What's the Spiel? - Shabbat Mevarchim - Parshat Shekalim Vayakhel

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayakhel, we learn, “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel” (Shemot 35:30). Betzalel was charged with the enormous task of constructing the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of God in the wilderness. Never before had a person been tasked with such a monumental mission. While there are many explanations as to why and how Betzalel was chosen, the question remains, “How did Betzalel know how to make the Mishkan so beautiful? How did he know how to take all of the materials – the skins and the linens; the gold, silver and copper, the wood and the jewels and fashion them into something extraordinary?” In other words, “How did Betzalel know how to create art?” If one gave a person all of the finest, most expensive ingredients to make a five-star dinner, could they? Even if they read the recipe or watched Youtube?

To help answer this question, I would like to turn to the words of Rav Yosef B. Soloveitchik, who explains, “When God exiled the Jewish people, the dispersion took place within the most technologically and culturally sophisticated nations of those times: Egypt, Babylonia and Rome. Betzalel learned the art of building and esthetics from the Egyptians. Similarly, when the Israelites entered Egypt, they were a nomadic tribe with no agricultural experience. Only after their sojourn in Egypt were they prepared to build an agrarian society.” This is a powerful idea. Betzalel learned art and the technical aspects of beauty from Egypt and brought that esthetic awareness to bear upon the Mishkan. Not only that, Egypt taught the Jewish people how to farm and live in an agricultural society – something foreign to the Jews until the dwelt in Egypt. In other words, had it not been for Egypt, not only would the Mishkan not have been built with the glory and the grandeur that it was, but all of the mitzvot dealing with agriculture – shemita, leket, shichecha and peah, just to name a few, would not have been understood and fulfilled.

Indeed, Egypt taught the Jewish people a great deal. But the people were able to separate the profane aspects of those physical practices and forms from their deeper spiritual and moral meanings, and harness the good aspects, so as to elevate themselves and in so doing, our relationship with the Divine. There is holiness in art, but not all art is holy. There is some art which elevates the human mind and soul and brings the person closer to spirituality, but there is some art which does the opposite. Also, there are some economic practices which elevate the individual and society, but there are some which enslave, humiliate, diminish and destroy human dignity. The Jewish people always took from the good and left the bad. This is a tight-rope walk of sorts, but one we have always dared to traverse. Betzalel teaches us that great things can come from learning from one’s surroundings. But we have to be sure that instead of our surroundings influencing us, we influence our surroundings. We have to be sure that we take the good and not the bad. We have to be sure that anything we learn from the nations of our dispersion is used for holy purposes and not for the purposes prescribed by the nations. Betzalel took from the good, he knew how to make beauty, and he did it for the sake of heaven. This too, is our challenge: To take from the nations that which is good and use it for the sake of heaven.

So, at the end of the day, what did the Egyptians do for us? Well, they gave us an esthetic and they gave us an agricultural model, but they did not give us our faith, our morality or our sense of peoplehood. These come from God. We must always be aware of our surroundings. We must always know why we do what we do and understand that very well. Jews do not copy, Jews improve. This is what Betzalel did, and this is the model which we should apply to ourselves. Know who you are. Take the good from the bad. Learn, listen, inspire and improve. And maybe, one day, we will all build a Mishkan together!

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

Shabbat Morning Drasha: "What Would You Take?: A Different Way of Viewing Giving"

Shiur After Mincha:"Prepare for Parshat Zachor: A Woman's Obligation"

‌

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.

Kiddush Cancelled Due to Weather

CTI Announcements

Gan & Tot Shabbat will be held in ECP rooms 121 and 122 on Saturday, February 19 & 26. Programs start at 10:30am.

CTI Mishloach Manot Fundraiser Is 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@prismnet.com if you are interested or would like more information.

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.

Backup masks will be available if needed.

CTI, please join us as we honor Dan Kraus and Phil Loewy - our 2022 IGNITE honorees!

Learn about how our support of the Annual Campaign inspires Jewish journeys and elevates Jewish life in meaningful and transformative ways.

Come celebrate our incredible Jewish community!

shalomaustin.org/igniteregister

Please Note:

1. Shalom Austin is committed to holding this event safely and its COVID protocols will be appropriate for the time. More information will be provided as we get closer to April 3.

2. Unlike IGNITE! Home Edition (which we promoted as a family-friendly virtual event); this year’s IGNITE! is adults only. Shalom Austin is offering a discounted rate for parents who have kids in preschool to help offset babysitter costs.

Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Home in Israel with Capitil Real Estate and Partners, Part II

MARCH 1 @ 10AM (CST)

Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Home in Israel

with Capitil Real Estate and Partners, Part II

You’ll get:

Expert advice on the role of the real estate agent, real estate lawyer and mortgage broker
Hear from buyers on there experience through the process
Hear from people living in Jerusalem, Modiin and Netanya about there day to day lives in Israel
Are you a holiday home owner? Why choose Israel and not Florida?

Presented by: Ben Levene, Capitil Real Estate and Partners and Jane Olman, Real Estate Attorney

Ben has been an Israeli realtor for 11 years. He co-founded Capitil real estate and manages a sales team with a strong desire to help people purchase or sell property in Jerusalem in a market and system which is very different to what most anglos are used to. Ben has run over 50 community events across America, Australia and the UK bringing together experts to help people buy or understand the process of buying in Israel.

Jane is an attorney with 20 years’ experience, specializing in Israeli real estate and wills and inheritances with an emphasis on assisting English-speaking clients throughout Israel and abroad navigate the Israeli system. Jane frequently lectures on buying and selling property in Israel.

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:

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, March 9 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

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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

Yahrzeit Remembrances

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 Judy Cassorla for her donation in Memory of our dear friend Debbie Tendler (z”l).

Thank you to Benjamin Heyen for his donation in Honor of CTI.

Thank you to Marty and Katie Price for their donation in Memory of Debbie Tendler (z”l). They wrote: Debbie worked tirelessly for CTI and the Austin Jewish community. When Debbie contacted you, she made you feel like such an important part of the community and CTI. She had such a special way to connect with people. Katie and I always loved to see and speak with Debbie. She was so beloved and will be so missed by the entire Austin Jewish community. Her emails at holiday time we just wonderful. Her ability to write and connect with people was a special gift.

_________________

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, 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
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 admin@tiferetaustin.org

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 webmaster@tiferetaustin.org.