What's the Spiel? - Parshat Pinchas

Congregation Tiferet Israel

Austin, TX

19 Tammuz 5783 -- July 8, 2023

What's the Spiel?

Parshat Pinchas

Rabbi's Reflections

-One Impacts Many: A Lesson from Pinchas-

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Pinchas, we learn that God rewards Pinchas for his zealotry – slaying Zimri, the leader of the tribe of Shimon and Kozbi, a Midianite princess, for their wanton, flagrant, obscene acts – by giving him a covenant of peace, “and his descendants after him…a covenant of everlasting priesthood” (Bamidbar 25:12-3). While the Talmud Yirushalmi, Sanhedrin 9:7 debates the appropriateness of Pinchas’ actions in that one, shocking moment, even going so far as to state, “Pinchas did not act according to the will of the Sages [of his day],” one thing is clear: God approved, allowing Pinchas’ deed to “turn....back [God’s] wrath from upon the Children of Israel” (Bamidbar 25:11). The Midrash asks, “Why was God angry with the whole Jewish people [on account of Zimri?] Rather, it is to teach you that even one person who [acts inappropriately] can bring ire on the whole community” (Midrash Yalkut Petron Torah). Yet, at the same time, even one person who acts righteously can bring peace and honor to the whole community, as Rav Hirsch writes, “Pinchas was but one man, and it was one gallant deed that he performed; and although he was singular among his people, he saved the whole nation” (Commentary on Bamidbar 25:11).

As Jews, we must always be aware that we are a part of a larger community, and that the actions we take and the words we say, whether we intend them to or not, will have an impact on the perception of the larger community we represent. While the zealotry of Pinchas is not to be replicated by any individual, we, like Pinchas, must always remember that God has “dedicated every member of Israel and all aspects of its existence to be His. Israel is God’s – or it ceases to be” (Ibid.). In other words, we must act godly, because we are God’s.

This Shabbat, as we reflect on how our individual actions can impact the view of our community as a whole, for ill and for good, let us remember that as emissaries of the Almighty, we have an obligation to be zealous about the right things – kavod (honor and respect), tzedakah (charity), chesed (acts of kindness), and achdut (fellowship). If we sincerely take these middot (attributes) to heart as individuals and as a community, then the covenant of peace God granted to Pinchas will not only be realized for the Jewish people, but for all humanity 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 Evening, July 7

7:30PM

Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

8:18PM

Candle Lighting

Saturday, July 8

9:00AM

Shacharit

8:15PM

Mincha

9:18PM

Havdalah

Sunday, July 9

8:30AM

Shacharit

Weekday Services

Monday - Friday

7:05AM

Message from the President

Chevre,

I hope everyone had a fabulous Fourth of July! Here’s an update from the CTI Board, especially for folks who were unable to attend the Spring Congregational Meeting on June 11.

We are starting at warp speed this year with growing our Membership as our top priority. Here are our outcomes from last year:

Our first priority was validating our membership and we truly did this beyond expectations. We started the year with 33 members (including individuals and families) and are now at 78, setting the stage for significant growth in the year ahead. Look forward to several very exciting initiatives!
Finances and investments needed to be evaluated and readjusted. Larry Smith and his team successfully validated our expenses, ShulCloud payments and began the process of investing our longer term assets into growth and income funds with the Shalom Austin Jewish Foundation. Connecting Quickbooks to ShulCloud is also just around the corner.
Fundraising had to be adjusted and Patti Davis stepped up to help us this past year with Kol Nidre Appeal and Purim Mishloach Manot, and assisted Beth and Eric Shapiro with the wonderful Evening with Comedian Mark Schiff and the forthcoming 5784 CTI Member Directory. We are planning a big Gala for our Winter event and look forward to sharing details soon!
Insurance also needed to be updated and Mitch Davis spearheaded the process and helped us update and renew our insurance to reflect our current needs. Thank you-Mitch.
The CTI Bylaws also needed to be updated. Jay Rubin and Henna Tatham took on this onerous task and we successfully approved them in June. Thank you!
Events were increased to include Women’s Learning, our BBQ, Sushi in the Sukkah and Schmooze and Learn. We also doubled attendance at our Chanukah and Purim Dinner Celebrations in large part thanks to our amazing volunteers. Our hope is to continue to build on our success.
Kiddush was taken over by Beth Shapiro after years of Henna’s dedicated leadership. Thank you-ladies!
Youth education continued last year with Emily Yaffe and she really has branched out by organizing youth events, helping with Women’s Learning as well as marketing other shul events. She continues to be an incredible asset to our congregation.
Marketing was a challenge and we tried different avenues such as sponsoring an Austin Jewish Film Festival event, revamping the look of our website, renewing our banners and advertising and updating our brochures. We also attended multiple Dell Jewish Community Campus events where we were able to showcase our shul and programs. This is an area we intend to grow.
Future Building, Beth Steinberg and I have been pursuing the availability of acquiring land on the campus for our future development. We continue to get great feedback from the DJCC and Shalom Austin leadership and we remain hopeful of making significant progress in the year ahead.
Lastly, we renegotiated our amazing Rabbi’s contract, raising his compensation, extending his contract potentially for as many as eight years and increasing his focus on membership retention and growth. The key points affecting our budget are the first three years of compensation are $125,000 to $131,000 and then $138,000. Thereafter his compensation is based on cost of living adjustments. Also, the Rabbi has the ability to receive reimbursement for Shabbat and Jewish holiday home hospitality to help us grow and deepen relationships within our community.

Please consider helping us for Kiddush, Women’s Learning, events and other areas of interest. We need volunteers. Pick one task or event this year and help our community thrive!

Shabbat Shalom.

Gratefully,

Alana Pompa

CTI President

Please welcome the new Board!

CTI Announcements

Mazal tov to our members Sandra and Ari Hoffman and big brother Adam, on the birth of a healthy baby boy!

*Members, please renew your membership by filling out the form linked below. Renewal is not automatic and it's important that the form is filled out and we get updated information

Renew Your Membership for 2023-2024!

RSVP 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 [email protected] 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 Alana Pompa for sponsoring Kiddush to give a huge thank you to the past Board and the many volunteers making our shul a home.

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

Caleb Kress on July 9

Ethan Weiss on July 9

Benny Rowe on July 13

Cathy Schechter on July 13

Anniversaries

Myles & Marta Shaftel on July 11

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 Gabe and Emily Yaffe, Marty and Katie Price, and to Adam and Ilana Heller for their donations to the general fund.

Thank you to Jake Wolfson, David Chapin, and Soloman Sultan for their aliyah donations.

Thank you to David and Rita Chapin

for their yahrzeit 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.

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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 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:

Shoshana Yael bat Sarah
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
Rachel Golda bat Leah

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.

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 [email protected].