Congregation Tiferet Israel 

Austin, TX

25 Adar 5783 -- March 18, 2023

What's the Spiel?

Shabbat Mevarchim - Parshat Hachodesh - Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei

Austin Community Eruv

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Contact Alana Pompa

for more information: membership@tiferetaustin.org


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Membership Here!

Rabbi's Reflections

-Establish the Work of Our Hands-

In this week's double parshaVeyakhel-Pekudei, a thorough reckoning of every vessel, item and garment required for the service and construction of the Mishkan is recorded. Towards the end of Parshat Pekudei, the Torah tells us, "In accordance with all that the Lord had commanded Moshe, so did the Children of Israel accomplish all of the work that had been set for them" (Shemot 39:42). It is interesting to note that the word for "work" that is used in this context is not "melacha," as in other places which describe the construction of the Mishkan, but rather, "avodah." The medieval, Spanish Torah commentator Rebbeinu Bachya also marvels at the strange choice of language, stating, "It should have said, 'all of the melacha.' However, here, regarding the labor of the Mishkan, Scripture says, 'all of the avodah.' This is because the 'avodah,' or 'work,' involved in constructing the Mishkan reflected the 'service' of the Holy One, Blessed be He. As it says, 'You shall serve the Lord your God,' (Shemot 23:25). Also, 'Him alone shall you serve'" (Devarim 13:5). Thus, we see that when the Jewish people were physically building this most sacred structure, they never related to it as a mere building, but rather, they always perceived their labor as a form of worship and service of God. Perhaps, a story best expresses the distinction between 'melacha,' 'work,' and 'avodah,' 'service.'

 

A king was once observing a construction crew building a synagogue. "What are you doing?' the king asked. "I am laying bricks," said one. "I am smoothing cement," replied another. "I am chopping wood," declared a third. "And you there," said the king, pointing to a man busy at his task, "what are you doing?" "I am praying with my hands, building a palace for the King of kings!"

 

This Shabbat, as we think about how the Jewish people sanctified space through the construction of the Mishkan, creating a house for God's Presence to dwell on earth, let us also think about how we can sanctify space through the work of our hands, and that every action we take, every physical deed we do should be viewed as a holy service, as a sacred prayer we offer to God, as servants seeking to bring His Presence ever closer, as it says, "May the glory of the Lord, our God, be upon us; establish the work of our hands!" (Tehillim 90:17).


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 Night


Candle Lighting

No later than 7:22PM


Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat

7:25PM


Shabbat Morning


Shacharit

9:00 AM


Youth Services

10:30AM




Shabbat Evening


Mincha

7:15PM


Havdalah

8:17PM


Sunday

Shacharit

8:20AM


Weekday Services


Monday - Friday

Shacharit

7:05AM


CTI Announcements

Schmooze and Learn (S&L) was a well-regarded program sponsored by Congregation Tiferet Israel many years ago. S&L had a two-fold purpose: to deepen personal connections between CTI members and to benefit from the vast and diverse Jewish knowledge and experience of so many of our fellow congregants.


With the recent post-Covid growth of CTI, we're honored to host the relaunch of S&L on Sunday, March 19 at 7 PM at our home at 10609 McFarlie Cove in Northwest Austin. 

Our kickoff program will feature Texas Air National Guard Chaplain Major Daniel Millner (aka Rabbi Dan) on the topic "Rabbi on the Border or How I Spent My Summer Deployment."


Here's the agenda:


  • 7-7:30 PM Schmoozing and Snacking
  • 7:30-8:30 PM Program and Q&A
  • 8:30-9:00 PM More Schmoozing and Snacking


The program is free of charge and open to all adult CTI members.


RSVP Here!
RSVP Here!
RSVP Here!
RSVP Here!
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 lsmith@egsanalytics.com 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

2022 Tax Statements


Statements of 2022 Charitable Donations are being sent on request

only. If you need a statement, please send a request to Larry Smith

at treasurer@tiferetaustin.org.


Sponsor Kiddush!

Thank you Chuck & Vonne Kaufman for sponsoring Kiddush in honor of Vonne's Birthday.

Sponsoring a Kiddush is a lovely way to honor a loved one on their birthday, for an anniversary, to commemorate a Yarhtzeit, or just because you want to help out the community! Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush in April, May or June, and give us the opportunity to thank YOU for kiddush!  

Sponsor a Kiddush

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


Sarah Kane on March 19


Sarah Wander on March 19


Eveline Woloszko on March 20


Solomon Sultan on March 20


Abe Selig on March 22







Anniversaries




If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would like to add,

please update your profile on our website.


Yahrzeit Remembrances


Elaine Schechter, Sister of Betty Glosser, on Sunday 26 Adar




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 David Chapin, Offer Shavit, and Rick Goldberg for their aliyah donations.


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. 

***

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: 
  • 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
  • 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

 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.


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:

Alana Pompa 

membership@tiferetaustin.org 

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 106


Kiddush Committee:

Beth Shapiro kiddush@tiferetaustin.org


Youth Educator:

Emily Yaffe CTIyouth@tiferetaustin.org


Chesed Committee:

Jeanette Brickman jpbrickman22@gmail.com

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