Services This Month
Friday Evening Shabbat Services
Friday, August 4 at 7:00 pm
Join us for joyful Shabbat evening services led by Rabbi Reice.
Services This Month
Saturday Morning Shabbat Services and T'filah Together (Tot Shabbat)
Saturday, August 12
T'filah Together: 9:00 am
Shabbat Services: 10:00 am
Join us for joyful Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Reice. T'filah Together is geared toward children eight years old and younger, and the people who love them. Services at 10am are for all ages and will include ritual Torah Reading when a minyan of 10 ritual Jewish adults is present.
Save the Date! September 8 Friday Evening Shabbat Services
Friday, September 8 at 7:00 pm
Save the date for Services on September 8th!
Upcoming Events
Rabbi Reice Office Hours
August Office Hours (At Shir Ami, until otherwise noted)
2 Aug 2023 (15 Av) 8 – 9am (Zoom Only) 💻
4 Aug 2023 (17 Av) 12 – 3:30pm (Zoom Only) 💻
8 Aug 2023 (21 Av) 10:30am – 4:30pm (Zoom Only) 💻
15 Aug 2023 (28 Av) 9am – 12pm (Zoom Only) 💻
17 Aug 2023 (30 Av) 10am – 1pm (Zoom Only) 💻
22 Aug 2023 (5 Elul) 9:30am – 1pm (Zoom or Shalom Austin Only) 💻 & 👫
23 Aug 2023 (6 Elul) 9 – 10am (Shalom Austin Only) 👫
23 Aug 2023 (6 Elul) 3 – 4:30pm 💻 & 👫
28 Aug 2023 (11 Elul) 3 – 6pm 💻 & 👫
29 Aug 2023 (12 Elul) 12 – 2pm (Zoom Only) 💻
30 Aug 2023 (13 Elul) 3:30 – 4:30pm 💻 & 👫
Days Off
1 Aug 2023 (14 Av)
3 Aug 2023 (16 Av)
7 Aug 2023 (20 Av)
10 Aug 2023 (23 Av)
16 Aug 2023 (29 Av)
18 Aug 2023 (1 Elul)
21 Aug 2023 (4 Elul)
25 Aug 2023 (8 Elul)
31 Aug 2023 (14 Elul)
1 Sep 2023 (15 Elul)
Office Closing (early next month)
4 Sep 2023 (18 Elul) Office Closed – Labor Day
During Office hours, Rabbi Reice will be answering the phone, answering emails, and meeting with those who have scheduled an appointment (in person, over the phone or a video call). Please feel free to call or email Rabbi Reice during these times. (Of course, contact her, or our President, Alan Kook, immediately for more urgent matters.)
Please email our administrator, Rachel McEwen (administrator@shir-ami.com), to schedule an appointment in advance.
Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries in August
Happy Anniversary:
Pearl & Ron Kopita, August 20
Maxine & Allen Kaplan, August 21
Heather & Gideon Levinsky, August 22
Esther & Ken Friedman, August 27
Alysa & Addie Gisser, August 28
Maxine & Allen Kaplan, August 21
Heather & Gideon Levinsky, August 22
Esther & Ken Friedman, August 27
Alysa & Addie Gisser, August 28
Sandra & David Dietz, August 28
Happy Birthday:
Lily-Frances VanScoyoc, August 8
Jonathan Levinsky, August 10
Anabel Levinsky, August 10
Linda Weiss, August 10
Mark Levbarg, August 11
Mark Stefanowicz, August 12
Dennis Grosse, August 15
Carole Wood, August 16
Bonnie Cohen, August 16
Leila Cohn, August 18
Alice Friedman, August 21
Thelma Mickelson, August 25
Sandra Dietz, August 27
Jonathan Levinsky, August 10
Anabel Levinsky, August 10
Linda Weiss, August 10
Mark Levbarg, August 11
Mark Stefanowicz, August 12
Dennis Grosse, August 15
Carole Wood, August 16
Bonnie Cohen, August 16
Leila Cohn, August 18
Alice Friedman, August 21
Thelma Mickelson, August 25
Sandra Dietz, August 27
Religious School Starts August 20
Shir Ami Religious school resumes Sunday, August 20th! For more information and to register click here!
Come Together for a Shabbat Dinner Friday, August 18 at 6:30 pm
This month we have three families hosting Shabbat dinner! If you would like to attend please click here to fill out a form. Please note that each household can only accommodate 6 guests.
Kashrut will be observed and HaMotzi will be recited at the start time of 6:30pm so folks can begin enjoying the delicious food.
We are looking forward to the time we can spend together!
Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting Sunday, August 13 at 11:15 am
All members are invited to attend the Board of Trustees meetings. If you would like to attend this meeting, or wish to speak at the meeting, please contact our President, Alan Kook, at president@shir-ami.com.
