What's the Spiel? - Parshat Ha'Azinu

What's the Spiel?

12 Tishrei 5786 - October 4, 2025

Parshat Ha'Azinu

Rabbi's Reflections

-Amen: To Recognize and to Resolve-

Parshat Ha’azinu tells us, “For the Name of the Lord, I proclaim” (Devarim 32:3). But what does it mean to proclaim the Name of the Lord? Rashi, quoting the Talmud, explains: “From here, the Rabbis derived the law that people would proclaim ‘Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever’ after the recitation of a blessing in the Temple.” These words should sound familiar, for they are the very words we uttered in awe and trembling when we prostrated ourselves multiple times on Yom Kippur.

Yet here is the issue: In the Temple, the people did not respond “Amen” to blessings — instead they said, “Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto L’Olam VaEd.” Why the difference? Why not always use the same formula?

Rav Moshe Feinstein, in his Sefer Kol Ram, Parshat Ha’azinu 521:6, is deeply perplexed. He asks: “Why only in the Temple did the people say, ‘Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever,’ and outside the Temple, they only uttered ‘Amen?’” One cannot argue, Rav Moshe continues, that “Baruch Shem Kavod” is on a higher spiritual plane and therefore reserved for the Temple. If that were so, then why not say it everywhere? Why downgrade a blessing with a “lesser” response if something greater exists?

Rav Moshe answers with a profound insight into the meaning of Amen. He explains that Amen contains two dimensions. First, it is affirmational — declaring that the blessing we have heard is true. Second, it is aspirational — a prayer that the blessing will be fulfilled in accordance with God’s will. When we say Amen, we are saying both: I believe this is true, and may it become so by God’s hand.

But in the Temple, those two dimensions were unnecessary. In that holy space, the Shechinah was revealed, God’s providence was visible to all. To say Amen in that context — as if to affirm or to hope for something — would actually diminish the moment, implying there was still doubt or distance. In the Temple, there was no need for aspiration. God’s presence was self-evident. All that remained was praise — pure recognition of His glory. And so in the Temple, the people would say only: “Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto L’Olam VaEd” (Ibid).

But today, we do not live in that world. We do not walk into a Mikdash where miracles are obvious and God’s presence is undeniable. We do not see Kohanim and Levi’im serving before the Shechinah. We live in a world where faith must be chosen, where God’s presence is hidden, where hope itself becomes a sacred act.

And so Amen is our word. Every time we say Amen, we affirm — this is true — and we also aspire — may God make it so, may He reveal His truth in the world once again. In that single word, we carry both the conviction of faith and the longing for redemption.

Rav Moshe’s insight gives new meaning to something so ordinary in Jewish life. How many times a day do we say Amen without thinking? Yet each time, it is not just a response — it is a prayer. It is our way of keeping alive the hope that one day the world will not need aspiration, only recognition. One day the world will be as clear as the Temple was, filled with the undeniable radiance of God’s presence.

And on that day, Amen will no longer be necessary. On that day, all of us together will proclaim, with one voice and one heart: “Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto L’Olam VaEd — Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.”

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

-Rabbi Dan

Schedule of Services at B'nai Abraham

CTI Schedule 5785/2025

Friday, October 3

6:56PM - Candle Lighting

6:50PM - Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

Saturday, October 4

9:00AM - Shacharit

6:45PM - Mincha

7:49PM - Havdalah

Sunday, October 5

8:30AM - Shacharit

Monday, October 6

7:05AM - Shacharit

CTI Sukkot Schedule 5786/2025

Erev Sukkot, Monday, October 6^th

Candle Lighting: 6:51PM

Mincha/Maariv: 6:50PM

Sukkot Day 1, Tuesday, October 7^th

Shacharit: 9:00AM

Mincha: 6:58PM

Maariv and Candle Lighting: After 7:44PM

Sukkot Day 2, Wednesday, October 8^th

Shacharit: 9:00AM

Mincha: 6:58PM

Maariv and Havdallah: 7:43PM

First Day of Chol HaMoed, Thursday, October 9^th

Shacharit: 7:05AM

Second Day of Chol HaMoed Sukkot, Friday, October 10^th

Shacharit: 7:05AM

Candle Lighting: 6:47PM

Mincha: 6:45PM

Third Day of Chol HaMoed, Shabbat Chol HaMoed, October 11^th

Shacharit: 9:00AM

Megillat Kohelet: 9:45AM

Mincha: 6:03PM

Maariv and Havdalah: 7:40PM

Fourth Day of Chol HaMoed, Sunday, October 12^th

Shacharit: 8:30AM

Hashanah Rabbah, Monday, October 13^th

Shacharit: 7:05 AM

Candle Lighting: 6:43PM

Mincha/Maariv: 6:40PM

Shemini Atzeret, Tuesday, October 14^th

Shacharit 9:00AM

Rabbi’s Sermon: 10:30AM (approximate, please arrive early)

