What's the Spiel? - Shabbat Mevarchim

Pirkei Avot teaches us, "Ben Hei-hei said, 'According to the effort is the reward'" (5:27). Rav Hirsch explains Ben Hei-hei's statement to mean, "It is not the quantitative measure of the moral and spiritual goals you have actually achieved that constitute the true worth of a life's course. It is the measure of earnest striving, of devoted endeavor, of sacrifices made and privation endured, all for the realization of good purposes that determine the true worth of both man and his life" (The Hirsch Pirkei Avot 5:27). Indeed, the harder we work in our pursuit of spiritual and material success, the more effort we put forth in our undaunted attempts to realize our missions in life, the greater our reward will be, and our parsha demonstrates this very lesson.

Parshat Mishpatim enumerates mitzvot dealing primarily with Nezikei Adam, the laws of bodily damage, and Nezikei Mammon, the laws of property damage. However, towards the end of our parsha, we learn, "Moshe arose, and Yehoshua his servant; and Moshe ascended the Mountain of God. And to the Elders he said, 'Wait for us here until we return to you'" (Shemot 24:13-4). According to the Midrash HaGadol, the Elders took exception to Moshe's command not to ascend the Mountain with him, saying, "If we are not worthy of entering into the inner-sanctum (of God's Cloud which rests atop the Mountain) why were we requested to come here at all?!'" The Midrash goes on to illustrate the Elders' complaint, saying, "This can be compared to a person who brings up another to the top of a roof, and then cuts the ladder out from under him!" So, why were the Elders not allowed to ascend to the top of the Mountain and share in the celestial rewards Moshe would enjoy?

The Midrash Tanchuma Yashan offers an explanation: "When Moshe and Aharon said to the Elders in Egypt, 'Come with us to Pharaoh,' the Elders of Israel immediately accepted [this charge] upon themselves and went with them. However, as they were walking, they began to drop off, one by one, two by two [because of their great fear of Pharaoh]. Once [Moshe and Aharon] arrived at the palace of Pharaoh, not even one of the Elders could be found! Thus, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the Elders [at Mount Sinai] 'What were you thinking, that I would not requite [your lack of effort]? By your lives! Did you honestly imagine that when Moshe and Aharon ascended to receive the Torah that you would be able to ascend with them?" Rather, "Whoever earnestly strove to enter before Pharaoh, [a king of flesh and blood], shall enter before the King of kings!" Because the Elders abandoned Moshe due to their unwillingness to struggle with their fears, because they did not fully commit themselves to Moshe's mission, they could not accompany him up the Mountain. Due to of the Elders' lack of effort to escort Moshe the first time he asked them, their reward was greatly diminished the second time.

This Shabbat, as we consider our goals, our hopes and dreams, let us take to heart the words of Pirkei Avot and the lesson the Elders learned in our parsha: "According to the effort is the reward." If we commit ourselves to working towards fulfilling our missions in life, no matter the hardships we may endure, the sacrifices we may make or the fears we must conquer, we will be able to share in the fullness of the rewards we have worked so diligently to enjoy.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

Guest Shabbat Morning Drasha with Marshall Humble

No Shiur After Mincha

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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.

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CTI Announcements

Mazel Tov and welcome to our new members, Todd Seigel and Ephraim Klein.

Shalom Austin Mask Policy Update

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

Masks are mandatory for all individuals attending services.
Children are welcome at shul, but all children over the age of 2 must be masked. Children under 2 do not need to wear a mask but must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
We will continue to monitor the local situation and 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.

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FEBRUARY 1 @ 10AM (CST)

Join us for a discussion of insights about alcohol use through the generations.

Presented by: Ruchama Clapman, Founding/Executive Director, MASK (Mothers & Fathers Aligned Saving Kids) and Rabbi Dr. Benzion Twerski, MASK Group Facilitator, Psychologist in Private Practice

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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.

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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.

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Jack Grevey, Grandfather of Sean Clifford, on Monday 29 Shevat

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Dear Tiferet Friends,

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