What's the Spiel? - Parshat Shemot

In Parshat Shemot, we learn that upon being rescued by the daughter of Pharaoh, the baby Moshe would not nurse from her. Miriam, Moshe’s sister, observed all of this, and boldly asked the princess, “Shall I go and summon for you a wet nurse from the Hebrew women, who will nurse the boy for you?” (Shemot 2:7). According to Rashi, Miriam asked this forward question only after she witnessed that Moshe “had been taken around to many Egyptian women to nurse him, but he would not nurse from them.” And Rashi explains that the reason the baby boy refused to suckle from the Egyptian women is because “he was destined to speak with the Shechinah.” This is a very perplexing statement, and the Siftei Chachamim, a supercommentary on Rashi, challenges this idea, writing, “Perhaps the issue was simply that Moshe already knew his mother, having been with her for three months.” Thus, the reason why Moshe refused the milk of others may be more biological than spiritual. Moshe already felt comfortable with his mother, he knew her and developed a feeding routine with her. To have someone else come and perform this maternal role for the baby must have been a shock, and so it only makes sense that he did not adjust easily to it. However, the Siftei Chachamim contests his own explanation based on the fact that the whole time Moshe was with his mother, he never actually saw her, as it says, Moshe’s mother “saw that he was good and she hid him for three months” due to Pharaoh’s genocidal decree against the Jewish boys (Ibid. 2:2). Says the Siftei Chachamim, this means it must have been “in a dark place.”

Nevertheless, the Talmud in Ketubot 60a asks, “How does a blind baby know and recognize his mother? Rav Ashi said: Through smell and through the taste of her milk.” If this is true of a child who cannot see, how much more is this true for a child who can! Thus, Moshe must have been able to recognize his mother, even if he had been hidden in a dark place. Yet, if that is the case, why did Miriam ask Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and summon for you a wet nurse from the Hebrew women?” Why not ask for his biological mother (all midrashim aside)? Clearly, the issue was not that another woman would nurse Moshe. This issue was that an Egyptian woman would. If this is so, Rashi’s comment is even more important: Moshe did not nurse from the Egyptian women because “he was destined to speak with the Shechinah.” What is really behind this idea? What are we to take away from these words in order to apply them to our daily lives?

According to Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, the same reason Moshe refused to nurse from the Egyptians actually applies to each and every Jewish child for all time, because “every Jewish child is destined to speak with the Shechinah. This impacts the way Jewish parents educate their children. For they must do so believing that one day, their son or daughter will speak with the Divine Presence. Therefore, everything a parent does to provide for their child, Jewishly and otherwise, must be done imagining that they are preparing their child for the holiest, purest life possible” (Emet l’Yaakov, Shemot 248-249:2). Moshe did not want to be influenced by the Egyptians through absorbing their energy, through absorbing their values and ways, he only wanted the influence of his fellow Jews, and so he would only be nursed by them – he would only gain his life-energy and life-force from his people, from the Torah and nothing else.

This is the practical takeaway from Rashi’s comment: Every Jewish child has to ability to be a Moshe Rebbeinu! Every Jewish child has the ability to speak with God, to reside in His Presence. But it is the task of every Jewish parent and educator to prepare his or her child to be able to do so. Whether it is regarding ritual observance, education or social interactions, Jewish parents must make sure that their children are being influenced by Torah-values, and prepared for lives of holiness so that they can realize their inherent, spiritual potential. By enabling our children to seek holiness while they are young, they shall continue that quest when they grow older, and one day, a new chapter in the story of the Jewish people will be written by the young ones whom we have raised to join heaven and earth.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

No Shabbat Morning Drasha: Rabbi Dan is Away

No Shiur After Mincha: Rabbi Dan is Away

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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.

CTI Announcements

Mazal Tov to CTI's Take Your Tanakh Tuesday night group for completing the Book of Ezekiel! It's been a year and a half, and we've gone from the lowest depths of exile, to the highest spiritual heights of a rebuilt Jerusalem and the Third Temple! Your dedication is inspiring and your love for learning encourages us all to keep learning, improving and gain a deeper connection to our holy texts and HaKadosh Baruch Hu. On January 4th, we will begin a whole new book...The Book of Judges! Stick around as we learn the stories of some of the most unlikely but intriguing leaders of the Jewish people. We will ask questions about spiritual authority, leadership, morals and halakha. It's going to be a blast, so don't miss your chance to be a part of something truly timeless!

