What's the Spiel? - Chol Hamoed Pesach

What's the Spiel?

19 Nisan 5784 - April 27, 2024

Chol Hamoed Pesach

Rabbi's Reflections

-The Stubbornness of Avraham: Holy Chutzpah-

The Pesach Haggadah teaches us, “Originally our ancestors were idol worshippers…Terach, the father of Avraham and Nachor…served other gods.” In his Michtav m’Eliyahu, Rav Dessler explains the importance of this statement. Asks Rav Dessler, “What is the point of mentioning the idol worship of Avraham’s father? Didn’t Avraham completely dissociate from his original source and begin a wholly new spiritual relationship? Why, then, do we need to go back and discuss his origins? Yet, this,” says Rav Dessler, “is exactly the point that needs to be understood, because it allows us to appreciate the courage of Avraham. For he rose up and stood against his father, his household, his whole family, as well as the entire way of the world! And he did so because he understood the truth of the Oneness of God. Behold! Every person knows how hard it is swim against the stream – against the general culture, even if that culture is only a little bit unaligned with our values. How much more so, when we feel like we are totally alone, working against a culture which is utterly antithetical to who we are. Behold! We have a model in Avraham Avinu, who taught us the necessary courage we need in order to stand up against a culture so entrenched in a certain way of comporting itself. The ability to resist the ills of such a culture is only made possible because we are a stiff-necked people, in the best way. We cannot resist unless we have that prerequisite stubbornness that compels us never to submit or surrender our deeply-held values.”

Jewish stubbornness is not necessarily a negative thing. Sometimes, stubbornness can be a holy quality, because saying “no way!” is the only thing that keeps us from succumbing to a culture that would undermine our values, cloud our moral clarity and subvert our most cherished principles. We learned this holy stubbornness from our founder, Avraham, and his audacity to speak truth to power, act on the courage of his convictions and disregard the consequences is a trait we have all inherited. We need to learn about Avraham’s origins, because only by appreciating where Avraham came from – the struggles he had to endure, the decisions he had to make and the burden he was willing to bear could we have the courage to stand up against ideologies, cultures, movements and mobs which seek to undo our faith, our values, traditions and our very right to exist.

The Jewish people will always stand up against any force that seeks to diminish, hurt, negate and destroy our covenanted mission, as the Haggadah says, “In every generation they rise against us to annihilate us. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, rescues us from their hand.” One of the ways that God rescues us from the hands of our enemies is by implanting in the Jewish soul the spirit of Avraham who refused to give into a way of life that would snuff out the possibility of knowing God and exposing truth. We all have that holy stubbornness. We got it from Avraham. It’s a part of who we are, and it’s what makes the Jewish people truly unique among the nations. In these trying times, let us tap into that “Avraham stubbornness,” and use it for the holiest of purposes – to stand as individuals and as a people unafraid and undeterred, and to keep moving against the stream in order to help perfect a very broken and ailing world, so that all humanity can come to realize that which is said, “Let all the ends of the earth pay heed and turn to the Lord, and all the peoples of all nations prostrate themselves before You” (Tehillim 22:28).

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Kasher v'Sameach!

- Rabbi Dan

Schedule of Services at B'nai Abraham

CTI Pesach Schedule Last Days

Friday, April 26th

Candle Lighting: 7:47PM

Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat: 7:30PM

Saturday, April 27th

Shacharit and Shir HaShirim: 9:00AM

Mincha: 7:40PM

Maariv/Havdallah: 8:45PM

Sunday, April 28th (Erev Chag)

Candle Lighting: 7:49PM

Mincha/Maariv: 7:40PM

Monday, April 29th (Seventh Day of Pesach) 9:00AM

Mincha/Maariv: 7:40PM

Candle Lighting: After 8:45PM

Tuesday, April 30th (Eighth Day of Pesach)

Shacharit: 9:00AM

Yizkor: Approximately 10:30AM (Note, this is an approximate time, please arrive early)

Mincha: 7:40PM

Maariv/Havdallah: 8:46PM

*Please wait for the Rabbi's email announcing when Chametz sold through CTI may be consumed!*

Wednesday - Friday

Shacharit: 7:05AM

CTI Announcements

CTI Welcomes Rabbi Stephanie Max,

Executive Director at Texas Hillel

“In Our Own Backyard: Reflections on the Passover Unrest at the University of Texas”

The recent anti-Israel, anti-Semitic activity on college campuses throughout the country has caused great alarm and concern in the Jewish community. As protests exploded during the Passover holiday at the University of Texas, many of us felt a mixture of emotions – anger, frustration, fear, betrayal and bewilderment.

This Shabbat, CTI is honored to welcome Rabbi Stephanie Max, Executive Director at Texas Hillel, who not only witnessed the mayhem on the UT Campus, but has important insights to share about campus culture and the larger issue of anti-Semitism in the halls of academia. Please join us to hear her thoughts, and learn some important lessons about what we can do to better understand what is happening in our own backyard.

Rabbi Stephanie Max is the Executive Director at Texas Hillel and joined the organization in July 2023. Rabbi Max served as the Associate Director at Brandeis Hillel for the past five years. She received ordination in 2019 from Hebrew College. During rabbinical school, Rabbi Max spent two years in Israel, studying at the Conservative Yeshiva, Pardes, the Shalom Hartman Institute, and BINA, where she also taught in their post-college program. Rabbi Max holds a BA in Sociocultural Anthropology and Hispanic Language and Literature from Boston University. Born in Dallas and raised in Rochester, New York, she has a love for hot summers and snowy winters. She lives in Northwest Hills with her husband, Andrew Max, who is the Senior Campaign Executive, Southwest for JNF.

Please join us for this year's Yom HaShoah Commemorative Event, in partnership with Shalom Austin and taking place at the Dell JCC Epstein Family Community Hall on Sunday, May 5th at 7 pm. Content is appropriate for children ages 9 and older.

This year, our program will include a special tribute to the victims of the October 7th, 2023, terror attack. It promises to be an evening of reflection and honor, featuring insightful commentary, live music, and a poignant candle lighting ceremony led by Mike O'Krent.

We would be honored by your presence at this impactful and meaningful occasion of remembrance. To sign up click on link below and please share on Facebook.

For security reasons, it is recommended that you register online by Friday May 3rd.

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!

Support Israel

Shalom Austin Emergency Campaign.

AIPAC

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

Israel American Council

At War: Heal Israel Now

Ach Gadol for Lone Soldiers

WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION

ISRAEL BONDS

Thank you Eric & Beth Shapiro for sponsoring Kiddush in honor of the 35th anniversary of the day they met.

Effective with all kiddushes booked after the beginning of Passover (April 22nd), the new prices will be:

$250 for a standard Kiddush
$50 more for a cake added to Kiddush

For all Kiddushes booked and paid for prior to the beginning of Passover, the current prices will remain the same.

Additionally, the Kiddush calendar is opened up for the remainder of 2024 so that you can book as far in advance as you would like this year and still pay the lower prices.

THANK YOU for supporting CTI and our community with your sponsorship! Also a big thank you to the many people who help with kiddush prep and cleanup!!! Your efforts are very much appreciated!

Sponsor A Kiddush

Mazel Tov!

Myles Shaftel, Birthday on April 27th
Molly Kress, Birthday on April 29th
Yoni Pack-Cosme, Birthday on April 29th
Andrea Sutter, Birthday on May 1st
Louis Stone, Birthday on May 1st

*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*