What's the Spiel? - Parshat Behar

Parshat Behar teaches us about the prohibition against taking interest, as it says, "Do not take from him interest and increase...Do not give him your money for interest, and do not give your food for increase. I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt..." (Vayikra 25:36-8). According to the Shulchan Aruch, "Anyone who gives with interest...is as if he denies the Exodus from Egypt and the God of Israel" (Yoreh Deah, 160:2. Also see Biur HaGra, YD 160:2 who quotes Torat Kohanim, Parshat Behar). What is the connection between the proscription against lending on interest and the Exodus? Why does the Torah link commonplace business temptations to the most significant event the Jewish people experienced up until the Revelation at Mount Sinai?

To help answer these questions, we should turn to the words of Rav Aharon Levine, the Reisha Rav, who explains in his sefer, HaDrash v'HaIyun, that at the Brit Bein HaBetarim (the Covenant Between the Parts), it was revealed to Avraham (then Avram), that his descendants would be enslaved for a period of four hundred years, as it says, "Know with certainty that your offspring shall be sojourners in a land not their own, they will enslave them, and they will oppress them four hundred years. And also, the nation that will enslave them, I shall punish, and afterwards they shall leave with great possessions" (Bereshit 15:13-4). Rav Levine asks a very logical question: "If the Egyptians fulfilled God's decree, why were they punished?" After all, the Egyptians were simply doing that which God said they were to do! Rav Levine answers this question by quoting the Ra'avad, who writes: "As for the subject of the Egyptians...The Egyptians too, were wicked and it was correct that they receive the plagues. Yet, if they had listened to Moshe at first and let the Children of Israel go forth, they would neither have been plagued nor drowned in the Sea of Reeds. However, the vindictiveness of Pharaoh, and his insulting words against the Creator in the presence of His messenger caused punishment to be visited upon him. What is more...the Creator said, 'And they will oppress them' (Bereshit 15:13), but [the Egyptians] oppressed them excessively, killing some and drowning others" (Hilchot Teshuva 6:5). Thus, Rav Levine says, because the Egyptians took more from the Jewish people than they were allowed to take, because the Egyptians afflicted them with unwarranted cruelty and extreme brutality – leading even to genocide against Jewish boys, it was as if they took interest from God – exacting more than their due, and as a result, the Jewish people did not sojourn in Egypt for the full term of four hundred years, and Egypt was left in ruins. Accordingly, Rav Levine notes, "A Jew who lends money with interest shows that he/she believes the Egyptians did nothing wrong and they did not deserve punishment for the additional harsh labor they imposed upon the Jews. Hence, a Jew such as this, denies the justification for the accelerated Exodus from Egypt due to the unwarranted hard labor" (HaDrash v'HaIyun, Parshat Behar).

This Shabbat, let us reflect on the notion that as Jews, what we do demonstrates what we believe. We cannot separate the two – action and belief. By taking advantage of another through the charging of interest on a loan, we make ourselves as if we deny the essence of the Exodus and God's justice. This Shabbat, let us consider the weighty idea that our moral and social responsibilities to one another express the deepest beliefs we hold as a people. Even something as seemingly simple as not charging interest can be the greatest expression of our faith, strengthening our relationships with our community, ourselves, and our Creator.

Shabbat Shalom

-Rabbi Dan

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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.

Friday Night

Candle Lighting

no later than 8:03PM

Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat

7:30PM

Saturday

Shacharit

9:00AM

Kids Service

10:30AM

Mincha/Maariv

8:00PM

Havdallah

9:02PM

Sunday

Shacharit

8:20AM

Monday - Thursday

Shacharit

7:05AM

Mincha & Ma'ariv - Contact Us: 512-410-0336

Thank you Steinberg Glassman family for sponsoring Kiddush in memory of Eve Kurtin Steinberg

CTI Announcements

A warm welcome and Mazel tov to our newest members the Lonsdale family on the arrival of their little girl on May 19th. Mother and baby are doing great!

