Congregation Tiferet Israel 

Austin, TX

14Elul 5782 -- September 10, 2022

What's the Spiel?

Parshat Ki Teitzei

Austin Community Eruv
For more information, a map and current status click here.
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Tiferet Israel
PO Box 27254
Austin, TX 78755
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Membership Information


Would you like to become a member of a congregation that feels more like a family?


If so, contact Alana Pompa for more information at membership@tiferetaustin

.org


Renew Your Membership Here!

Rabbi's Reflections

-Reflections on the Queen: A Servant-Leader-

On Thursday, September 8th, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. The Queen’s passing not only begins a new chapter in the annals of the British monarchy, it poignantly concludes the story of the life of a woman who reigned for a remarkable seventy years. Queen Elizabeth was the face of Great Britain, she was its regal emblem, and her reign kept alive the vital link between the present and the past. She served her nation in World War Two, enlisting in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, making her the first woman of the royal family to be an active duty member of the British Armed Forces. Her first prime minister was none other than Sir Winston Churchill, and the first US President she officially met as Queen was Dwight D. Eisenhower, though she met Harry S. Truman as Princess. She gave her people hope in times of national sorrow, and strength in times of national weariness. Queen Elizabeth served her country every day of her life, and her commitment to that service made her truly beloved to her people and the world over. Indeed, the word “service” defines the Queen’s remarkable legacy. 


On the occasion of her coronation on June 2nd, 1953, the twenty-five-year-old Elizabeth made the following statement: “I have, in sincerity, pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life, and with all my heart, I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.” And even before that, on the occasion of her twenty-first birthday in 1947, she proclaimed to her people, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service…” As a leader, Queen Elizabeth always understood that, while she may be the Queen, her ultimate role was to be a faithful servant to her people, never seeking to use her position for gain, but only to serve and elevate others. 


It seems that people in positions of power have the temptation to take advantage of those they are charged to lead. While leaders like Moshe, Yehoshua and David help us understand that the true calling of a leader is not to be served, but to serve, the Torah nevertheless instructs us to guard ourselves against such temptations. In our parsha, we learn, “You shall not have in your house alternate measures, a larger and a smaller. You shall have completely honest weights and completely honest measures…” (Devarim 25:14-15). Here, the Torah is addressing merchants who deal with people in business, and warns them against dishonesty via false weights and measures. According to Rashi, based on the Sifrei, should a person seek to take advantage of others by virtue of their authority, by virtue of being the trusted experts in the matter, in the end, “You will have nothing, (meaning, you will become impoverished, being deprived of your property, as you have deprived others of theirs.” A true leader understands that seeking to profit off of the hard work of others not impoverishes others, in the end, it will impoverish them as well.  A true leader has a servant’s heart, and seeks the welfare of those whom they are charged to serve – never seeking personal gain, but only the benefit of those who have given them their trust. 


Though she had many faults, Queen Elizabeth never sought to personally gain from the sacrifices made by her people. Rather, she sought to elevate them because of those sacrifices. In this way, Queen Elizabeth served as a model leader, and fulfilled the most important aspect of what it means to have authority: Never take advantage of the trust others have bestowed upon you, and never take for granted your position of authority. At a young age, she understood that her success was due to the people she served, not the other way around. 


This week marks the true end of an era with the passing of the Queen – a woman who saw London in ruins during World War Two, weathered the Cold War, stood by her nation in times of crisis, and celebrated with them in times of triumph. More than anything, her passing gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our lives, our experiences, our links to the past and our hopes for the future. Queen Elizabeth was a true servant-leader, always putting the interests of her people first – never seeking to gain, but always looking to serve. However we may feel about the British royals, let us at least take a moment to situate ourselves within the reign of this remarkable woman, and pray that her commitment to genuine service be the guidepost for those who follow her, and that we all take to heart the responsibilities we have as leaders – to elevate, inspire and guide others in the service of our greater good. 


Shabbat Shalom!

- Rabbi Dan


Shabbat Morning Drasha: "An Eternal War: Don't Give Up on Yourself!"


Shabbat Afternoon Shiur: "Learning Tefillah with Rav Schwab: Morning Blessings"


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 7:26 PM


Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat

7:30 PM


Shabbat Morning


Shacharit

9:00 AM


Youth Service

 10:30 AM



Shabbat Afternoon/Evening


Mincha

7:15 PM


Maariv/Havdalah

8:19 PM


Sunday

Shacharit

8:20 AM


Weekday Services


Shacharit Monday - Friday

7:05 AM


CTI Announcements

Thank you Sandy & Marshall Sack for sponsoring Kiddush in honor of their 55th wedding anniversary.

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



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 Jonah

Wednesday 8:15am


Come and join the TYT community and learn about the most "successful" Prophet in Jewish history, Jonah! Who was Jonah? Why did he seek to evade his spiritual responsibilities? Did he really think he could run away from God? What were his motivations, fears and concerns? Is his story literally true, or metaphorical? Is there even room in Judaism to read Biblical texts as metaphorical? If so, which texts, and why? In this class, we will explore the life and times of Jonah...and the whale, and come to a better understanding of his mission and why he features so prominently on the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur. You really don't want to miss out on a thorough "deep dive" into what is perhaps the most imaginative and enthralling book in the Tanakh! So join us at 8:15am on Wednesdays to find out more about this essential Prophet, whose lessons are as complex as they are eternal.


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


Anabelle Lonsdale on September 10


Joe Lonsdale on September 12


Aurelia Lonsdale on September 12


Lazaro Brener on September 16


Karina Schumer on September 16


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If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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


Yahrzeit Remembrances


Jack Sutter, Father of Stephen Sutter, on Saturday 14 Elul


Sally Sutter, Mother of Stephen Sutter, on Wednesday 18 Elul


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 Steven Golding for his donation in loving

memory of his sister Linda Barnett.


Thank you to Ezra Ezban for his donation.


Thank you to David Chapin for his aliyah and yahrzheit donations.


Thank you to Rick Goldberg for his aliyah donations.


Thank you to Dan Ledeen for his aliyah donations.


Thank you to Judy Cassorla for her donation IMO Joel and Debbie Tendler.

_________________


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
 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.
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:
Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 106

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