What's the Spiel? - Parshat Korach

A central theme of Parshat Korach is the destructive nature of possessing too much ego in leadership. Korach believed that he should have been chosen to be the leader of the Jewish people instead of Moshe and Aharon. Korach believed that he had the right pedigree, the right commitment and the right skills. Based upon these considerations, Korach could not understand why Moshe and Aharon should be the leaders of the people when he was equal to the task, and in his mind, could even do a better job. However, what Korach failed to realize was that it is God Who ultimately chooses who shall lead who shall follow. In other words, Korach had so much faith in himself, in his avodah, in his service and talents, that his faith in God’s hashgacha became obscured.

This point can be proven from the following incident: "The Lord spoke to Moshe, saying, 'Speak to the Children of Israel and take from them one staff for each father's house, from all their princes according to their father's house, twelve staffs; each man's name shall you inscribe on his staff. And the name of Aharon shall you inscribe of the staff of Levi...You shall lay them in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. It shall be that the man whom I shall choose - his staff shall blossom; and I shall cause to subside from upon Me the complaints of the Children of Israel, which they complain against you.' Moshe spoke to the Children of Israel, and each of their princes gave him a staff for each prince... according to their father's house, twelve staffs; and Aharon's staff was in the middle of their staffs. Moshe laid the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony. The next day, Moshe came to the Tent of the Testimony and behold! The staff of Aharon of the house of Levi had blossomed; it brought forth a blossom, sprouted a bud and developed almonds" (Bamidbar 17:16-23). Apparently, the entire nation would finally recognize and accept the divinely appointed authority of the leader God truly desired by observing which staff bloomed and brought forth almonds.

What does this episode have to do with Korach, leadership and ego? According to the great Chassidic master, the Sefat Emet, "In the verse, 'It shall be that the man whom I shall choose - his staff shall blossom; and I shall cause to subside from upon Me the complaints of the Children of Israel, which they complain against you,' we need to understand why this action would remove the complaints of the Israelites against Moshe? The idea is to inform the Children of Israel that Aharon was not chosen from among the people on account of his service. Similarly, the Levites did not merit their lofty position because they were great, righteous people. Rather, their greatness was a gift from God. In His love for the Children of Israel, He prepared a 'chosen vessel,' which is Aharon, who serves the Most High, and God selected this vessel. This is what, 'His staff will blossom' means. It is a sign that he is a vessel who clings to his 'roots' and produces fruits as a result of that clinging...It follows that through this miraculous sign, the jealousy of the people will subside, because Aharon's designation will be understood to be a gift from God...But Korach and his band thought that being chosen had to do with their service. Therefore, being jealous made sense to them. Thus, through the test of the staffs, 'I shall cause to subside from upon Me the complaints of the Children of Israel'" (Sefat Emet, Parshat Korach). Based upon this interpretation, being chosen by God has nothing to do with the fact that a person serves. It has to do with how a person serves.

People who believe that they are entitled to something based on what they do, based on what they think is owed to them because of their actions, are more often than not people who only act because of ego. If they know they will not receive accolades or promotions, riches or recognition, would they work as hard? However, people who serve simply because of their love of service, who would gladly hand over the reins of authority and leadership to another, who have little or no ego invested in their work, are often the people chosen to ascend and prosper. As Reb Shlomo Carlebach puts it, "Korach wanted to serve God, but he wanted to be the holiest. Aharon was ready to serve God, even if he would be the lowest. He did not care and therefore, he was really the holiest. The same is true for Moshe. Moshe Rebbeinu was chosen to go up to Mount Sinai because he did not want to go up to Mount Sinai. You know what Moshe felt on Mount Sinai? If God would have chosen somebody else he would have been just as happy, absolutely just as happy. Israel should know what God has to say, that is the most important thing. Since Moshe was the only one who just wanted to hear what God had to say, and the messenger didn’t matter, he was the only one who was chosen. For the other ones...it really mattered to them if it was them or someone else. The moment it matters to you if it is you or somebody else, you cannot go up to Mount Sinai. You cannot be a high priest or a leader unless it does not matter to you who it is. Only then can it be you" (Sicha on Parshat Korach).