Shalom Austin Mask Policy Update

Based on the declining COVID-19 reported incidents, the CTI Medical Committee recommended a revised mask policy that was approved by the Board of Directors.

Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated people are required to wear a mask. This applies for everyone ages two and up.
Children are welcome at shul, but all children ages two and up who are not vaccinated must be masked. Children under two do not need to wear a mask but must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
The committee recommended the resumption of a full Kiddush. The caveat being that the Kiddush must be held outside and we must continue to offer the option of pre-packaged snacks.
We will continue to monitor the local situation and may need to modify these policies as circumstances change.

Additionally, the Medical Committee strongly recommends that all members get vaccinated for the protection of everyone in our community and beyond.

Please bring your mask to synagogue.

Backup masks will be available if needed.

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.

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:

'Building a Palace in Time: The Many Meanings of Shabbat'

Sunday 7:00pm

In this class, we will not only explore how to keep Shabbat, but why we do so in the first place.

· Why is Shabbat so preciously unique to the Jewish people?

· Why did God make the observance of Shabbat so essential for a spiritual relationship with Him?

· How does Shabbat and its observance help us better understand ourselves as individuals and as a community?

· How do all of the laws and observances of Shabbat help us better understand and experience

· what spiritual freedom is really all about?

“Building a Palace in Time: The Many Meanings of Shabbat” will operate like a book club and will meet via Zoom on Sunday evenings, from 7:00-8:00, beginning on April 11th. With each new unit, a different book will be assigned, and we will work through each book according to scheduled readings and thought prompts. Individual members are responsible for obtaining the assigned books, all of which can be easily found on Amazon.com.

This class is free of charge. No prior background is required, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!

For more information, please contact Rabbi Dan at [email protected], or (512) 410-0336 ex. 101.

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: Gary Gerstenhaber

Fundraising Committee: Beth Shapiro

Membership Committee: Sarah Wander

Chesed Committee: Lynn Kane

Kiddush Committee: Henna Tatham

Ritual Committee: Joel Tendler

The next CTI Board meeting is Wednesday, January 12 at 7:00pm. If you are a CTI Member you can login to our website and see all scheduled Board meetings by clicking here.

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

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

Birthdays

Hana Refaeli on December 26

Maurie Ommerman on December 27

Theodora Kahn-Rose on December 30

Charles Kaufman on December 31

Anniversaries

Daniel & Natalie Ledeen on December 30

Jeanette & Lowell Brickman on December 30

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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

Yahrzeit Remembrances

Lottie Orent, Mother of Amnon Orent, on Saturday 21 Tevet

Rav Chaim Berman, Cousin of Joel Tendler, on Wednesday 25 Tevet

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 Anonymous donors.

Thank you to Arthur Altman for his Aliyah donation.

Thank you to David Chapin for his Aliyah donation.

Thank you to Isaac and Angela Raschowsky for their donation in Honor of CTI.

Thank you to Myles Shaftel for his Aliyah donation.

Thank you to Eric Shapiro for his Aliyah donation.

Thank you to Eric and Beth Shapiro for their Yahrzeit donation and their donation to the Day School Fund.

Thank you to Isaac Raschowsky for his donation in Honor of CTI.

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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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Refuah Shelayma to:

Allene Novy-Portnoy; Hannah Bassa bat Sarah Osnat
Avshalom ben Hannah Bassa
Cindy Newman
Debbie Tendler; Devorah Rachel bat Rivka Leah
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
Joel Tendler; Yehoshua Mordechai ben Tziporah Perel
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

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, Faival ben Tzur
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 [email protected]

Online Shopping that Benefits CTI

Don't forget to bookmark our special links to AmazonSmile and Artscroll.com -- you will have the same shopping experience and CTI gets a generous percentage of your shopping dollar. Please bookmark and start shopping!

AmazonSmile Info

To Get Started with AmazonSmile

AmazonSmile will make a donation to CTI based on the amount of your eligible purchases made on the AmazonSmile website. The AmazonSmile website looks identical to the regular Amazon.com website, except that when you log in the banner at the top of the window shows that you are on the AmazonSmile website and displays the charity that you are supporting. There is also an additional item in the dropdown menu labelled “Your AmazonSmile”. The AmazonSmile page offers a convenient shortcut icon or bookmark for your browser to take you to AmazonSmile for your shopping.

ArtScroll

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 Joel Tendler at [email protected].