The Voice - February 2026 - 5786

Draw­ing from her years as a rab­bi, and weav­ing togeth­er Jew­ish tra­di­tion, sci­ence, psy­chol­o­gy, and biol­o­gy, Brous explores how to bridge the gap between those on the right and the left — both lit­er­al­ly and fig­u­ra­tive­ly. She calls our uni­ver­sal, human long­ing for con­nec­tion the ​“amen effect.” From the Hebrew word emu­nah, mean­ing ​“to believe” or ​“to affirm,” the word amen serves as an acknowledgment of the oth­er. Yes, I believe you, I see you. Amen.

The Amen Effect reads as an extend­ed philo­soph­i­cal and spir­i­tu­al con­ver­sa­tion about the per­ils of alien­ation and trib­al­iza­tion and the impor­tance of the ​“true, heart­felt encounter.” While the book is root­ed in reli­gious teach­ing, one need not adhere to a reli­gious tra­di­tion to appre­ci­ate its wis­dom. In fact, one of Brous’s strengths as a writer is her seem­ing­ly effort­less abil­i­ty to bring togeth­er many voic­es, ancient and recent, Jew­ish and not, to weigh in on how to nav­i­gate sor­row — our own and oth­ers’ — and how to heal.

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1. Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • 8 Adar 5786

2. Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • 22 Adar 5786

3. Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • 7 Nisan 5786

4. Wednesday, April 15, 2026 • 28 Nisan 5786

5. Wednesday, April 29, 2026 • 12 Iyyar 5786

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Room 110

Whether you are a parent learning side by side with your child, attending an Adult B'nai Mitzvah class, or an adult learner working at home on your own, the lessons in this book will teach you the Hebrew you need to feel confident and competent, as you read from the prayerbook and recite Shabbat and holiday blessings.

In this week's Torah portion, Parshat Mishpatim, the mitzvah of assisting fellow Jews by
providing interest-free loans is highlighted. We read, Exodus 22:24, “If you lend money to one
of my people among you who is in need, do not act toward them as a creditor: exact no
interest from them.” Hebrew Free Loan of Austin (HFLA) actively fulfills this commandment by
offering loans at zero interest to Jewish individuals across Austin and its surrounding counties.
HFLA's no-interest loans play a crucial role in addressing unforeseen challenges that life
presents. These loans have been utilized for various needs, including living expenses, dental and
medical costs, high-interest debt consolidation, and even small-business startups or in-vitro
fertilization.
 

At Hebrew Free Loan, each individual is treated with understanding, respect, dignity, and
utmost confidentiality. The organization's sincere mission is to aid fellow Jews during times of
need. In alignment with the spirit of Mishpatim, if you or any Jewish person you know requires
a loan without interest, please reach out via email at info@hfla.org or visit
hebrewfreeloanofaustin.org. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you.

Click here for more information and to buy tickets!

On February 24, the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) and local partners will be hosting a community event in Austin -- a lecture by Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

AEN's mission is to mobilize faculty and administrators to combat antisemitism, oppose the denigration of Jewish and Zionist identity, promote academic freedom, and advance education about Israel. AEN supports the largest volunteer network of faculty addressing these topics and issues in American higher education, with faculty presence on over 350 campuses in the U.S. In 2024, AEN launched the Faculty Against Antisemitism Movement, which now has nearly 100,000 followers, including 30,000 faculty members.

If you are interested please click here: registration is required and space is limited!

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? Loans can be made available within a week or even same day in emergencies! Contact info@hfla.org or visit https://hebrewfreeloanofaustin.org.