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25
Elul 5770 / September 4, 2010
What's
the Spiel?
Shabbat
Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech
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Rabbi's Column
This week is the week of Teshuva - Return. Truth be
told, every day is appropriate for Teshuva, but this time of
year has been dedicated for teshuva dating back to the time
immediately after the of receiving the Torah. During these days,
Moshe Rabbenu returned to Har Sinai to pray for the Jewish people
following the sin of the Golden Calf. It was for this reason that
the forty day period, the month of Elul culminating with Yom
Kippur, is know as y'mei ratzon - a time that Hashem may be more
easily approached.
Parshat Nitzavim that we read this Shabbat contains an acronym of
the Hebrew word Elul - Et Lvavcha V'et Lvav, your heart  and the
heart of your descendants, that is, to love Hashem with all your
heart and all your soul. This symbol of teshuva, returning
wholeheartedly, is one of the three necessary components for these
days. Ani Ldodi V'dodi Li, I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is
mine, refers to the relationship created between man and G-d
through prayer. And finally Eesh L'rayehu Umatanot La'evyonim,
gifts to a friend and to the poor, hints at tzedaka and completes
the set. Tefila,Teshuva and Tzedaka -- Prayer, Return to Hashem and
Charity -- as we proclaim on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur between
the inspirational U'netane Tokef and the sanctifiation of G-d's
name in Kedusha, defines our goal for these days, returning back
"home" to where we know we should be.
May these days be truly a time of introspection, commitment to
Torah life, and dedication to reaching out to those whose needs are
physical or spiritual.
May Hashem bless us and our families, our brothers in Israel and
all mankind with a year of health, security and the appreciation of
His gifts.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Eliezer Langer
Follow this link for a beautiful video from aish.com:
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Back to School
Summer is (almost) over. You can tell
because our Sunday School program had its first class this past
Sunday. Pictured above is Sara Ben Sa'adon standing, one of our
Sunday School teachers with four of the students, from left to right,
Aby Freedman-Jones, Ella Freedman-Jones, Lilly Luftig and Netanel
Ramos.
There is still time to enroll in the program. If
interested, please contact Suzanne Luftig.
The program runs on Sundays from 9-11 AM on the JCAA campus.
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Selichot:10:30
PM Program, 12:00 Midnight Tefillot
We usher in the High Holiday Season this Saturday night with Selichot
at midnight to be led by Rabbi Langer and Irwin Harris.
At 10:30 prior
to Selichot we will have a screening of "The Disputation".
Produced in England, this remarkable, tense drama is based on the
Barcelona Disputation that took place in the court of King James of
Aragon in 1263. During the Middle Ages, there were numerous
disputations between Jews and Christians, but the Barcelona
Disputation was unique. The  other notorious debates were not authentic, but attempts
by Christians to force conversion on the Jew. The Barcelona
Disputation, on the other hand, was the only occasion on which the
Jewish spokesman was allowed to speak freely. This led to a genuine,
eye-opening confrontation between Judaism and Christianity in which
the basic differences between the two religions were brought to
light. The Jewish side was represented by Rabbi Moses ben Nachman
(Nachmanides), the leading Talmudic scholar of his time. The apostate
Pablo Christiani aggressively led the Christian side. Finely acted by
an extraordinary distinguished cast, the story examines the
disputation between the Christians and the Jews where Nachmanides
used his unparalleled knowledge of sacred literature and the power of
his oration to defend his faith. In the end, King James of Aragon
rewarded the "Rabbi of Gerona" 300 dinarim for his courage
and success in the disputation. It is a fascinating and empowering
film for all to enjoy. Starring: Christopher Lee, Toyah Wilcox, Bob
Peck, Alan Dobie, Bernard Hepton.
Refreshments will follow the movie.
Calendars for the New Jewish year, courtesy of Cook-Walden, have
arrived and will be available.
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Mazal Tov To:
Sandra & Avraham (Memi) Be'er on their Wedding Anniversary
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Refuah
Shelayma To:
- Linda Barnett who is
b"H recuperating at home following a kidney
transplant.
- Hinda Feiga Tova bas
Gittel
- Arlene and Leonard
Rosenthal recuperating at home
- Miriam bas Hinda Tiba
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Access to JCC
Campus
If you are
driving onto the JCC campus you need a new sticker on your
automobile. If you do not have one, please see Rabbi Langer or
Joel Tendler.
If you enter the JCC Campus from Chimeny Cormers Road, please close
the combination lock as you enter. Leaving it unlocked is a
security exposure. Help us all keep the campus safe for all of
us.
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Child Care - Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur
Tiferet Israel will provide childcare over Yom
Tov, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Kol Nidrei
evening and at Neila. Snacks will be provided.
Please email so that we adequately prepare.
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The Simanim of Rosh Hashanah
 On Rosh Hashana, we eat
various symbolic foods - simanim -- as omens for the new
year. Through them we express our desires for a sweet new year
and to be inscribed in the book of life. While each item can be
eaten raw, making unique dishes incorporating those makes each siman
a little more special and may bring a greater focus to the
activity.
Link here for recipes and to read
more.