For Korach, the fact that the leader was not him caused him and likeminded egotists to rebel against Moshe and Aharon. However, through the test of the staffs, God showed the people that only the one who desires to serve rather than be served, only the one whose service is based on selfless love rather than self-interest, could be the one called upon to take up the mantle of holy leadership. As the Talmud says, "For the one who seeks greatness, greatness flees. But, the one who flees from greatness, greatness follows" (B. Talmud Eruvin 13b).

Shabbat Shalom!

- Rabbi Dan

Shabbat Morning Drasha: "Behold the Power of Jealousy: Stay Away from Unhappy People"

Shiur After Mincha: "And Korach Took...What Did He Take?"

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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.

Thank you to Gary Gerstenhaber for sponsoring kiddush in memory of his mother, Merilee Gerstenhaber Weiner, and father Albert Gerstenhaber.

CTI Announcements

Membership Renewal Applications

for July 1, 2021 thru June 30, 2022

At a Special Congregational Meeting held on December 9, 2020, the Members approved the following rates for the upcoming Membership Year.

Regular Members - $2,000; Associate Members - $600

Payments may be made by a single payment or 12 monthly installments.

Please change monthly credit card auto-pays and bank bill pays to provide for monthly payments of $167.00 for Regular Members and $50.00 for Associate Members.

The Membership Renewal Application includes a checkbox for Members wishing to discuss dues reduction on a discreet and confidential basis.

If you are not a Member and wish to apply to become a Member, please use the online application form. Membership Dues for New Members will be based on a full or pro-rated 12-month Membership Year.

Please return your Membership Renewal Application at your earliest convenience. The first payment for the new Membership Year is due on July 1, 2021. Monthly payments are due on the first day of each month.

Find the Membership Renewal Application HERE!!

CTI Mask and Social Policy Update

With the advice and consent of the medical committee, the CTI Board of Directors approved adopting the revised Shalom Austin COVID 19 safety recommendations effective immediately. The new Shalom Austin policies are as follows:

Indoors

· Masks are optional indoors for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We will not be asking for proof of vaccination at this time.

· Masks are required indoors for adults who are not vaccinated.

· Masks are required indoors for staff, regardless of vaccination status.

· Masks are required indoors for children under 12 years of age, unless eating or drinking.

Outdoors

· Masks are optional outdoors for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

· Masks are required outdoors for individuals who are not vaccinated whenever 3 feet distancing cannot be maintained.

· Masks are optional for children outdoors; however, children are encouraged to wear masks when in close proximity (3 feet or less) unless eating, drinking or engaged in sports.

· Masks are required for staff outdoors when working in close proximity (3 feet or less) of children under 12, regardless of vaccination status.

We will continue to evaluate and make changes to our COVID health protocols as warranted by local conditions and medical guidance. Further changes will be communicated appropriately.

These changes take into account the fact that many congregants are or will soon be vaccinated against COVID. With this in mind here is a message from Rabbi Dan:

"The Torah commands us, “You shall therefore keep My statutes, and My ordinances, which if a person does, he or she shall live by them” (Vayikra 18:5). According to the Talmud, this teaches us that the Torah and mitzvot were given to us so that we should live, and not die due to their observance (B. Talmud, Shabbat 74a). Everything we do is in the service of life and safeguarding the welfare of others. We will not check into people's personal decisions. However, we will rely on the Torah’s admonition and the Jewish value, that nothing is above the preservation of life.

In his Psalms, King David tells us, “Truly, wait quietly for God, O my soul, for my hope comes for Him. He is my rock and deliverance, my haven; I shall not be shaken” (Tehillim 62:6-7). We all seek the day when we can return to normalcy. We all seek the day when masks and social distancing will become things of the past. As our congregation continues to valiantly recover from the hardships of COVID 19, we do so with optimism, hope, and caution. Those who have not been fully vaccinated should take to heart the Torah's words, and continue to follow CTI policy to keep themselves and others safe."

In our commitment to supporting and loving the State of Israel, CTI is delighted to invite Reagan Weil, Executive Director of the Southwest Jewish National Fund, to share some inspiring words and action items concerning how we can show our support and love for the Jewish State. Please take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn about what you can do to help our brothers and sisters in Israel, and to help strengthen the Jewish people during these turbulent times.