Tehillim Class, 7 PM Mondays (on Zoom)

Many people find solace in times of pain or stress by reciting Psalms, but even greater depths of meaning can be found in studying and analyzing the words of the holy poems themselves. In Rabbi Belsky’s Tehillim class, we unpack the poetry and imagery of the psalms, gaining a greater understanding of this book, which includes within it the full range of human experience, and has sustained our religious lives as Jews for millennia.

CTI Welcomes Rabbi Stephen Belsky

While Rabbi Dan is on deployment at Operation Lone Star, Rabbi Stephen Belsky will serve as interim rabbi for the Congregation, meeting its halakhic, spiritual and pastoral needs. We are excited to learn from and grow with Rabbi Belsky during his three-month association with CTI, and we welcome him with open arms! Baruch HaBah!

Rabbi Stephen Belsky grew up in the seaside fishing village of Brooklyn, NY, but has spent the last dozen years of his life in Michigan, surrounded by the Great Lakes. A graduate of the Pardes Educators Program and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he has taught both children and adults at schools, synagogues, and other institutions; and when he isn't on the road working as an eruv builder, he is a regular speaker and teacher in Detroit's Modern Orthodox community. He loves language, speculative fiction, and the prophetic poems of doom in Tanakh, and is excited to have this opportunity to spend the summer with CTI.

CTI Yizkor Book

As we approach Shavuot, CTI will again be publishing our special annual Yizkor booklet for use on Shavuot, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Pesach, when we take time to remember our dearly departed loved ones.

Please take this opportunity to inscribe those who you would like to remember in our Yizkor booklet. In prior years, we have suggested a $10 donation per inscription, but any amount you feel comfortable giving as tzedakah is fine.

To ensure we have sufficient time to publish the new Yizkor booklet, please complete and submit the online form at https://www.tiferetaustin.org/yizkor-book2022 no later than Tuesday, May 24th.

If you prefer to pay by check, please provide the information requested from the online form to Eric Shapiro via email and mail your check to:

Congregation Tiferet Israel

PO Box 27254

Austin, TX 78755-2254

Please indicate “Yizkor Book” in the memo section of your check. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Eric at eshapiro590@gmail.com.

Shalom Austin Mask Policy Update

Given the significant decline in the occurrence of COVID cases in the Travis County area (which is currently listed as being in Stage 2, and continuously dropping), the Medical Committee has unanimously agreed that:

Masks should no longer be mandatory at any CTI-related functions
Kiddush can move back inside, without any restrictions
Individuals who feel safer wearing masks at Shul-related events should feel free to continuing doing so
Anyone who has symptoms should NOT attend synagogue.

As always, we will continue to review and address the situation related to COVID on an as—needed basis, and make updated recommendations, as necessary.

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.

Classes currently on hold. Watch tiferetaustin.org for when classes will resume.

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: Eric Shapiro

The next CTI Board meeting is Wednesday, June 8 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

Ken Schumer on May 24

Anniversaries

Lynn & Jeffrey Kane on May 21

Edward Selig & Cathy Schechter on May 27

Bet

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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

Yahrzeit Remembrances

Fannie Gerstenhaber, Grandmother of Gary Gerstenhaber on Saturday 20 Iyyar

Hyman Maurice Joffe, Father of Basil Joffe, on Monday 22 Iyyar

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 Mitch & Patti Davis for their donation in memory of Joel & Debbie Tendler

Thank you to David Kaplan for his aliyot donation

Thank you David Rosenthal for his donation in honor of Tiferet Israel members and their hospitality

Thank you Barb & Arthur Altman for their donation in memory of Beatrice Altman, Batya bat Israel. May her memory be a blessing.

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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.

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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.

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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
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, Fievel ben Devorah
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

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AmazonSmile Info

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ArtScroll

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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 at admin@tiferetaustin.org.