What's the Spiel? - Parshat Kedoshim

What's the Spiel?

3 Iyyar 5784 - May 11, 2024

Parshat Kedoshim

Rabbi's Reflections

-The Message of Parsha Placement: Don't Be Sad, Be Holy!-

Parshat Kedoshim is situated between Parshat Achrei-Mot and Parshat Emor, both of which enumerate the unique laws, service and status of the Kohanim. Why, then, does Parshat Kedoshim, which deals with the inherent holiness of the ordinary Jew, interrupt two parshiyot dealing with exclusively priestly matters? In his Lekutim Yekarim, Rav Areyh Leib Schochet explains that following Parshat Achrei-Mot, which discusses the sudden and tragic deaths of Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu during the inauguration of the Mishkan, the people might despair and come to think that if Nadav and Avihu, two of the holiest people on earth, could not serve God properly, what chance do they, ordinary Jews, have? How could holiness ever be accessible or attainable after witnessing the destruction of these holy priests while in the midst of their service? “Therefore, Parshat Kedoshim directly follows Achrei-Mot in order to bring comfort and surety to every Jew that their good deeds and honest efforts will be pleasing before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and that every Jew will be called righteous, as the Holy Zohar says (Parshat Kedoshim 81a), ‘It does not say: Be holy. Rather, you will be holy,’ meaning it is a promise from the Holy One, Blessed be He to all of Israel, that they will merit to be holy as God is holy, for it is God Who sanctifies them” (Lekutim Yekarim, Parshat Kedoshim, 68).

Thus, we need to hear the inspiring message of Parshat Kedoshim – that every Jew is holy, that every Jewish prayer is heard and every Jewish soul is endlessly precious after Achrei-Mot and before Emor, because we must redeem our simple faith in the power of the individual Jew to attain holiness, and that even when the traditional vessels and systems of holiness and ritual fail or are unable to perform their duties, we can yet reach the Divine and achieve holiness in our lives. As Reb Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk once said, “When the Messiah comes, even if there will be one Jew living in the most far-flung corner of the world, he will sense instantly that the King Messiah has come. This is what the Torah means when it says, “You shall be holy.” For every Jew will merit to be holy, and there can be no greater comfort than this – to know that every Jew will merit to be brought close, sanctified and see the King Messiah, and may he come speedily in our days.”

Holiness is something every Jew can have access to and can make happen here and now. All that holiness requires is a sincere heart, a genuine commitment to God, Torah and community, and soul invested in goodness and spiritual excellence – ever seeking the reparation of a broken world. While the Kohanim function in order to help bring the people closer to God in the world of the Beit HaMikdash, it is, at the end of the day, the inherent holiness and power of the people themselves who can make that connection eternal, dependent upon nothing except the individual and God. As the Mishne teaches, “Rebbe Akiva said: How fortunate are you, Israel; before Whom are you purified, and Who purifies you? It is your Father in Heaven” (Yoma 8:9).

Shabbat Shalom!

- Rabbi Dan

Schedule of Services at B'nai Abraham

Friday, May 10

Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

7:30PM

Candle Lighting

7:57PM

Saturday, May 11

Shacharit

9:00AM

Youth Services

10:30AM

Mincha

7:55PM

Havdalah

8:55PM

Sunday, May 12

Shacharit

8:30AM

Monday - Thursday

May 13 - May 16

Shacharit

7:05AM

CTI Announcements

Yom HaZikaron Community Ceremony

This year, more than ever, it is important to stand together with our community for Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, for those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel, all military personnel who were killed while in active duty in Israel’s armed forces, and all victims of terror attacks. It is customary to wear a white top on Yom HaZikaron. We invite you to join in this custom.

Registration is required by 5:00PM Today (May 10th)

Date: Sunday, May 12

Time: 7:00PM

Location: Dell JCC - Epstein Family Community Hall

Yom HaAtzmaut Community Celebration

Join this community-wide event for fun, food, and friendly faces to celebrate Israel’s birthday!

Stop by when you can, stay as long as you’d like, and wear blue & white to make the day extra special. This is an event for the whole family to enjoy! Activities, musical performances, and more! Israeli food will be available for purchase.This event will take place rain or shine.

Registration is required by 5:00 PM on Friday, May 17.

Date: Sunday, May 19

Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: Dell JCC

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 Sam Glassman & Beth Steinberg for sponsoring Kiddush in loving memory of the Yahrzeit of Beth's mother,

Eve Kurtin Steinberg (zl)

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!

Yoshiyahu Yaffe Birthday, May 8th
Dan & Yael Millner Anniversary, May 12th
Caleb Wander Birthday, May 12th
Nathan Ross Birthday, May 13th
Karin Gerstenhaber Birthday, May 14th
Doreen Joffe Birthday, May 14th
Erik Rahimi Birthday, May 15th
Beth Steinberg Birthday, May 15th

*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*

Yahrtzeit Remembrances

Eve Kurtin Steinberg, Mother of Beth Steinberg, on Sunday 4 Iyyar

Torah Classes at CTI

Take Your Tanakh Series

Tuesday Night | 7:00pm - The Book of Isaiah

Wednesday Morning | 8:15am - The Song of Songs

Click Here for more information on how to join these exciting classes.

Donations

Thank you to Arthur and Barb Altman for their donation to the Chesed Fund for a Refuah Shleimah for Terry Cohen, sister of Beth Shapiro; and for their donation in honor of Ariella Rush on completing her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Thank you to Lawrence Whyte, Josh Rosenberg, Reuven Robbins, Myles Shaftel, Jay Rubin, and Chuck Kaufman for their aliyah donations.

Thank you to Nitsan Lavie for his donations in memory of his uncle Morris Kaplan A"H and in honor of his his mother Anita Lavie.

Thank you to Reuven Robbins and David Chapin for their yahrzeit donations.

Thank you to Myles Shaftel for his yizkor donation.

Thank you to Josh Rosenberg for his Maot Chitin donation.

Thank you to our anonymous donors.

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