What's the Spiel? - Parshat Vayigash

Parshat Vayigash teaches us about the emotional reunion of Yosef and brothers, as well as the highly anticipated reunion of Yosef and his father, Yaakov. However, before he sees his father for the first time in twenty-two years, Yosef tells his brothers to relate the following message to him: “Thus says your son Yosef, ‘God has made me lord over all Egypt; come down to me without delay…And you must tell my father everything about my high station in Egypt and all that you have seen; and bring my father here with all speed’” (Bereshit 45:9, 13). Why would this be the first message Yosef wants his father to hear? After over two decades of separation, why does Yosef think that the first thing his long-suffering father wants to know is how grand and successful his son has become? After all, Yaakov, the Bachir HaAvot, the Chosen Patriarch, did not value wealth, fame and status. Rather, Yaakov valued spirituality, following the Torah, and living a virtuous, moral, upright life. Yaakov cared more that his children follow the ways of the Torah than become wealthy and powerful. If this is so, why would hearing about Yosef’s material success in Egypt bring him comfort or impress him? What was the real message Yosef was trying to convey to his father?

According to the Netziv, Yosef’s message to his father was not about boasting of his material gains at all. Rather, it was about demonstrating his spiritual resolve and moral integrity throughout the long, hard years of his exile. Based on his son’s message, Yaakov understood that the only way someone like Yosef could rise to such a high station in Egypt was if he greatly impressed Pharaoh on a personal level. How did Yosef impress Pharaoh? He impressed Pharaoh by showing him that he was a man of principled beliefs and moral integrity. When Yosef interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams for him, he told the King in advance, “It is not I, but God Who will see to Pharaoh’s welfare” (Bereshit 41:16). When Pharaoh heard this, he understood that Yosef was an honest, humble man. After all, if Yosef wanted to be elevated in the eyes of Pharaoh, it would make more sense for him to take credit for his gifts and talents. It would make more sense to tell Pharaoh how indispensable his is to his welfare, and that without him, Pharaoh, and indeed, all of Egypt would be lost. Yet, Yosef did not do that. He simply told Pharaoh that he is an instrument of the Divine, and it is God, not he, Who can resolve the dreams of the King. Pharaoh saw in Yosef a man who cared less for his own personal wellbeing and safety, and more for being a true, authentic, and uncompromising servant of God. Consequently, Pharaoh knew Yosef could be trusted, and would work tirelessly on his behalf at the behest of God. It was Yosef’s principles and faith which elevated him to the position of viceroy – not his personality, good looks or charm.

Thus, when Yaakov heard Yosef’s message, he exclaimed, “My son Yosef still lives!” (Ibid., 45:28), meaning, “he saw prophetically, that Yosef had withstood his challenges and remained righteous” (HaEmek Davar, Bereshit 45:28). In other words, the same Yosef Yaakov remembered twenty-two years ago is the same Yosef who exists to this day! Yosef lives because he remained true to the Torah. Yosef lives because he remained humble and honest. Yosef lives because his chief priority was to be a servant of God, and remain true to his principles.

This Shabbat, let us consider that the surest way to success is not to abandon our principles when we think it will advantageous for us to do so in order to advance our positions or appease others. Rather, the surest way to success in this world is to remain true to our principles, to Torah values and Shmirat Mitzvot no matter the consequence. Yosef communicated to his father that he only attained his position because of his unrelenting faith and spiritual devotion, and we too, like Yosef, should also know that everything we have is because we remain true to our values, hold tight to our principles, and remain faithful to the Torah of our ancestors.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

Shabbat Morning Drasha: "HaOd Avi Chai: Yosef Lives, Yaakov Lives"

Shiur After Mincha: "The Age of Blessing: Living and Existing"

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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.

COME FOR CHOLENT!

Thank you Gary & Karin Gerstenhaber for

sponsoring Kiddush in honor of CTI

CTI Announcements

CTI is hosting its first social event for kids! Get cozy in your pajamas and join us for a movie night, with popcorn and hot chocolate.

Saturday, Dec. 11 @6:45pm

For ages 9 - 14

Must RSVP to attend!

Send an email to [email protected] to let us know you are coming!

CTI is very happy to welcome iACT!

iACT – Interfaith Action of Central Texas

iACT cultivates peace and respect through interfaith dialogue, service, and celebration, with the purpose of building healthy relationships between the faith communities of Central Texas.

The Passport Program gives participants the opportunity to travel to the houses of worship and various community celebrations of many different faith traditions. By the end of the year, all Passport Program participants will have had twelve opportunities to visit different congregations and four separate opportunities to attend community celebrations. Those who attend earn a stamp in their iACT Passport book for each visit. It is the hope of iACT that exposure and interaction amongst people of diverse faith traditions, cultures, and institutions will help build a deeper understanding and appreciation for all of our neighbors in communities across Austin.

Passport Program Leader

Simone Talma Flowers – Executive Director of iACT

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.

Asarah B’Teves: Why Do We Fast?

DECEMBER 14 @ 10AM (CST)

Asarah B’Teves is one of four fast days we observe annually that commemorate stages of the Temple’s destruction. We will explore what we are commemorating and what we hope to accomplish by fasting on these days.

Presented by: Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union (OU)

Rabbi Moshe Hauer has served the Orthodox Union (OU) as its Executive Vice President since 2020. In this role he serves as the organization’s rabbinic leader, heading its communal-oriented efforts and serving as its professional religious/policy leader and primary spokesman.

Prior to joining the OU, Rabbi Hauer served as the senior Rabbi of the Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation in Baltimore, MD for 26 years. He received his rabbinic ordination and doctor of Talmudic law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore and received his master’s of science from John Hopkins University.

Click HERE to register for the program.

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 Ezekiel

Tuesday 7:00pm

The Book of Ezekiel is one of the most mysterious but essential books of the Tanakh. Who was Ezekiel? When was he prophesying? Were his prophecies meant for his time or the distant future? In this TYT series, we will take an in-depth look at the life, times and ageless message of the Prophet Ezekiel in a way which will make his contribution to Jewish texts, history and destiny truly come to life! A priest stuck in exile, dreaming of the perfect Temple in a perfect homeland - a man pinning for spiritual life, but only experiencing physical privation - what is his message really all about? God asks Ezekiel to do many strange things - things even contrary to Jewish law! Were they literally true, or were they merely metaphorical? Come and join the CTI Tuesday evening Take Your Tanakh class, as together, we learn about the Prophet Ezekiel!

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

Ella Ashley Mermelstein on December 13

Basil Joffe on December 13

Charles Couch on December 13

Nicole Greenberg on December 14

Reese Carroll on December 17

Lochlan Loewy on December 17

Anniversaries

Basil & Doreen Joffe on December 15

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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

Yahrzeit Remembrances

Minnie Davis, Grandmother of Mitch Davis, on Saturday 7 Tevet

Sol Rubin, Father of Jay Rubin, on Sunday 8 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 Karen Chanon for her Tzedakah donation dedicated: Mazel Tov to Rabbi and Yael Millner, Nati, Avi and Baby Girl Millner. Wishing you much happiness, strength and love.

Thank you to Jo Reichler for her donation in Honor of the Birth of Noa Temima Millner.

Thank you to Rueven Robbins for his Aliyah donation.

Thank you to Andrew Smullen for his Aliyah donation.

Thank you to Henna Tatham for her donation to the Day School Fund.

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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
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
Shimon ben Sarah
Hinda bat Yehudit
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

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].