bilaam and Balak's entourage. No Jew was present to hear the words God spoke to Bilaam, and no Jew was present to witness Bilaam's curses turn into blessings. It seems that even Moshe did not know of all the events which transpired in our parsha! Rather, the Chatam Sofer notes, "Only the Holy One revealed all this information to us, and told Moshe to write it down in the Torah" (Ibid.). Nevertheless, we should ask ourselves, "Why did God want to make the Jewish people aware of something to which they were not privy- in particular, the curses which turned into blessings?” What lessons can we learn from that?

Perhaps, the answer to this question is that God wanted to teach every Jew the importance of striving to transform the curses of our enemies into blessings. In the words of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, "[The] unique aspect of our collective character, that singularly Jewish trait which manifests itself in the choice of ma tovu...is the very ability to wring a blessing out of a curse. We say ma tovu not despite the fact that it was intended to harm us, but because of that very fact. It is Jewish to find the benediction in the malediction, the good in the evil, the opportunity in the catastrophe. It is Jewish to make the best of the worst, to squeeze holiness out of profanity. From the evil and diabolical intentions of Bilaam, 'May you not have any synagogues and schools,' we molded a blessing of ma tovu, which we recite just as we enter those very halls of worship and study" (Derashot L'Dorot: A Commentary for the Ages, Numbers).

It is never easy to find the good in a bad situation. It is never easy to uncover the blessing embedded within a curse, or to turn a negative into a positive. However, the ability to do so is so important, so essential to the character and wellbeing of the Jewish people, both as individuals and as a nation, that most of Parshat Balak, which does not involve the Jewish people directly, was instructed by God to Moshe to be written down for all generations, so that we would never forget this most fundamental lesson.

This Shabbat, may we find the faith and the fortitude to not allow the curses of our enemies to define us. Rather, may we always strive to transform the stumbling blocks of adversity into stepping-stones of success. May we always rise above the anger, hatred and castigations of those who seek our misfortune by converting their negativity into positivity. Of course, this is not a simple task. But should we be successful, then those who hope for our ruin will have no choice but to declare, "How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Israel!" (Bamidbar 24:5).

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

Candle Lighting

No later than 8:16PM

Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

7:30PM

Saturday

Shacharit

9:00AM

Kids Service

10:30AM

Mincha/Maariv

8:10PM

Havdalah

9:15PM

Sunday (Fast of 17th of Tammuz)

Fast Begins: 5:28AM

Shacharit

8:30AM

Mincha

8:00PM

Shiur with Rabbi Belsky

8:30PM

Maariv

9:00PM

Fast Ends at 9:07PM

Monday - Thursday

Shacharit

7:05AM

Thank you Rabbi Stephen Belsky for sponsoring Kiddush in honor of the yahrzeit of his grandfather, Detective Abraham Belsky, DA Squad NYPD, who busted the Jewish mafia.

Customs of the Three Weeks

After Shabbat, we begin the Three Weeks of mourning for the destruction of the two Temples, the dissolution of Jewish life in our homeland, and all the tragedies of Jewish history. Starting with the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz (this year pushed off from Shabbat to Sunday, July 17th) and ending with the Fast of the 9th of Av (similarly observed on Sunday, August 7th), each stage of this period of introspection features a deepening of mourning customs. During the first stage, from the 17th of Tammuz through the end of the month (falling on July 28th), following the standard Ashkenazi customs, we refrain from the following celebratory and enjoyable activities:

Weddings, parties, and concerts (some refrain even from listening privately to recorded music)
Haircuts (some shave or trim facial hair for the honor of Shabbat or professional purposes)
Reciting the blessing of "Shehehhiyanu" on a new fruit or a new significant garment

After the 70 years of the Babylonian Exile, the fast days commemorating the Destruction of the First Beit Hamikdash became celebrations of restoration during the Second Temple Period, in accordance with the prophecy of Zekharya; but they were reinstituted by our Sages in mourning after the Second Destruction. We pray for and aspire to a world in which once again, “the fast of the fourth month (Tammuz), the fast of the fifth month (Av), the fast of the seventh month (Tishrey: Tzom Gedalya), and the fast of the tenth month (Teiveit) will be joy and celebration for the House of Judah, for holidays, loving truth and peace.” (Trey-‘Asar, Zekharya 8:19)

CTI Announcements

Operation Todah Texas Makes an Impact on the Border

Dear CTI and Shalom Austin Jewish community,

This week, Rabbi Dan delivered your thoughtful and meaningful cards to our Texas Airmen “on the points.” Upon receiving his card, one Airman, who has been on several previous deployments, commented, “These kinds of things make the biggest difference.” Rabbi Dan presented your letters to our service members, explaining, “On behalf of the Jewish community of Austin, I wish to thank you for your service. Please know that the Jewish community of Austin is thinking about you and your families. We’re praying for your safety and wellbeing, and we are so grateful for your sacrifice.” The Airmen were so happy to hear these words, and so glad to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Thank you, CTI, Shalom Austin, and the broader Jewish community of Austin for taking the time to make such a powerful difference in the lives of our Texas service members. Please continue to daven for our brave Texas Airmen and Soldiers. Please continue to daven for their safety and health, as well as the safety and health of their families. The simplest things make the biggest difference. Thank you for making that difference!