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 Prepaid orders for Lulav
& Etrog sets are being accepted until September 15 Please download the order
form here.
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Eruv Tavshilin
When Yom Tov falls on a Friday, as it does this year for Rosh
HaShanah, Succot and Shemini Atzeret, there is an allowance to
prepare on Yom Tov for the needs of Shabbat on Friday. The
process to be followed is called Eruv Tavshilin. You can
read about it in an article by Rabbis Elozor Barclay and Yitchok
Jaeger that can be found here.
This year an Eruv Tavshilin needs to be prepared before Yom Tov on
Wednesdays, September 8, 22 and 29.
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High Holiday
Baalei Tefilla
We look forward
to welcoming our baalei tefilla for the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
Services. Joining us again, this year from Israel, will be Yehuda
Shvager who will lead the Musaf services. Yehuda's melodious voice
and tunes have been enjoyed by the Congregation for the past years
and we are glad that he and Michal will be joining us for Yom Tov.
 Chaim Sigler who was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and raised in Detroit,
Michigan,
will be leading Shacharit . He attended Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, Yeshiva Gedolah in Detroit and
Yeshivat BeitYitzchak
in Hamilton, Ontario.
We look forward
to your joining us for our inspirational services.
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Rosh
HaShanah Sisterhood Fund Raiser
 If you have not already sent in your order for the
beautiful fuzed glass Mezuzah you have time, but not much.
Please complete An order blank can be downloaded from here. Sunday, September 5, is
the last day to get your orders in. Please complete the
order form and, due to the upcoming deadline, please call your order
in to Shoshana Schmerer at 241-1728. You can address questions
to:
·
Judy Sorin at
512-343-2254 or judysorin@peoplepc.com
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Debbie Tendler at
512-502-8166 or debten@sbcglobal.net
We will notify all when the Mezuzot can be picked up.
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Schedule of Services
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Friday Night
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JCAA ECP Building
(Multipurpose Room)
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Minchah & Kabalat Shabbat
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7:00 PM
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Candle Lighting
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7:33 PM
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Saturday
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JCAA ECP Building
(Multipurpose Room)
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Sacharit & Musaf
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9:00 AM
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Mincha & Seudah Shelishit
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7:30 PM
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Maariv & Havdalah
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8:27 PM
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Selichot
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Program
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10:30 PM
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Tefilot
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Midnite
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Weekday Services
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Room 224 Education Wing
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Sacharit
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Sunday & Monday
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8:00 AM
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Tuesday & Wednesday
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6:45 AM
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Mincha & Maariv
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Sunday through Tuesday
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7:30 PM
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Rosh
HaShana Schedule of Services
This year, Rosh HaShana starts Wednesday evening following Labor
Day. We will follow the schedule shown here.
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Erev Rosh HaShana
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Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010
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Candle Lighting
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7:27 PM
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Mincha & Ma'ariv
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7:15 PM
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1st Day Rosh HaShana
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Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010
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Shacharit
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8:00 AM
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Rabbi's Sermon
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10:30 AM
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Shofar
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10:50 AM
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Mincha
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7:15 PM
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Candle Lighting
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After 8:20 PM
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2nd Day Rosh HaShana
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Friday, Sept. 10, 2010
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Shacharit
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8:00 AM
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Rabbi's Sermon
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10:30 AM
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Shofar
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10:50 AM
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Mincha
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7:15 PM
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Shabbat Candle Lighting
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Before 7:24 PM
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Shabbat Teshuva
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Erev Shabbat
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Friday, Sept. 10, 2010
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Candle Lighting
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7:24 PM
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Minchah & Kabalat Shabbat
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7:15 PM
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Shabbat
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Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010
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Shacharit & Musaf
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9:00 AM
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Shabbat Teshuva Derasha
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6:10 PM
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Mincha & Seudah Shelishit
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7:10 PM
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Maariv & Havdalah
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8:18 PM
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Donations
Our thanks to the following for the donations received by CTI this
week:
- Isabel Balderes -- In
memory of her paternal Grandfather
- Fred Grant -- In honor
of his Maftir Alyah
- Benny Rowe -- In honor
of his Aliyah
- Offer and Ilana Shavit
-- In honor of Offer's Aliyah
- Offer and Ilana Shavit
-- In honor of Ayal's Aliyah
- Debbie and Joel Tendler
-- For a Refuah Shelamah to Leonard and Arline Rosenthal
- Debbie and Joel Tendler
-- In honor of Louis Sole's 100th Birthday
To donate to CTI
you may mail a check to Congregation Tiferet Israel, PO Box 27254,
Austin, TX 78750-2254, or via our websitettiferetaustin.org and then
clicking on Make a Donation.
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Adult
Education Classes this week
Daily: Daf Yomi, Tractate Sanhedrin -- Sunday 9:00AM, Monday-Friday 6:00 AM, Shabbat
8:00AM
Daily: Love of Chessed, Practicle Applications
-- following Shacharit and Mincha
Monday evenings: Tanach - Melachim 8:15 PM
Wednesday Evenings: High Holiday Prayers 8:15 PM
Thursday afternoons: Torah Treats, the weekly reading
2:00 PM
Shabbat
Afternoon - Rambam's Iggeret Teiman 7:00 PM
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So why do we do that?
