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Home > Membership > The Voice - June 2025 - Sivan/Tammuz 5785

The Voice - June 2025 - 5785

Services this Month

Shabbat Services
Friday  |  June 6  | 7:00 pm
 

Join us for joyful Shabbat services led by Rabbi Rebecca Reice. 
Annual Members Meeting and Board of Trustees Meeting
Sunday  |  June 8  |  2:00 pm
 

All members are invited to attend the Annual Members Meeting. Refreshments will be served. Please click here to let us know if you plan on attending. If you are unable to attend you can designate a proxy to vote in your stead.
 
A Board of Trustees meeting will convene after the member meeting.
Torah Study
Saturday  |  June 14  |  10:30 am
 
 
 
Join us for Torah study. We will be meeting in a member's home. Please click here to register for details!
 
Save the Date! July Shabbat Services
Friday, July 11  |  Services 7:00pm
 

Join us for joyful Shabbat services led by Rabbi Reice. These services are on on the second Friday due to the holiday.

Upcoming Events

Rabbi Reice Office Hours
 
Office Hours
4 June (8 Sivan) 1 - 7pm
10 June (14 Sivan) 11am - 5pm
 
Upcoming Days Off
5 June 2025 (9 Sivan) - comp for 5/20
6 June 2025 (10 Sivan) - comp for 5/21
9 June 2025 (13 Sivan) - comp for 5/27
13 June 2025 (17 Sivan) - comp for 5/28
 
During Office hours, Rabbi Reice will be answering the phone, answering emails, and meeting with those folks 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, Cindy Tarsi, 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 June

Happy Anniversary:
03-Jun        Sara and Rob Wilgoren
14-Jun        Esther & Stephen Thomas
17-Jun        Maddie Teller-Kook & Dr. Alan Kook
22-Jun        Diane Stepakof-Fay & Jason Fay
23-Jun        Rosanne & Mark Levbarg
24-Jun        Cindy & Jim Tarsi
25-Jun        Diane and Dr Leslie Schlanger
 
Happy Birthday:
01-Jun        Nayan Roos Kirkpatrick
05-Jun        Helaine Kramsky
06-Jun        Oliver Weisbrod
08-Jun        George Simmons
11-Jun        Dorie Mickelson
12-Jun        Bruce Bitner
13-Jun        Rabbi Rebecca Reice
13-Jun        Jack Dashefsky
16-Jun        Addie Gisser
18-Jun        Rachel VanScoyoc
19-Jun        Maxine Kaplan
19-Jun        Dottie Elliott
Women's Mah Jongg
If you are interested in learning or playing, contact Maxine or Leslie
 
 
The women in our group meet once or twice a month to play Mah Jongg, kibbitz, nosh and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Our members volunteer to host these afternoon games at their homes. Members who would like to make a donation at the end of each game may do so. At the end of the year the group makes a donation to Shir Ami and chooses another worthy Jewish charity.
Happy Bookers Book Club
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Book: The Personal Librarian, the story of J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who passed as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation.
 
 
 
About the Book
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.
 
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born Belle Marion Greener, the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman and lengths she must go — for the protection of her family and her legacy — to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
 
About the Authors
Marie Benedict is a lawyer and an experienced litigator. As an author, she brings important, complex, and fascinating women from the past into the present day, where we can explore the breadth of their contributions and the insights they bring to modern day issues. They include The Only Woman in the Room, the story of movie star/scientist Hedy Lamarr, which was our book for May. The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, the story of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune, were co-authored with Victoria Christopher Murray.
 
Victoria Christopher Murray is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 novels. The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, co-authored with Marie Benedict, were Instant New York Times bestsellers and her novel, Stand Your Ground won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction. Four of her novels, Lust, Envy, Wrath, and Greed were made into Lifetime TV movies. Her most recent novel, Harlem Rhapsody, tells the story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the first Black woman to be literary editor of The Crisis, a prominent Negro magazine founded by W.E.B. Du Bois, who was her boss and her lover.
 
About Happy Bookers
The Happy Bookers book club is open to Shir Ami members. Interested prospective members should contact the Shir Ami Membership Committee.
 
2025 SCHEDULE
6/21: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
7/19: City Boy by Herman Wouk
8/23: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
9/20: Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby
10/25: The Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
11/22: The Morning After the Revolution by Nellie Bowles
12/20: When Angels Left the Old Country by Sasha Lamb
1/2026: Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz
 

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, Barbara Baum, Bill Bitner, Ralph Burdett, Rene Castiglione, Pamela Caulder-Fine, Ron Christopher, Glen Fine, Leora Forstein, Janet Friedman, Linda Friedman, Ingrid Gabriel, Lynn Gelber, Carol Goldmark, Juliet Clare Grabish, Gail Lary, Peter Lary, Teme Levbarg, Rabbi Mark Levin, William Lenz, John Liberty, Eric Maginniss, Nikki Maza, Geri Meyers, Carol Moon, Kay Moore, Dominae Petrosini, Tobey Ramirez, Emory Plum Schlanger, Harriet Schorr, James Smallwood, Skylar Stefanowicz, Trystan Stefanowicz, Cindy Tarsi (Chasye Chana bat Laya Raizel v’Avraham Yitzchak HaLevi), Jim Tarsi, Esther Thomas, Laura Wildeman, Carole Wood, Dale Wood, Dominic Wood, Bonnie Zimmer
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 Shir Ami members volunteer in this group to 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, sending cards, 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 more active Caring Circle volunteer, please contact Sara Goodman at CaringCircle@Shir-Ami.com. All are welcome!

