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Home > Membership > The Voice - May 2025 - Iyar/Sivan 5785

The Voice - May 2025 - Iyar/Sivan 5785

Services this Month

Religious School Shabbat Services
Friday  |  May 2  | 7:00 pm
 

Join us for joyful Shabbat services led by Rabbi Rebecca Reice and our Religious School students.
T'filah Together
Saturday  |  May 3  |  9:00 am
 
 
Please join us for T'filah Together, Congregation Shir Ami's Tot Shabbat program for families with kiddos up to the age of eight years old. Rabbi Rebecca Reice will lead a Shabbat program specifically geared for kids and their families. This will include age-appropriate songs, prayers, and a PJ Library story. Click here to register so we know if we can expect to see you there!
Torah Study
Saturday  |  May 3  |  10:30 am
 
 
 
Join us for Torah study. We will be studying parshot Tazria (Leviticus 12:1-13:59) and Metzora (14:1-15:32), both very brief chapters treating the same themes. Please click here to let us know you will be coming!
 
Save the Date! June Shabbat Services
Friday, June 6  |  Services 7:00pm
 

Join us for joyful Shabbat services led by Rabbi Reice.
President's Corner
New Message
 
 

We all know that a Constitution is a living document. Bylaws as well. A number of people spent countless hours creating that update, and we are grateful to them for their efforts.
 
In the year or so since we approved them, though, we have seen several problems within and between these documents. These include contradictions, ambiguities, and omissions. So it's time to start the process again.
 
What the Board would like to do this time, before we appoint an official Committee, is reach out to our members and ask for everyone's input. Please take the time to read through both of  the documents. Links found here. See what mistakes may have been made, what conflicts between different sections of the two documents you can find, etc.
 
Please send your comments to me at your earliest convenience, president@shir-ami.com but no later than Wednesday, May 14. Thanks so much!
Cindy Tarsi
 

Upcoming Events

Rabbi Reice Office Hours
 
Office Hours
5 May (7 Iyyar) 11am - 2pm
6 May (8 Iyyar) 12 - 3pm
13 May (15 Iyyar) 1 - 4pm
14 May (16 Iyyar) 12 - 3pm
20 May (22 Iyyar) 1 - 4pm
21 May (23 Iyyar) 1:30 - 4:30pm
27 May (29 Iyyar) 1 - 4pm
28 May (1 Sivan) 1 - 4pm
4 June (8 Sivan) 1 - 7pm
10 June (14 Sivan) 11am - 5pm
 
Upcoming Days Off
1 May 2025 (3 Iyyar) - comp for 4/15
8 May 2025 (10 Iyyar) - comp for 4/29
9 May 2025 (11 Iyyar) - comp for 4/30
12 May 2025 (13 Iyyar) - comp for 5/1
16 May 2025 (18 Iyyar) - comp for 5/2
19 May 2025 (21 Iyyar) - comp for 5/5
23 May 2025 (25 Iyyar) - comp for 5/6
29 May 2025 (2 Sivan) - comp for 5/13
30 May 2025 (3 Sivan) - comp for 5/14
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
 
May Office Closing
26 May 2025 (28 Iyyar) Office Closed - Memorial Day
 
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 May

Happy Anniversary:
05/07     Dottie Elliott & John Liberty
05/15     Glen Fine & Pamela Caulder-Fine
05/20     Rick & Chris Grabish
05/27     Leslie & Steven Schwartz
 
Happy Birthday:
05/06     Zev Gisser
05/11     Leslie Schwartz
05/14     Sheila Bernstein
05/16     Sarah Ahmed
05/17     Isaac Belyi
05/22     Rose Rigney
05/22     Genevieve Rigney
05/23     Irene Beattie
05/28     Ron Weiss
Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting
Sunday  |  May 18  |  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, Cindy Tarsi, president@shir-ami.com.
Dues Forms
 
 
Dues Forms for the upcoming 2025-2026 congregational year were sent out earlier this month. Please take a moment to complete yours and send it back to Alysa Gisser at adgisser@gmail.com or mail it to the Shir Ami PO box. Thank you!
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, May 17, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Book: The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
 
 
 
About the Book
The story of a brilliant woman scientist remembered only for her beauty. Hedy Lamarr’s beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to her marriage to an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side and understood more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star, keeping her Jewish heritage a secret. Yet she kept a secret more surprising than her heritage or her marriage: She was a scientist. And she had an idea that might help fight the Nazis and revolutionize modern communication ... if anyone would listen to her. The Only Woman in the Room is based on the true story of the glamour icon and scientist, and celebrates the many women of science history has overlooked.
 