High Holy Days Rosh Hashana September 15-17, Yom Kippur September 24-25
Or click here to sign up to volunteer!
Message from the Treasurer, Alysa Gisser:
Shinshinim
Happy Bookers Book Club
Saturday, August 26 at 10:30 am
Date: Saturday, August 36, 2023
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: In-person and via Zoom
Book: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
About the Book
#1 New York Times Best Seller. Drawn from a real-life incident. With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma, Small Great Things will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race. Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse with more than 20 years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery, Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
#1 New York Times Best Seller. Drawn from a real-life incident. With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma, Small Great Things will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race. Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse with more than 20 years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery, Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
About the Author
Jodi Picoult, best-selling author, activist, was born on Long Island New York, and has described her family as "non-practicing Jewish." She wrote her first story at age 5, titled, "The Lobster Which Misunderstood." Jodi Picoult has published 28 novels, as well as short stories. (Plus having written articles for Seventeen magazine, and had a 4-month stint after college graduation writing the Wonder Woman series for D.C. Comics.) About 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide, translated into 34 languages. She frequently centers story lines on a moral dilemma, and has covered a wide range of controversial or moral issues. She has been described as "... a paradox, a hugely popular, at times controversial writer, ignored by academia, who questions notions of what constitutes literature simply by doing what she does best."
Jodi Picoult, best-selling author, activist, was born on Long Island New York, and has described her family as "non-practicing Jewish." She wrote her first story at age 5, titled, "The Lobster Which Misunderstood." Jodi Picoult has published 28 novels, as well as short stories. (Plus having written articles for Seventeen magazine, and had a 4-month stint after college graduation writing the Wonder Woman series for D.C. Comics.) About 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide, translated into 34 languages. She frequently centers story lines on a moral dilemma, and has covered a wide range of controversial or moral issues. She has been described as "... a paradox, a hugely popular, at times controversial writer, ignored by academia, who questions notions of what constitutes literature simply by doing what she does best."
Jodi Picoult is aware that she is often pigeon-holed as chick-lit author, but has stated that what she loses in critical acclaim, she gains in influence.
She holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Princeton University, a master's degree from Harvard University, and two Honorary Doctors of Letters degrees. Jodi Picoult lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with her husband and their three children.
She holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Princeton University, a master's degree from Harvard University, and two Honorary Doctors of Letters degrees. Jodi Picoult lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with her husband and their three children.
In March 2023, 20 of Jodi Picoult's books were removed Florida's Martin County School District for review of potentially inappropriate content. According to Picoult, the complaint was made by a sole parent who characterized her books as "adult romance." Jodi Picoult refuted this, saying: "What [the books] do have, however, are issues like racism, abortion rights, gun control, gay rights, and other topics that encourage kids to think for themselves. She called out Moms for Liberty for demanding the removal of her books.
Shir Ami News
Mi Shebeirach
Our Prayers for the Physical, Spiritual and Emotional Healing for those named and any others in need.
Please email Rabbi Reice at rreice@shir-ami.com to enter a name on the list or remove a name from the list.
Mona Bailey, Bill Bitner, LeRoy Bitner, Darin Burdman, Maple Cohn, Lisa Coopersmith, Anne Ditlefsen-Smallwood, Sandra Dietz, Julie Eaton, Glen Fine, Pamela Caulder-Fine, Lynn Gelber, Carol Goldmark, Juliet Clare Grabish, Yarrow Halstead, Kate Koons, Bill Kurtz, Liana Lawrence, William Lenz, Rabbi Mark Levin, Kay Moore, Skylar Stefanowicz, Trystan Stefanowicz, Cindy Tarsi (Chasye Chana bat Laya Raizel v’Avraham Yitzchak HaLevi), Jim Tarsi, Miles Ward, Julian Ward, James Whitehouse, Carole Wood, Dominic Wood, Bonnie Zimmer
Thanks to everyone who supported our Dance Fundraiser!
Thank you to Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Georgetown (512) 763-8773
Shir Ami and Drive a Senior Northwest – Partners in Supporting our Older Adults
Volunteer Drivers Needed
Please consider becoming a volunteer driver for the Drive a Senior Northwest program. By offering to drive someone just one or two short trips a month, you will be an unbelievable help to our many older adults still living at home in the northwest Austin/Cedar Park/Leander area. Driving an older adult is incredibly rewarding and very much appreciated. Please go online to driveaseniornorthwest.org to read about the program, then print a volunteer form, fill it out, and mail it in. Or ask Sara Goodman (sgoodman123@gmail.com) for more information about the program.
