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18 Tevet 5785 - January 18, 2025

Parshat Shemot

Rabbi's Reflections

-Feeling Jewish and the Beginning of Jewish Leadership-

From his earliest years, Moshe regarded his royal pedigree as a mark of unmatched distinction. Truly, Moshe was a prince of Egypt and a proud son of the Nile. Yet, Moshe's greatest achievements and lasting contributions are not found in the annals of Egypt, but in the hearts, minds and souls of the Jewish people. Why? What happened to Moshe, the young Egyptian royal, that caused him to betray his coveted pedigree, embrace his true birthright and become the greatest spiritual leader the world has ever known?


To help answer this question, we must explore the conflict of identity Moshe experiences when he interacts with his fellow Israelites for the first time. Our parsha teaches us, "It happened in those days that Moshe grew up and went out to his brethren and saw their burdens" (Shemot 2:11). This simple pasuk teaches us two very important things. The first is that Moshe is now grown. However, Rashi, quoting the Midrash Tanchuma Yashan, teaches us that this pasuk does not mean that Moshe has physically grown, but that Moshe has now attained great rank in Egypt, "as Pharaoh appointed him [ruler] over his household" (Rashi on Shemot 2:11). Surely, a person such as this must be confident in his own sense of purpose and being. Still, the second thing this pasuk teaches us is that Moshe, the great and revered head of Pharaoh's household, intentionally ventures into the realm of Israelite slavery and in so doing he "saw their burdens." 


Now, at first glance, what would Moshe have seen? As an Egyptian noble, Moshe would have seen an inferior, subjugated people fulfilling the will of mighty Pharaoh. In other words, he would have seen "business as usual." However, Rashi tells us that when Moshe "saw their burdens," the Torah means to say that "he focused his eyes and heart to be distressed over them" (Rashi on Shemot 2:11). Rashi is teaching us that when Moshe observed the plight of the Israelites, something moved deep inside of him which enabled him to see the Israelites in a different way- in a very "unEgyptian" way. Instead of viewing the Israelites as chattel, he came to empathize with their pain, and in so doing, Moshe became the first "Egyptian" to see the humanity and the spiritual prowess of the Israelites. By focusing on their pain, he came to feel their distress, and in opening up his heart to their cries, he came to identify with their experience. By seeing the pain of the Israelites, by forcing himself to focus on their sorrow, by stepping out of his prescribed role in order to feel their anguish, he came to see the cruelty and the injustice of the culture which lauded him as a ruler. Thus, the beginning of Moshe's foray into Jewish leadership began not with a burning bush, with miracles, signs or wonders. Rather, Moshe's first step into the world of Jewish leadership began with an emotional identification and spiritual connection with his people. Though he wore the garb of an Egyptian royal, Moshe's heart cried for the Jewish people as only a Jewish heart can. It was Moshe's inescapable sense of "feeling Jewish" which led him to become the greatest prophet and teacher ever to lead the Jewish people. 


This Shabbat, as we begin learning the story of the Jewish exile in Egypt and the beginnings of their freedom from bondage, let us consider the idea that the first mark of any Jewish leader must be an emotional and spiritual identification with the Jewish people. Only when we can look upon the plight of our brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, only when we can see their sorrow and allow ourselves to feel their pain, only when we can identify with their situation and be inspired to take action on their behalf, can we become the Jewish leaders we are all called to be, just as Moshe was those many years ago.


Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

Schedule of Services at B'nai Abraham

Friday, January 17


Candle Lighting – 5:37PM


Mincha - 5:30PM


Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv - 5:40PM



Saturday, January 18



Shacharit – 9:00AM


Kids Service - 10:30AM


Mincha – 5:30PM


Maariv/Havdalah – 6:34PM


Sunday, January 19


Shacharit - 8:30AM


Monday - Friday



Shacharit - 7:05AM



CTI Announcements

As a reminder, the CTI Congregational Meeting will be January 26th at 10am by Zoom (call-in information below) and in-person at CTI. Your participation is important for many reasons but also because the bylaws require a quorum of 1/3rd of our Full Members in good standing in order to ratify the budget. 


**** RSVP to the Congregational Meeting HERE

2024 Tax Statements


Statements of 2024 Charitable Donations are being sent on request only. If you need a statement, please send a request to Larry Smith at treasurer@tiferetaustin.org.

Tell America's Leaders to Stand with Israel!



Anti-Israel activists are calling members of Congress. Make your pro-Israel voice heard by calling your elected officials to make clear you stand with our ally Israel against Hamas terrorism!

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Shalom Austin Emergency Campaign.


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Donation Form.


MOGEN DAVID ADOM


WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION


ISRAEL BONDS


JNF


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. Look for an extensive list of donors to be published at the beginning of next year thanking all those who have contributed to a kiddush sponsorship during 2024. 


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!



  • Maxwell Wander, Birthday, January 19
  • Jennifer Kron, Birthday, January 19
  • Fay Brener, Birthday, January 23
  • Beth Shapiro, Birthday, January 23








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



Yahrtzeit Remembrances


  • Benjamin Brener, Father of Lazaro Brener, on Monday 20 Tevet
  • Lottie Orent, Mother of Amnon Orent, on Tuesday 21 Tevet




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


Torah Classes at CTI

Take Your Tanakh Series


Tuesday Night | 7:00pm - The Book of Isaiah


Wednesday Morning | 8:15am - The Song of Songs


Click Here for more information on how to join these exciting classes.

Donations

Thank you to Amnon Orent for his aliyah donation.


Thank you to Daniel & Madeline Rosenberg and to Phil Spertus & Denise Shade for their donations in memory of Mitch Davis' father Norton Davis z"l.Thank you to Marshall & Sandy Sack for their donation in memory of Elaine Orent z"l.


Thank you to Daniel & Madeline Rosenberg for

their donation in memory of Carol Rubin z"l.


Thank you to Jay Rubi for his donation in appreciation of

Sarah and Gabriel Wander for sponsoring last Shabbat’s

kiddush in memory of Carol Rubin z”l.


Thank you to Solomon & Devorah Sultan for their donation to the General Fund.


Thank you to Stuart & Jennifer Tendler for their donation to the Torah Fund.


Thank you to our anonymous donors.


Make a Donation

Contact Us!

 www.tiferetaustin.org


Rabbi Dan Millner:

rabbidan@tiferetaustin.org 

Phone: 512-410-0336 X101


For more contact numbers and emails, visit our website.


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, HaRav 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
  • 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)
  • Rafael ben Sheindal Leah
  • Aharon Asher ben Chaya Naomi
  • Esther Malka Fraida bat Serel Chaya Raiza
  • Esther Reva bat Malka
  • Avraham ben Rut
  • Sheva Eva bat Bella.
  • Moshe ben Rut
  • Chandal bat Basia
  • Shmuel Dovid bat Malka
  • Anthony Ben Devorah
  • Shayna Leah bat Yehudit
  • Reuven ben Shira
  • Batyah bat Sara
  • Rachel Tzivia bat Malka
  • Chava Golda bat Leah
  • David Yosef ben Aga
  • Layla Tzohara bat Naomi Rivkeh
  • Shimon Yaakov ben Sarah
  • Shalom Ephraim ben Esther Breindel
  • Eli Moshe ben Yehudit Leah
  • Nechama bat Yehudit
  • Michal Leora bat Sarah



 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  

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