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Questions
1. Why do we blow the shofar during the month of Elul?
2. Where in the written Torah text does it tell us explicitly that
the first day of Tishrei is Rosh Hashana?
3. We eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet year. Why do
we choose apples above other sweet fruits?
4. What two blessings do we say before sounding the shofar?
5. Which Book of Tanach does the beginning of the Tashlich prayer
come from?
6. What three barren women were "remembered" by Hashem on
Rosh Hashana?
7. A person's yearly allowance is fixed on Rosh Hashana, except for
three types of expenses.
What are they?
8. We refer to the binding of Isaac in our prayers when we say:
"Answer us as You answered Abraham our father on Mount
Moriah..." What was Abraham's prayer on Mount Moriah?
9. Why, even in Israel, are there two days of Rosh Hashana, whereas
other festivals in Israel are celebrated for only one day?
10. What halacha applies to the shehechiyanu blessing on the second
night of Rosh Hashana which does not apply on the second night of
any other holiday?
Answers
1. After the sin of the golden calf, Moshe went up to Mount Sinai
to receive the second set of Tablets on Rosh Chodesh Elul. On that
day, the Jewish People sounded the shofar to remind themselves to
stray no more after idol worship. Also, the sound of the shofar
strikes awe into our hearts and inspires us to return to the ways
of Torah. (Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan Orach Chaim 581)
2. Nowhere. The Torah calls it "a day of shofar blowing."
(This is one of many examples showing how our observance depends on
the continuous oral tradition dating back to Mount Sinai).
(Bamidbar 29:1)
3. Isaac blessed Jacob with the words: "The fragrance of my
son is like the fragrance of a field which Hashem has
blessed..." (Bereishis 27:27). The Talmud identifies this
"field" as an apple orchard. (Ta'anis 29b, Biyur Hagra)
4. "Blessed are You... who has commanded us to hear the sound
of the shofar," and the shehechiyanu blessing. (Orach Chaim
581:2)
5. The Book of Micha (7:18-20).
6. Sara, Rachel and Chana. On Rosh Hashana it was decreed that these
barren women would bear children. (Tractate Rosh Hashana 10b)
7. Expenses for Shabbos, Yom Tov, and the cost of one's children's
Torah education. (Ba'er Hetaiv Orach Chaim 242:1)
8. He prayed that Mount Moriah should remain a place of prayer for
all future generations (Onkelos 22:14). Also, he prayed that his
sacrifice of the ram should be considered as though he had actually
sacrificed Isaac. (Rashi 22:13) 9. Before our current exile, we did
not have a fixed calendar as we do today. Rather, the Supreme Torah
court in Jerusalem determined our calendar on a month to month
basis. They did this on the first day of every month, based on
witnesses testifying that they had seen the new moon.
Therefore, the people outside Israel had insufficient time to find
out the exact date in time for the festivals. The "tw oday
festival" arose to correct this situation. In Israel, however,
the people lived close enough to Jerusalem to find out the exact
date of all the festivals except Rosh Hashana. Since Rosh Hashana
occurs on the first day of the month, even those living in
Jerusalem sometimes needed to observe it for two days, if the
witnesses failed to arrive.
10. On the second night of Rosh Hashana it is customary to wear a
new garment or to have a new fruit on the table when saying the
shehechiyanu blessing. Thus, the shehechiyanu blessing applies not
only to the holiday, but to the new garment or new fruit as well.
(This is done in order to accommodate the minority of halachic
authorities who rule that no shehechiyanu blessing be said on the
second
night of Rosh Hashana.) (Taz 600:2)
www.ohr.edu Courtesy of Ohr
Someyach
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Anne Frank Exhibit
The Fredericksburg Theater Company will host "Anne
Frank: A History for Today" in conjunction with their September
production of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Created by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, this
historical yet intimate exhibit consists primarily of narrative text
and color photographic reproductions. "It illustrates the
continuing relevance of Anne's story and the important lessons it can
teach us today," FTC Managing Director Julie Voorhees said.
"The exhibit reminds us that the discrimination and racism that
brought an end to her life did not disappear when World War II
ended."
The exhibit will be on display Sept. 3-26 in the lobby of the Steve
W. Shepherd Theater, located at 1668 Highway 87 South in
Fredericksburg. Tours are open to the public and will be available
free of charge for student groups. Additionally, an educator workshop
will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 at the theater. There is
no fee to attend, however reservations are required as limited space
is available.
Hours for the exhibit will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays
through Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
Additional hours will be held beginning two hours prior to each of
the 11 performances of The Diary of Anne Frank which include shows on
Sept. 10-12, Sept. 16, Sept. 18-19, and Sept. 23-26.
Exhibit entrance fee is $5.00 for adults and $1.00 for youth 18 and
under. One exhibit entrance is free with ticket to any Diary of Anne
Frank performance. for Information.
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To Contact Us . . .
On the web:www.tiferetaustin.org
Rabbi Eliezer Langer: rabbi@tiferetisrael.org
President Joel Tendler: president@tiferetaustin.org
Phone: 512-981-7323
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