CTI Launches Operation Todah Texas

Todah means Thank You in Hebrew and Congregation Tiferet Israel (CTI), Austin’s Modern Orthodox Synagogue, based on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, is spearheading a communitywide initiative to express gratitude to the thousands of Texas Air and Army National Guardsmen and women deployed on the U.S.-Mexico border during Operation Lone Star.

CTI ‘s Rabbi Daniel Millner is one of them. A Texas Air National Guard Chaplain holding the rank of Major, Rabbi Millner is expected to spend most of the next four months providing pastoral and other support to Guard members of all faiths separated from their families, jobs and communities during the border emergency. Rabbi Dan is the sole Jewish chaplain currently deployed along the Rio Grande border.

Working with the Rabbi, a group of CTI congregants, including several who have been deployed overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, have come together to encourage fellow congregants and community members to write “thank you” letters to the troops for their service and sacrifice.

“Delivering letters from fellow Texans expressing gratitude, would really have a big impact on troop morale in what has been and will likely continue to be a tough and unprecedented mission,” Rabbi Dan explained.

The current plan is to ask individuals and families to write cards and letters on their own and drop them off in standard envelopes at the Security Guard station when entering the Dell Jewish Community Campus between 8 AM-6 PM daily.

No gifts, packages, boxes or oversized or padded envelopes can be accepted or delivered.

A CTI Operation Todah Texas Committee member will collect the cards and letters weekly and arrange to get them to Rabbi Millner who will personally distribute them to troops along the border.

Thank you for your support of Operation Todah Texas.

If you have any questions, please email OperationTodahTexas@gmail.com

Sample Letter

Dear Texas National Guardsman,

My name is XXXX XXXXX and I am writing from [Name of Congregation or Shalom Austin] in Austin to thank you for your service in Operation Lone Star.

We deeply appreciate all you are doing to keep our fellow Texans safe during the current border crisis. Your families and communities are also in our thoughts and prayers during your deployment.

We are extremely grateful for your sacrifice and wish you a safe and speedy return home to your loved ones.

With gratitude,

Name(s)

Note: You can choose to include a personal return address if you wish or simply write Operation Todah Texas on the front of the envelope.

Calling all knitters (and crocheters)! Interested in getting together with like minded TI members? We meet at Carol Rubin’s home every other Monday afternoon from 1-3pm. All levels welcome. We call it Knit and Nosh (so you know we eat too!) If interested e-mail Carol at carolrubin5@yahoo.com.

Tehillim Class, 7 PM Mondays (on Zoom)

Many people find solace in times of pain or stress by reciting Psalms, but even greater depths of meaning can be found in studying and analyzing the words of the holy poems themselves. In Rabbi Belsky’s Tehillim class, we unpack the poetry and imagery of the psalms, gaining a greater understanding of this book, which includes within it the full range of human experience, and has sustained our religious lives as Jews for millennia.

Recordings of previous classes can be found at https://tinyURL.com/BelskyTehillimClass

CTI Welcomes Rabbi Stephen Belsky

While Rabbi Dan is on deployment at Operation Lone Star, Rabbi Stephen Belsky will serve as interim rabbi for the Congregation, meeting its halakhic, spiritual and pastoral needs. We are excited to learn from and grow with Rabbi Belsky during his three-month association with CTI, and we welcome him with open arms! Baruch HaBah!

Rabbi Stephen Belsky grew up in the seaside fishing village of Brooklyn, NY, but has spent the last dozen years of his life in Michigan, surrounded by the Great Lakes. A graduate of the Pardes Educators Program and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he has taught both children and adults at schools, synagogues, and other institutions; and when he isn't on the road working as an eruv builder, he is a regular speaker and teacher in Detroit's Modern Orthodox community. He loves language, speculative fiction, and the prophetic poems of doom in Tanakh, and is excited to have this opportunity to spend the summer with CTI.

Shalom Austin Mask Policy Update

Given the significant decline in the occurrence of COVID cases in the Travis County area (which is currently listed as being in Stage 2, and continuously dropping), the Medical Committee has unanimously agreed that:

Masks should no longer be mandatory at any CTI-related functions
Kiddush can move back inside, without any restrictions
Individuals who feel safer wearing masks at Shul-related events should feel free to continuing doing so
Anyone who has symptoms should NOT attend synagogue.