About the Author
International best-selling author Marie Benedict is a lawyer and an experienced litigator. As an author, she has found her calling: to excavate from the past important, complex, and fascinating women and bring them into the present-day where we can explore the breadth of their contributions and the insights they bring to modern day issues: The Other Einstein … Mitza Maric, Albert Einstein’s first wife; Carnegie’s Maid … Clara Kelly/historical fiction;  The Only Woman in the Room … Hedy Lamarr; Lady Clementine … Clementine Churchill, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie …  Agatha Christie. Co-written with Victoria Christopher Murray: The Personal Librarian … Belle da Costa Green, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, and The First Ladies … First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Writing as Heather Terrell, Marie Benedict also wrote the historical novels The Chrysalis, The Map Thief, and Brigid of Kildare.
 
 
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

5/17: The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
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
 
World Zionist Congress Elections - VOTE!
Voting runs from March 10 - May 4, 2025
Join the Reform Movement in Voting for the Vote Reform Slate (option #3) in this election. Between March 10 and May 4, 2025, American Jews will vote for their delegates to the 39th World Zionist Congress, the “parliament of the Jewish people,” which will convene in Jerusalem in October 2025. Voting in this election is the most powerful opportunity to have your voice heard in Israel, make an impact in Jewish communities worldwide, and stand up for the Zionism in which you believe. Rabbi Reice spoke more about this opportunity on March 7, so feel free to reach out to her with questions.
ARE YOU READY TO VOTE?!

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, Paula Gentry, Carol Goldmark, Juliet Clare Grabish, Gail Lary, Peter Lary, 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
Seven Days of Creation for 7 Weeks of the Omer
Tuesdays, April 15 - May 27  |  7:00 pm
 
 

The seven-week Omer period begins on the second night of Passover and continues until the eve of Shavuot. During our class each week, a Rabbi for 30 minutes (or a pair of rabbis for an hour) will present a teaching connecting each of the seven weeks of the Omer to its corresponding day of the Seven Days of Creation. Participation is free!
Rabbi Reice taught during the first week of this series of Zoom learning sessions.
 
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

Art Show at Saint David’s in Georgetown
Until May 30th
 
 
Shir Ami member Leora Forstein has a piece on display in the gallery hall at St. David's in Georgetown. It will be available for the public until May 30th. Contact Leora for more details!
 
Teen Mental Health First Aid Training
May 18 and June 1  |  1-4pm 
 
This is a training for folks in 9th-12th grades to learn how to notice signs and symptoms of distress in their friends and know what to do when they're worried.
 
The training will be from 1-4pm on May 18 AND June 1 (attendance at both sessions is required.)
 
 
Free Virtual Film Showing
April 18 - May 4 
 
Celebrating the season of freedom, we're pleased to bring you the classic film Live and Become as our AJFF365 event this month. The film is first and foremost a great drama, but it also explores a number of interesting themes—freedom (especially the escape from famine and poverty), identity, acceptance, the treatment of migrants, and so much more that is still very timely. For those celebrating Easter, there are also interesting ideas of redemption and rebirth.
Continuing the theme of freedom, we're making this film FREE to our audience to stream from tomorrow, April 18 through May 5th.  Please share this event with your friends and family who reside in Texas.
Austin Jewish Song Circle
 
 
The idea is to learn Jewish songs, learn about the history and themes behind the songs, and have fun singing together.
The plan is to meet for about 90 minutes, 2-3 times a month, jumping around to give options for folks who have availability on different days and to accommodate holidays. It's OK if you can't attend every session! We'll be learning new songs every time, so you won't be lost if you weren't able to attend in a previous week.
We'll be sending out Google Calendar invitations as the dates get closer.
Generally we will aim to meet in central Austin - locations will be shared closer to the dates. If you are interested in hosting a session in your home, please let us know!

What To Bring
We'll provide song / source sheets, as well as some snacks. We recommend bringing a pencil to make notes and a water bottle. While the group will focus on singing, if you have an acoustic musical instrument and are comfortable playing along, feel free to bring that as well! (We will not be able to provide musical notation or chords; all songs will be taught by ear.)

What To Expect
Each session, we'll start with a niggun (wordless melody) before learning the main song that will be the focus of our learning. We'll review the song, spend some time digging into the text, and examine other related texts or songs. Expect to sing things through several times to internalize the music - this is also a great opportunity to develop harmonies!
For more information, please contact esther.j.garcia@gmail.com. You can also  fill out this form to be added to the group!
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.
Yom HaAtzmaut
May 4  |  1:00 pm
 
Rabbi Reice will be participating in both the Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron events, representing our congregation. Click here to register for any of the events above!
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.
 
 
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.
Thu, May 15 2025 17 Iyar 5785