Mr. Weil will be addressing the congregation on June 19^th at CTI.

Start off your week right with Virtual Havdalah, live streamed straight from the shul! Check in and hang out online afterwards!

Saturday, June 12, 2021 * 2 Tammuz 5781

9:20PM

Virtual

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/388159837?pwd=Um1iVTdxVXE1RGVBNlEzRWhnTjlndz09

Meeting ID: 388 159 837

Passcode: 018724

Dial by your location

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Click here for more information on future CTI Virtual Havdalahs.

As many of you know, I (Miriam Bodian) will be moving to Israel this summer. I’m looking for a home for my affectionate, easy-to-care-for cat Slipper, who is 12 years old, healthy, and loves to snuggle. Unfortunately I can’t take her with me. I’ll gladly offer some financial support for her care. You can reach me at [email protected] or phone/text 610-331-7598. She’ll be ready to make the transition mid-to-late June.

Are you interested in learning more about the laws, customs, rituals and philosophy of Shabbat? Would you like to enhance your observance of Shabbat, and make it a central feature of your life? If so, please join Rabbi Dan for CTI’s newest class -- “Building a Palace in Time: The Many Meanings of Shabbat.”

In this class, we will not only explore how to keep Shabbat, but why we do so in the first place.

Why is Shabbat so preciously unique to the Jewish people?
Why did God make the observance of Shabbat so essential for a spiritual relationship with Him?
How does Shabbat and its observance help us better understand ourselves as individuals and as a community?
How do all of the laws and observances of Shabbat help us better understand and experience
what spiritual freedom is really all about?

“Building a Palace in Time: The Many Meanings of Shabbat” will operate like a book club and will meet via Zoom on Sunday evenings, from 7:00-8:00, beginning on April 11th. With each new unit, a different book will be assigned, and we will work through each book according to scheduled readings and thought prompts. Individual members are responsible for obtaining the assigned books, all of which can be easily found on Amazon.com.

Our first book will be The Sabbath, by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. In this book, we will delve into the deeper meaning of Shabbat, its purpose, its eternal import on Jewish life and on the Jewish people, and how the gift of Shabbat has shaped civilization.

This class is free of charge. No prior background is required, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!

For more information, please contact Rabbi Dan at [email protected], or (512) 410-0336 ex. 101.

Meet the Editors: An Inside Look at the

World of Jewish Magazine Publishing

JUNE 15 @ 10AM (CST)

Rebbetzin Judi Steinig, Host for SPIRIT, will interview Jewish Action’s Editor Nechama Carmel and its Book Editor Rabbi Gil Student.

Nechama Carmel has served as editor of Jewish Action, the magazine of the Orthodox Union, since 2001. Under her leadership, the magazine has won 19 Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism since 2011.

Rabbi Gil Student runs the popular website TorahMusings.com and writes regularly in a variety of Jewish newspapers and magazines. He serves as the Book Editor for Jewish Action.

Founded in the fall of 1985, Jewish Action has distinguished itself by offering honest and thoughtful analysis of issues of importance to the Orthodox community. Over the years, the magazine has featured prestigious rabbis and thinkers representing the full spectrum of Orthodox life, and today, it reaches more than 180,000 readers throughout North America and Israel.

Cushioned from the Blow: A Longitudinal Study of the Well-being of Four Orthodox Communities During the

COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

JUNE 17 @ 10AM (CST)

Presented by: Dr. Michelle Shain, Associate Director of the OU’s Center for Communal Research

The OU’s Center for Communal Research is about to release the results of a longitudinal study, surveying adult members of 11 Orthodox shuls in four communities at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Get a first look at how the pandemic affected religious experience, mental and physical health, and financial well-being.

Key finding: Orthodox Jews living in these four communities largely insulated from the harmful effects of the pandemic, due to their high socioeconomic status and religious resources, including tools for coping with stress and reduced existential uncertainty.

