The Voice - January 2023 - Tevet/Sh'vat 5783
Services This Month
Friday Evening Shabbat Services
Friday, January 6 at 7:00 pm
This will be a lay-led service so we need extra volunteers!
Please note:
We will no longer be streaming services via Zoom nor Facebook, also the free flipbook versions of Mishkan T’filah will not be available as of January 1, 2023.
T'filah Together on Saturdays!
Saturday, January 28 at 9:00 am
Please join us for T’filah Together, Shir Ami's version of Tot Shabbat, now on Saturday mornings!
Services are geared towards families with children ages 8 years and younger, but all are welcome!
T’filah Together will begin at 9am in room 112 on the following days:
January 28, 2023
April 15, 2023
May 13, 2023
This will include age-appropriate songs, prayers, and a PJ Library story.
We hope to see you there!
Saturday Morning Shabbat Services
Saturday, January 28 at 10:00 am
Rabbi Reice will be back from her sabbatical! Come join us in joyful worship.
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Save the Date! February Friday Evening Shabbat Services
Friday, February 3 at 7:00 pm
Save the date for Services on February 3! It's not too early to volunteer, please click here to sign up!
Upcoming Events
Rabbi Reice Office Hours
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, Eloise Potter, immediately for more urgent matters.)
Please email Rabbi Reice (rreice@shir-ami.com), or our administrator (administrator@shir-ami.com) to schedule an appointment in advance.
January Office Hours (At Shir Ami, unless otherwise noted)
January Office Hours (At Shir Ami, unless otherwise noted)
17 Jan 2023 (24 Tevet) 12 – 1:30pm (Zoom Only) 💻
17 Jan 2023 (24 Tevet) 1:30 – 3pm (Shalom Austin Only) 👫
18 Jan 2023 (25 Tevet) 3 – 4:30pm 💻 & 👫
19 Jan 2023 (26 Tevet) 9 – 10:30am (LISD Only) 👫
26 Jan 2023 (4 Shvat) 12 – 5pm 💻 & 👫
27 Jan 2023 (8 Shvat) 12 – 1pm (Shalom Austin Only) 👫
31 Jan 2023 (9 Shvat) 12 – 4pm 💻 & 👫
1 Feb 2023 (10 Shvat) 8 – 9am (Zoom Only) 💻
3 Feb 2023 (12 Shvat) 12 – 1pm (Zoom Only) 💻
Days Off
20 Jan 2023 (27 Tevet)
30 Jan 2023 (8 Shvat)
2 Feb 2023 (11 Shvat)
Office Closings
2 Jan 2023 (9 Tevet) Office Closed - National Holiday
16 Jan 2023 (23 Tevet) Office Closed - National Holiday
Sabbatical Dates
16 Dec 2022 – 16 Jan 2023
Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries in January
Happy Birthday:
Allen Kaplan, January 4
Ashley Wilogren, January 5
Alyssa Gladstone, January 6
Josef Zeevi, January 8
Ed Bailen, January 10
Jason Fay, January 10
Kensey Warshauer, January 13
Sarmi Stewart, January 13
Robb Wilogren, January 14
Allen Kaplan, January 4
Ashley Wilogren, January 5
Alyssa Gladstone, January 6
Josef Zeevi, January 8
Ed Bailen, January 10
Jason Fay, January 10
Kensey Warshauer, January 13
Sarmi Stewart, January 13
Robb Wilogren, January 14
Leslie Schlanger, January 17
Fineas Warshauer, January 22
John Liberty, January 23
Julia Ballow, January 23
Rebecca Ballow, January 23
Aaron Coleman, January 24
Grant Rose, January 26
Eloise Potter, January 27
Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting Sunday, January 22 at 10:30 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, Eloise Potter, at congregation@shir-ami.com.
Happy Bookers Book Club
Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 am
Date: Saturday, January 21, 2022 (Hybrid meeting)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Book: To be determined
It's a new year!
Submissions are in and the Happy Bookers will be announcing the year's book list soon. If you would like to host a meeting or join the group please contact Nancy Tack or Mark Wilson.
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Fundraiser: Cookie Decorating ClassSunday, January 29 at 1:00 pm, at the Gisser home in Leander
Now is your chance to learn to use royal icing from a professional! We will be learning a variety of techniques and skills.
No previous decorating experience required!
Gluten-free cookies available!
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Game NightSaturday, February 4, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Chess, dominoes, Poker, Uno, Oculus VR gaming and demos, World of Warcraft,
Come hang out and play games at Shir Ami!
We'll provide games, pizza, and soda.
You bring yourself and your computer (if you want to play online)
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.
Bobbie Berger, Yarrow Halstead, Mona Bailey, Kay Moore, William Lenz, Darin Burdman, Greg Billings, Jodie Billings, Sam Billings, LeRoy Bitner, Kirsten Block, Lisa Coopersmith, Richard Dideriksen, Sandra Dietz, Julie Eaton, Glen Fine, Joe Friedberg, Lynn Gelber, Lynda Glaspar, Carol Goldmark, Juliet Clare Grabish, Barry Henthorn, Jo Ella Henthorn, Pam Henthorn, Tom Henthorn, Bill Kurtz, Liana Lawrence, Cindy Tarsi (Chasye Chana bat Laya Raizel v’Avraham Yitzchak HaLevi), Jim Tarsi, Bonnie Zimmer
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Shir Ami Official Holiday Spelling: CHANUKAH
Thank you to everyone who made our Chanukah party possible! Also, thank you to everyone who helped us determine the official Shir Ami holiday spelling, it's not Hanukkah, not Hanuka, it's Chanukah!
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Financial Planning
If you have to take a Required Minimum Distribution this year, and you haven't paid your Shir Ami Dues, consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your retirement account. Paying your dues with a QCD will reduce your taxable income and your taxes. Click HERE for more information.
Also you can now support Shir Ami with gifts of appreciated stock. It's an easy process and could save you on taxes.
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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
Study on Antisemitism in Texas
The Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission
The comission recently submitted the first ever study on Antisemitism in Texas to the state legislature. The report demonstrates what many of you already know from your daily life — that antisemitic incidents have grown more frequent and extreme in Texas in recent years. This reflects a national and global trend as hate is able to spread more easily than ever through social media. This normalization of antisemitism also draws on centuries-old tropes about Jewish greed, control, and influence, which have taken root across ideologies and sectors of society.
They have developed eight specific recommendations for Texas to continue its national leadership in promoting awareness, improving security, and fighting back against hatred.
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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
Operation Todah Texas
For more information about how to participate, please visit https://www.shir-ami.com/operationtodahtexas
Digital Mood & Mindfulness with Jewish Family Service
Tuesday, December 13 at 11 am
Via Zoom
Tuesday, December 13 at 11 am
Via Zoom
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.
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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.
Thu, April 25 2024 17 Nisan 5784
