What's the Spiel? - Parshat Ha'Azinu

Parshat Ha’azinu tells us, “For the Name of the Lord, I proclaim” (Devarim 32:3). What does it mean to proclaim the Name of the Lord? According to Rashi, who quotes the Talmud, “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.” This should sound familiar, as we uttered these very words when we prostrated ourselves multiple times during Yom Kippur. Nonetheless, we learn that when people were in the Temple, they did not say “Amen” to a blessing, rather, they said, “Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto L’Olam VaEd,” or, “Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.”

Rav Moshe Feinstein is perplexed by this, and asks, “Why only in the Temple did the people say, ‘Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever,’ and outside of the Temple, did they only utter ‘Amen?’” (Sefer Kol Ram, Parshat Ha’azinu 521:6). One cannot say that they did this because “Baruch Shem Kavod” is of a higher spiritual degree and that’s why it was only said in the Temple. After all, if that formula is of a superior spiritual caliber, then it should have been said even by those outside of the Temple as well! In other words, why degrade a blessing with a lesser response when a better one is known and available?! “Thus, it seems,” says Rav Moshe, “that the word 'Amen' contains two aspects. First, that the thing is true, and second, that it should be God’s Will that the thing be true” (Ibid.) That is to say, the word “Amen” is both affirmational and aspirational. When we hear a blessing, we affirm its truth and we also wish it to be so in accordance with God's will. However, in the Temple, these two aspects were not relevant or necessary. Being in the Temple, an experience we all pray and hope for speedily in our days, God’s presence was obvious and clear to all! Thus, if we uttered, “Amen” in the Temple, which again, is both affirmational and aspirational - that God should make something happen - it would indicate some sort of lack in one’s own faith, because God’s presence and providence was so apparent in that most holy place. “Thus,” says Rav Moshe, “in the Temple one needed only to praise God over the revelation of His presence which was so evident there. Because of this, they only said, ‘Baruch Shem Kavod’” (Ibid.).

Today, we do not live in a world with the Holy Temple. We do not live in a world in which Kohanim and Levi’im serve in the holiest stations, nor one in which miracles are open and obvious. Thus, we live in a world in which “Amen” must be the only response to a blessing. However, as we say “Amen” to the blessings we hear on a daily basis, we both affirm God’s truth, and we aspire to see His truth fully revealed to us once again. Keep saying “Amen,” keep your hope in the redemption alive, for one day, that hope will become reality, and on that day we can all proclaim with one voice and one heart, “Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever!”

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

Special Guest Speaker: Shelly Shwartz, IAC, Austin Regional Manager

Shiur After Mincha: "Some Sukkot Halakhot!"

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 6:51PM

Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat

6:55PM

Shabbat Morning

Shacharit

9:00 AM

Youth Service

10:30 AM

Shabbat Evening

Mincha

6:40 PM

Maariv/Havdalah

7:44 PM

Weekday/Suk Services

Sunday (Erev Sukkot)

Shacharit

8:20AM

Candle Lighting

6:48PM

Mincha/Maariv

6:50PM

Monday (Sukkot Day #1)

Shacharit

9:00AM

Mincha/Maariv

6:55PM

Candle Lighting

After 7:41PM

Tuesday (Sukkot Day #2)

Shacharit

9:00AM

Mincha/Maariv

6:55PM

Yom Tov Ends

7:39PM

Chol HaMoed Shacharit (Wednesday through Friday)

7:05AM

CTI Announcements

CTI wishes to extend its sincerest thanks to all who helped make our High Holiday season so meaningful. Thank you to Elizabeth Temerlin, Rita Chapin, Elena and Adam Dollinger, Vicky Gould, Julie Van Keer, Myles Shaftel and Emily Yaffe for helping with our Elul BBQ. Thank you to Vicky and Jan Gould for donating our new outdoor furniture! Thank you to Patti and Mitch Davis and Daniel Ledeen for helping with fundraising. Thank you to Eric Shapiro, Larry Smith and Arthur Altman for helping make the High Holidays run so smoothly as a Ritual Committee, and for all of the hard work that entails from preparation to execution! Thank you to Jeanette Brickman, Beth and Eric Shapiro and Daniel Ledeen for helping make the pledge cards and the page guide sheets. Thank you to Rita and David Chapin for arranging the High Holiday tickets, even until the last minute. Thank you to Susan and Robert Millner for donating the bimah flowers, and Adam Dollinger, Andy Dooher, and all law enforcement for providing us with security. Thank you to Aaron Herbster for providing a clean-up crew, as well as setting up chairs, and opening up Gan Yaniv for Tashlich. Thank you to the Kendra, Josh and the whole Rosenberg family for providing lodging for our visiting rabbis, and thank you to Rabbi David Shawel, Rabbi Gabe Kretzmer-Seed and Rabb Dan for leading us in inspiring and meaningful prayer during the High Holidays. Thank you to Sarah Church-Carroll for fielding our technical issues, and thank you to Emily Yaffe and Yael Millner for leading our youth services. Thank you to Gary Gerstenhaber and crew for setting up our sukkah. Thank you to our president, Alana Pompa for being involved in every single aspect of this season and making it such a success! (If we’ve missed anyone, please accept our apologies and our most heartfelt thanks)!