Dr. Michelle Shain is a social scientist who combines academic expertise in policy research with a passionate commitment to the well-being of the Jewish community. She holds an MA from the Avraham Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Before joining the OU, Dr. Shain spent ten years as a researcher at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Austin Jewish War Vets Post 757 is very interested in gaining new members. We meet monthly on Zoom and would like to invite all of your veterans to our meetings. They are welcome to sit in as guests.

To join in our next JWV Zoom meeting please contact:

Charlie Rosenblum

Commander, Post 757

Jewish War Veterans of the United States

Austin, Texas

[email protected]

(254) 368-5715

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 Ezekiel

Tuesday 7:00pm

The Book of Ezekiel is one of the most mysterious but essential books of the Tanakh. Who was Ezekiel? When was he prophesying? Were his prophecies meant for his time or the distant future? In this TYT series, we will take an in-depth look at the life, times and ageless message of the Prophet Ezekiel in a way which will make his contribution to Jewish texts, history and destiny truly come to life! A priest stuck in exile, dreaming of the perfect Temple in a perfect homeland - a man pinning for spiritual life, but only experiencing physical privation - what is his message really all about? God asks Ezekiel to do many strange things - things even contrary to Jewish law! Were they literally true, or were they merely metaphorical? Come and join the CTI Tuesday evening Take Your Tanakh class, as together, we learn about the Prophet Ezekiel!

TYT Wednesday Mornings

The Book of First Samuel

Wednesday 8:15am

In this class, we will examine the life, times and trials of the Prophet Samuel, the last Judge of Israel. The story of Samuel begins the saga of Israel's history, its kings, wars and promises. First Samuel introduces us to a large swath of Jewish history, ranging of King Saul and King David, to questions of military ethics, religious boundaries and moral questions. The Prophet Samuel may be best known for anointing David, but his legacy and story are essential for every Jew to learn, because with Samuel the story of the Jewish people's redemption begins!

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: Josh Rosenberg

Fundraising Committee: Josh Rosenberg

Membership Committee: Beth Shapiro

Chesed Committee: Beth Shapiro

Kiddush Committee: Henna Tatham

Ritual Committee: Joel Tendler

The next CTI Board meeting is Wednesday, July 14 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

Aliya Stromberg on June 12

Zeke Nanavati on June 16

If you have any birthdays or anniversaries you would

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

Yahrzeit Remembrances

N Jerome Chapin, Father of David Chapin, on Saturday 2 Tammuz

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 Michelle Berry for her donation in Honor of Rabbi Millner’s teaching.

Thank you to David and Rita Chapin for their Yahrzeit donation in Memory of Dr. N. Jerome Chapin (a”h).

Thank you to Julie van Keer for her donation in Honor of Rebekah and Matt Ross’ first son.

Thank you to Mark and Carol Kreditor (Dallas, TX) for their donation in Honor of CTI.

Thank you to Henna Tatham for her donation In Memory of Lipo (Lipman) Solomin, Lipman ben Avraham Hacohen (a”h).

_________________

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:

Eitan Nissim Tsvi ben Vera Feiga v' Adiel HaLevi (Larry & Esther Smith's grandson)
Allene Novy-Portnoy; Hannah Bassa bat Sarah Osnat
Avshalom ben Hannah Bassa
Cindy Newman
Debbie Tendler; Devorah Rachel bat Rivka Leah
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
Shimon ben Sarah
Hinda bat Yehudit
Tamar bat Chaya
Ilana bat Gheita
Joel Tendler; Yehoshua Mordechai ben Tziporah Perel
Barb Altman; Devorah Yeril bat Leah
HaRav Avram Meir ben Eli Yosef v'Shira Chanah.
Rabbi Harold Liebowitz, Ha Rav Chaim Alter ben Necha.

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
Cindy Duckworth; Dinah Yehudit bat Sarah
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

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected].

On the web: www.tiferetaustin.org

Rabbi: Dan Millner: [email protected]

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 101

President: Joshua Rosenberg: [email protected]

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 102

Vice President: Sarah Wander [email protected]

Secretary: Lynn Kane

Administrator: Sarah Church Carroll [email protected]

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 103

Treasurer: Gary Gerstenhaber [email protected]

Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 105

Membership: Beth Shapiro [email protected] Phone: 512-410-0336 ext 106