Yizkor: 10:45AM (approximate, please arrive early)

Mincha: 6:50PM

Simchat Torah Evening, Tuesday October 14^th

Candle Lighting: After 6:43PM

Maariv: 7:37PM

Hakafot: 7:50PM

Simchat Torah Day, Wednesday, October 15^th

Shacharit and Hakafot: 9:00AM

Mincha: 6:00PM

Maariv and Havdallah: 7:35PM

CTI Announcements

People can pick up their Lulav sets at the synagogue on Sunday October 5 (9:15AM - noon) and on Monday October 6 (8:15 AM - 10:00AM).

People can pick up their extra Aravot sets at the synagogue on Monday October 13 immediately preceding morning services.

Hadassah is having a happy hour on October 9. More info HERE

Jerusalem Winery

Ehud Adler, father of five and commander in the Golani reconnaissance unit, has been serving on the frontlines in Gaza and Lebanon since October 7th.

Before the war, Ehud was ready to plant a vineyard on ancestral Jewish land — the same hills where our people grew wine 2,000 years ago. His grapes would supply Jerusalem Winery, producing kosher wine rooted in Jewish history and faith.

But while Ehud defends Israel, he cannot fund this dream. And this year, new farmers receive no state support.

This vineyard is more than wine.

It is life. It is resilience. It is our future.

Help Ehud plant deep roots in our homeland. Donate today to Jerusalem Winery.

https://www.amyisroelchai.com/donate

Shmira, watching over the deceased, is a sacred mitzvah. If you would like to find out more information about how CTI engages shmira, or think you might be interested in participating in this mitzvah, please contact Larry Smith, CTI's Shmira Coordinator at lsmith@egsanalytics.com, or (512) 923-3964.

Support Israel

SHALOM AUSTIN EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN

AIPAC

FRIEND OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES

ISRAEL AMERICAN COUNCIL

HADASSAH

ACH GADOL FOR LONE SOLDIERS

WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION

ISRAEL BONDS

JNF

Thank you Eric & Beth Shapiro for sponsoring Kiddush

in honor of the 13th anniversary of their son

Daniel's Bar Mitzvah.

Kiddush sponsorship is a great way to honor a loved one's memory or celebrate a special occasion while also giving a little back to the community.

If you have a special day you would like to commemorate with a kiddush, now is a great time to reserve your sponsorship for the Shabbos of your choice. If your date is not visible yet on the kiddush calendar, you can still email Beth and ask about reserving that date. Thank you so much for your support of CTI’s kiddush program.

Sponsor A Kiddush

Mazel Tov!

Sam Altman, Birthday October 4
Lorne Greenberg, Birthday October 9
Cari Couch, Birthday October 10

*Please update your shulcloud account with birthdays, anniversaries, and Yahrzeits to make sure they're highlighted in the Spiel. If you have any questions on how to do so, please email admin@tiferetaustin.org*

Yahrzeit Remembrances

Sarah Spertus, Mother of Philip Spertus, on Saturday 12 Tishrei
Eugene Spertus, Brother of Philip Spertus, on Sunday 13 Tishrei
Helene Loeb Zukof, Aunt of Louis Stone, on Tuesday 15 Tishrei
Marta Shaftel, Wife of Myles Shaftel, Tuesday 15 Tishrei
Yehuda Gottlieb, Father of Ester Smith, Thursday 17 Tishrei
Joseph Wilder, Uncle of Michele Reitberger, Friday 18 Tishrei

Donations

Thank you to Eric Shapiro, Chuck Kaufman, Neil Yechsin, Louis Stone, Erik Rahimi, Yoni Cohen, Offer Shavit, Jay Rubin, Marty Price, and Robert Linkin for their Aliyah donations.

Thank you to Eric & Beth Shapiro for their Yizkor donations.

Thank you to Eric & Beth Shapiro, Vicky Gould, Onix Maldonado,

Elimelekh Talamantes, David Giberti, Erik & Lindsay Rahimi, and

Louis Stone for their donations to the Kol Nidre fundraiser.

Thank you to Neil & Natlie Yechsin for their donation

wishing a speedy recovery to Ruth Bat Sarah.

Thank you to Jeremy Schiff for his donation in

memory of his father, Howard Schiff z”l.

Thank you to Erik & Lindsay Rahimi for their donation

in memory of Oren Varkony z”l, son of Iris Varkony.

Thank you to Louis Stone for his donation

in memory of Lloyd Miller z”l, son of Perry & Phyllis Miller.