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.
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.

Community News

Pink Lady
May 29  |  7:30 pm
 
Synopsis: In an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem, Bati has a seemingly perfect life. She is happily married to Lazer and the young couple have three children. But their world starts to crumble when Lazer is blackmailed and Bati discovers his secret affair with his male study partner. Desperate to protect her family and keep the man she loves, she supports Lazer as he attempts to “cure” his homosexuality, whilst uncovering her true desires. Click here for more information.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
June 1-2  |  8:00 pm
 
 
Congregation Shir Ami,
 
On Sunday/Monday, June 1 and 2, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. There is a tradition of late-night studying to accompany the holiday, called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, and we are proud to promote a wonderful study opportunity for members of our congregation produced in partnership with URJ Small Congregations.
 
On that evening, there will be about 25 learning blocks spread over different hours where you can join by Zoom, concluding with morning services with Yizkor.
 
Note: There has been a last-minute change in the location of the CAA Tikkun Leil Shavuot. All classes for the evening will now be held at the Shalom Austin - Jewish Community Center. All teaching times will remain the same
 
Please register for the program so you can receive the link where all of the classes will be listed closer to the night of the program. REGISTER AT:
Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt
June 1  |  4:00 pm
 
This is a family-friendly gala hosted by Hindus Charities for America, in partnership with Shalom Austin. All funds raised go towards school supplies for underserved students. A school supply pack will take place at the end of the summer. Stay tuned for details. Click here to purchase tickets and/or make a donation here to support these efforts. Children under 6 are free.
Hadassah Happy Hour
June 5  |  5:30 pm  |  Northwest Hills
 
 
Circle of Security
June 5 - July 24  |  9:00 am  |  Shalom Austin
 
 
An 8-week group-style course in attachment based parenting. Together with other parents and a child therapist, participants will learn to confidently navigate their child’s big feelings and difficult behaviors. Click here to register!
Partner Programs and Seminars:
 
International K-12 Educators Seminar: The International Educators’ Seminar in June 2025 offers a unique opportunity for K-12 educators to learn, experience, and gain insights into the educational system in Israel. This highly subsidized seminar provides a platform to explore enriching, meaningful, and long-lasting global connections. To receive info, please email P2G WG Academia and Education Coordinator, Shiri Ehrlich.
 
Other Programs and Opportunities:
 
Routes2Roots: Hungarian Heritage Exploration - For those of Hungarian heritage in our P2G WG communities who are interested in pursuing this free-of-charge family research, contact Noemi Nemeth, P2G Budapest Coordinator.
 
Medical Students Externship at the Galilee Medical Center: The P2G Medical Committee announces an immersive month-long experience for medical students to get a close-up look at Israel’s health system, its rigorous medical standards and quality medical care, the diverse culture of northern Israel, and more. During the Externship, students will have the opportunity to take part in rounds, participate in ward activities, attend lectures and receive informal instruction at the Galilee Medical Center (GMC). The medical center will work with each student to tailor the dates of the externship to the  student’s availability as well as their learning objectives. For more information, contact P2G Assistant Director Avital Ben Dror.
 
 
Playful Connections
June 9, 16, & 23  |  9:30 am  |  Shalom Austin
 
 
Playful Connections is a casual play group for families with children who are neurodivergent and/or living with a disability. The purpose is to build community through a loosely structured indoor gathering where families can have fun, let down their guard, and connect with other families! Click here to register!
Making Sense of News From Israel
June 22  |  3:00 pm 
 
 
What is Shmirah?
June 26  |  1:00 pm  |  Dell JCC
 
 
Come learn about Shmirah (the Jewish tradition of lovingly accompanying the deceased between death and burial) with Gail Tosto who is a Jewish end-of-life doula, hospice volunteer, chevrah kadisha (Jewish burial society) volunteer, and founder of Austin Shmirah. Click here to register!
https://hebrewfreeloanofaustin.org/Interest Free Loans for Camp
 
We all know the importance that a Jewish Summer Camp experience can have on the formulation of a child’s Jewish identity. I wanted to share with you the news that Hebrew Free Loan of Austin is providing no interest loans of up to $2500 to families seeking assistance in sending children or grandchildren to Jewish Summer Camp.  In addition, HFLA is not requiring a guarantor for such loans.  Paid back over the course of the year, this can a be an easy way for families to essentially save for camp all year long.
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
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? Loans can be made available within a week or even same day in emergencies! Contact info@hfla.org or visit https://hebrewfreeloanofaustin.org.
Mon, June 2 2025 6 Sivan 5785