As you can see, so much goes into to our shul events. If you’re interested in learning how you can help out, please let us know, we’d love to bring on board!

CTI Welcomes Shelly Shwartz!

Shelly Shwartz is the Regional Manager of the Israeli American Council, Austin. She was born and raised in Israel. After moving to Houston, TX in 2001, Shelly worked at the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest, building the connections between Israel & the Jewish community. After a few years, she joined the Jewish Federation of Houston’s staff and worked in the Community Relations Committee department, building relationships with Texas Representatives & officials and as the Community Mission’s Coordinator. Shelly brings with her many years of experience working in Jewish nonprofit management, organizing events, mobilizing volunteers, and building connections & communities. Shelly moved to Austin, TX, four years ago & currently lives here with her husband Saar and their two boys.

This Shabbat, Saturday, October 8^th,CTI will have with us Shelly Shwartz, IAC’s, Austin Regional Director. She will talk about IAC and its conference which will be held in Austin onJanuary 19^th-21^st, 2023 at the Fairmont Hotel downtown. It is expected to draw several thousand people and will be the largest Jewish event in Austin History. Austin was chosen for this honor because of its rapidly growing and dynamic Israeli/American Jewish Community. We at CTI, are excited to have them here in Austin and look at this as an opportunity to meet them and support their work.

For those who are not familiar with the organization, it was founded in 2007, and has quickly become one of the most influential Pro-Israel groups in the United States. It also works closely with other non-profits as well as the American/Israeli/Jewish communities.

Some of our members have already signed up and plan on attending. We encourage you to do the same. Click on the link below to signup. Please come to shul to show your support for IAC.

Also please note that CTI will also have a Cholent Kiddush to honor Offer Shavit and Reuven Robbins for all their help with our services during COVID. Please come by to listen to an extremely exciting presentation and let’s get together as a community to thank Offer and Reuven for their help.

Those members who may have signed up and have not yet paid their membership dues, please do so as soon as you can. For those who have not given to our High Holiday Fundraiser, we ask you consider doing so, since every donation counts and helps sustain our community.

We look forward to seeing you this Shabbat.

Thank you.

-Mitch & Patti Davis

Have a special event coming up?

Would you like to honor a family member on the anniversary of their yahrzeit? Celebrate a loved one’s birthday? Maybe you have a special anniversary? Perhaps your dog took 1^st place in their training class?

There is no better time to celebrate with your friends than when something special is going on in your life. CTI is happy to have you as part of our community and even happier to be able to share the special moments in your life with you.

For more information on Kiddush sponsorship, please click here.

Thanks so much Sarah. Let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Beth

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.

Visit tiferetaustin.org/tyt-class-sign-up for more information on how to join these exciting classes:

TYT Tuesday Night - The Book of Judges

Tuesday 7:00pm

TYT Wednesday Mornings - The Book of Jonah

Wednesday 8:15am

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

Lorne Greenberg on October 9

Cari Couch on October 10

David Chapin on October 13

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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

Yahrzeit Remembrances

Eugene Spertus, Brother of Philip Spertus, on Saturday 13 Tishrei

Sarah Slomovic, Mother of Marta Shaftel, on Tuesday 16 Tishrei

Yehuda Gottlieb, Father of Ester Smith, on Wednesday 17 Tishrei

Louis Escovitz, Father of Sandra Sack, on Wednesday 17 Tishrei

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 Isamu Hartman for his aliyah donation, as well as in gratitude for the community's hospitality in providing meals and a place to stay.

Thank you to Arthur Altman for his aliyah donation.

Thank you to Offer Shavit for his aliyah donation.

Thank you to Rick Goldberg for his aliyah donations.

Thank you to Offer and Ilana Shavit for their Yizkor donations.

Thank you to Joseph and Mandi Mermelstein, Marti and Katie Price, Marshall Humble, Offer and Ilana Shavit, Jake Wolfson, Robert and Susan Millner, Marshall and Sandy Sack, Joshua Rosenberg and Kendra Fox, and Reuven Robbins, for their donations to the High Holiday Appeal.

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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.

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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
Reuven ben Shira
Batyah bat Sara

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 [email protected]

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.

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If you have any questions or comments about the website, please contact our webmaster at [email protected].