As always, we will continue to review and address the situation related to COVID on an as—needed basis, and make updated recommendations, as necessary.

As a service to the wider community, the Orthodox Union has researched various online platforms and has organized, collected and curated many key resources in one centralized location for your convenience. Please visit together.ou.org for a wide range of information covering the following areas: Adults, Leadership, Parenting, Seniors & Elders, Technology, Torah and Youth. Check back at together.ou.org as updates will occur regularly.

Classes currently on hold. Watch tiferetaustin.org for when classes will resume.

CTI is virtually open for all classes! Attend online with video and audio, or join through phone call alone. Visit tiferetaustin.org for more information on how to join these exciting classes:

TYT Tuesday Night

The Book of Judges

Tuesday 7:00pm

The Book of Judges teaches us about unexpected and underestimated spiritual and political leadership. Prior to the establishment of the Jewish monarchy, the nation was constantly enmeshed in fighting foreign enemies, spiritual and moral backsliding, oppression, as well as tribal in-fighting. It was a vicious cycle. The Judges came about in order to resolve these political, spiritual and moral issues and to set the people on the right track. Who were the Judges of Israel? How were they chosen, and why? While names like Shimshon, Devorah, Gidon and Yeftach may be familiar, their stories, complex personalities and murky legacies require a great deal of study. In this brand new TYT series, we will explore the life and times of the Judges of Israel – who they were, what they did, and what their contributions to Jewish history are all about. You won’t want to miss out on learning about these early leaders of the Jewish people, whose stories and personalities are as captivating as their contributions to the Jewish people are timeless.

TYT Wednesday Mornings

The Book of Second Samuel

Wednesday 8:15am

Come and join the TYT community and learn about the life and times of King David! II Samuel explores how a young David establishes both his kingdom and his kingship. Despite great promise, potential and ability, David is nevertheless beset by external and internal enemies, fighting both physical and spiritual wars. Come and see how David struggles to unite a broken and battered kingdom, establish a capital city and win the support of his people, while at the same time, striving to remain true to God’s Torah and lead a righteous life. No longer the ruddy youth, playing the harp and running for his life, II Samuel takes us through the long journey of David’s maturation process, omitting nothing, all the while exploring larger questions of morality, repentance, power and politics. While we extol David as one of the greatest Jewish heroes and leaders of all time, this book will frame his life and story in its proper context, look under the surface, and examine the complex personality of King David! This class meets each Wednesday morning, except of Jewish holidays, at 8:15am.

Mishne Torah k'Seder Friday Mornings

Mishne Torah k'Seder

Friday 8:15am

Come and join Rabbi Dan on Friday mornings at 8:15am for an in-depth exploration of the Rambam's Mishne Torah. This class will go through the Rambam's classic work on halakha (Jewish law), in a way which both engages and transforms the reader on a spiritual and intellectual level. Why did the Rambam write the Mishne Torah? What was he trying to achieve? How does the Rambam's interpretation of Jewish law, theology, history and culture differ from his rabbinic contemporaries who also wrote comprehensive Jewish legal works? What were some of the great disputes this work sparked, and why? You don't want to miss out on this great opportunity to learn what the Mishne Torah is all about.

Questions? Suggestions? Interested in Volunteering? Please contact our Committee Chairpersons.

Finance Committee: Larry Smith

Fundraising Committee: Daniel Ledeen

Bylaws Committee: Jay Rubin

Education Committee: Sarah Wander

Membership Committee: Alana Pompa

Chesed Committee: Lynn Kane

Kiddush Committee: Henna Tatham

Ritual Committee: Eric Shapiro

For those new to the community, check out this introductory video

featuring Rabbi Dan and a few of our wonderful CTI community members!

Birthdays

Gabe Altman on July 17

Jehoda Refaeli on July 18

Emily Kane on July 22

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

like to add, please update your profile on our website.

Yahrzeit Remembrances

Nettie Liebowitz, Mother of Harold Liebowitz, on Sunday 18 Tammuz

Esther Price, Mother of Marty Price, on Sunday 18 Tammuz

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 Eric and Beth Shapiro for their donation in

Memory of David Kaplan's mother Pearl Kaplan z"l.

Thank you to Larry Smith for his Yizkor donations.

Thank you to Isaac Reitberger for his donation IHO

our arranging a minyan his father's yahrzheit.

Thank you to Jay Rubin for his Aliyah donation.

_________________

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, by pressing "Make a Donation" in the sidebar, using the "Donate to CTI" button on the top left of this email, 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

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
Yehudit bat Sara
Chandal bat Basia
Shmuel Dovid bat Malka
Anthony Ben Devorah
Shayna Leah bat Yehudit

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, and so on.

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.