Please consider becoming a volunteer driver for the Drive a Senior Northwest program. By offering to drive someone just one or two short trips a month, you will be an unbelievable help to our many older adults still living at home in the northwest Austin/Cedar Park/Leander area. Driving an older adult is incredibly rewarding and very much appreciated. Please go online to driveaseniornorthwest.org to read about the program, then print a volunteer form, fill it out, and mail it in. Or ask Sara Goodman (sgoodman123@gmail.com) for more information about the program.
Services to Adults 60+
If you or a loved one is 60+ and needs help to stay in your/their home, Drive A Senior Northwest is here for you. Services include rides to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, community activities, etc. as well as minor home repair, telephone reassurance, and a twice monthly senior day out. Contact Drive a Senior Northwest at driveaseniornorthwest.org or (512) 250-5021.
If you or a loved one is 60+ and needs help to stay in your/their home, Drive A Senior Northwest is here for you. Services include rides to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, community activities, etc. as well as minor home repair, telephone reassurance, and a twice monthly senior day out. Contact Drive a Senior Northwest at driveaseniornorthwest.org or (512) 250-5021.
The Caring Circle - Care to Get Involved?
Lending a helping hand to members in times of stress is a vital part of any congregation; kind and caring volunteers in this group help provide support to other Shir Ami congregants in times of life's challenges such as illness, death, divorce, and birth. Specific activities include helping to secure a minyan for a memorial or shiva service, sending notes to members on the loss of a loved one, arranging transportation for a member to attend services or other Shir Ami events, and providing meals, visiting or calling congregants during times of illness or post-hospitalization.
If you are experiencing any of these challenges and wish to be contacted by the Caring Circle, please contact Rabbi Reice. If you wish to be a Caring Circle volunteer, please contact Sara Goodman at CaringCircle@Shir-Ami.com. All are welcome!
Community News
Jewish Film Festival
The San Antonio Jewish Film Festival and the Austin Jewish Film Festival are proud to co-present the 2023 Summer Series from May 28—September 3, featuring eight great new films and bonus content such as exclusive interviews with the filmmakers to keep you entertained all summer!
In honor of Israel’s 75th birthday, all films in this year’s Summer Series are Israeli, and for most of these films this will be their Texas premiere.
You may purchase tickets to individual films for $15 each (all fees included) or a Summer Series Pass to all movies for just $85 (all fees included). Another option is to buy an AJFF365 Subscription, which will give you free access to all of these movies plus all other AJFF365 events for a full twelve months.
Pride Parade with Temple Beth Shalom
August 12
Temple Beth Shalom has invited members of Shir Ami to march behind their banner in the Pride Parade. You can even carry a Shir Ami banner if you give Rabbi Reice enough notice! If you are interested in participating please contact Francis Perez, francis.perez@bethshalomaustin.org, for more details.
Free JCC Membership
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Get a FREE JCC Membership With Renew Active
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The JCC is the fitness center at Shalom Austin. Renew Active and Medicare One Pass will pay for your JCC membership! The JCC has partnered with UnitedHealthcare to offer Medicare insurance-covered memberships for seniors (65+) through a program called Renew Active.
To get started, email membership@shalomaustin.org or call 512-735-8001 with your Renew Active ID and phone number. |
Jewish Family Services Caregiver Support Groups
Family Caregiver Support Group: This is an ongoing group and meets the first and third Thursday of each month. It is a safe place for family members caring for adult loved ones to discuss the stresses, challenges, and rewards of caregiving. To register, click here
Digital Mood & Mindfulness with Jewish Family Service
Do you feel distracted? Hurried? Preoccupied? This personal development workshop will teach mindfulness techniques that can help participants to be more present and aware in daily life. Mindfulness has the power to improve relationships, increase self-control, boost productivity and can lessen depression and anxiety.
Join Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service’s professionally-facilitated workshop to develop mindfulness skills and discuss common experiences together.
Second Tuesday of each month at 11AM
Via Zoom
Free to attend
Via Zoom
Free to attend
For more information and to register to receive the link, please contact Emma Howitt, LPC-S, LCDC at emma.howitt@shalomaustin.org.
Volunteer for Shalom Austin JFS Food Pantry
The Client Choice Shalom Austin JFS Food Pantry is always looking to engage volunteers in food drives, packing food bags, and making deliveries. Anyone interested in getting involved in any capacity, can email Joan Eisenberg Maniere at joan.maniere@shalomaustin.org.
Also, if you know of any community members who are facing food insecurity, please have them contact Joan, and she can get them enrolled into the program.
Interest Free Loans
Hebrew Free Loan of Austin provides short-term financial support for members of the Austin Jewish community through interest-free loans that springboard you to your next step in life. Could you or someone you know use a hand-up with an interest free loan? Contact info@hfla.org or visit https://hebrewfreeloanofaustin.org.
Operation Todah Texas
For more information about how to participate, please visit https://www.shir-ami.com/operationtodahtexas
Sat, July 27 2024 21 Tammuz 5784
