Services This Month
Selichot
Saturday September 28 | 6:00 pm
Members click here for more information and to register.
Rosh HaShanah Services
Wednesday and Thursday | October 2-3
Friday Evening Shabbat Services
Friday, October 4, at 7:00 pm
Join us for joyful Shabbat services with a Q&A session led by Rabbi Reice.
Yom Kippur Services
Saturday and Sunday | October 11-12
Torah Study
Saturday, October 19 at 10:30 am
Save the Date! November Shabbat Services
Friday | November 1 | 7:00 pm
Join us for Shabbat services led by Rabbi Reice.
Upcoming Events
Rabbi Reice Office Hours
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, Alan Kook, immediately for more urgent matters.)
Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries in October
Happy Anniversary:
10/6 Joanna and Bruce Bitner
10/6 Lisa and Josef Zeevi
10/10 Tiffany and Mordechai Weisbrod
10/13 Mary Whitlock and Craig Kurtz
Happy Birthday:
10/6 Barbara Baum
10/16 Glen Fine
10/16 Chuck Cohn
10/21 Laura Soos
10/25 Amy Schorr
10/29 Hannah Cohn
10/31 Carter Forstein
Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting
Sunday, October 27at 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, Alan Kook, at alankook.atx@gmail.com.
HHD Canned Food Drive
October 12
Reminder this year we will be collecting soup for the JFS Food Pantry!
Please bring your donations on Yom Kippur!
Women's Mah Jongg
If you are interested in learning or playing, contact Maxine or Leslie
Happy Bookers Book Club
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Book: The Kill Artist, by Daniel Silva
About the Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Other Woman comes the first novel in the thrilling series featuring legendary assassin Gabriel Allon. Published April 6, 2004. First book of 24!
"And the enemy shall know I am Lord when I can lay down my vengeance upon them."
Immersed in the quiet, meticulous life of an art restorer, former Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon keeps his past well behind him. But now he is being called back into the game—and teamed with an agent who hides behind her own mask...as a beautiful fashion model.
Their target: a cunning terrorist on one last killing spree, a Palestinian zealot who played a dark part in Gabriel’s past. And what begins as a manhunt turns into a globe-spanning duel fueled by both political intrigue and deep personal passions...
About the Author
Daniel Silva is the award-winning #1 New York Times best-selling author of espionage and thriller novels. He was born in Michigan in 1960 and raised in California where he received a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State College.
He began is writing career as a journalist for United Press International (UPI), traveling the Middle-East and covering the Iran-Iraq War, terrorism and political conflicts. The main focus of his books is Gabriel Allon, an Israeli art restorer, assassin, and spy, who is a key figure in all but four of his novels. Daniel Silva’s books are published in more than thirty countries and are bestsellers worldwide. Honors: 2007 Barry Award, Best Thriller, The Messenger; 2013 Barry Award, Best Thriller, Fallen Angel.
In January 2009, Daniel Silva was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and lives in Florida with his wife, CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel. Daniel Silva converted from Catholicism to Judaism, his wife’s religion, when they married. They have two children, twins, Lily and Nicholas.
About Happy Bookers
The Happy Bookers book club is open to Shir Ami members. Interested prospective members should contact the Shir Ami Membership Committee.
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.
Ben Bailen, Ed Bailen, Bill Bitner, LeRoy Bitner, Jeffrey-George Bogart, Ralph Burdett, Darin Burdman, Pamela Caulder-Fine, Susan Chisum, Lisa Coopersmith, Harriet Eichenwald, Glen Fine, Leora Forstein, Janet Friedman, Linda Friedman, Lynn Gelber, Carol Goldmark, Robin Gordon, Juliet Clare Grabish, Pearl Kopita, Kate Koons, Bill Kurtz, Gail Lary, Peter Lary, Rabbi Mark Levin, William Lenz, John Maes, Eric Maginness, Nikki Maza, Geri Meyers, Thelma Mickelson, Carol Moon, Kay Moore, Dominae Petrosini, Wendy Pravda, Sandy Sherwin, Emory Plum Schlanger, Skylar Stefanowicz, Trystan Stefanowicz, Anthony Tarsi, Cindy Tarsi (Chasye Chana bat Laya Raizel v’Avraham Yitzchak HaLevi), Jim Tarsi, Larry Whitlock, Carole 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.
Shir Ami's Social Action Committee Reminds You to Vote!
Tekes Zikaron
October 6
Join Progressive/Reform communities from around the world on Sunday, October 6, 2024, for a multilingual ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the tragic events of October 7, 2023. To accommodate our global community, the ceremony will take place at two different times, ensuring the ability to participate across all time zones.
For communities interested in integrating this event into their local commemorations, especially smaller or more isolated communities, please contact seminars@wupj.org
Movie Screening
October 7 | Dell Jewish Community Campus
As the one-year anniversary of the horrific attacks of October 7 approaches, the Austin Jewish community and people around the world are reflecting on a year marked by tremendous loss, trauma, resilience, and profound solidarity.
Shalom Austin, along with local Jewish organizations and congregations, is planning a series of commemorative events on October 7, 2024, reflecting unity, rehabilitation and renewal at the Dell JCC.
Registration is required. Register here.
Morning Services | 7:00 – 8:00 AM
Open Shacharit minyan services with Congregation Agudas Achim, Congregation Tiferet Israel and Chabad of Austin
Organizational Presentations | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Organizational presentations with Anti-Defamation League, American Friends of Magen David Adom, BringThemHomeNow, Hadassah, Texas Hillel, Israeli-American Council Austin, Jewish National Fund, National Council of Jewish Women and Tzofim Israeli Scouts
Rabbinic Panel Discussion | 12:15 – 1:15 PM
Rabbinic panel moderated by Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus. Featuring Rabbi Neil Blumofe (Congregation Agudas Achim), Rabbi Kelly Levy (Congregation Beth Israel), Rabbi Daniel Millner (Congregation Tiferet Israel), Rabbi Rebecca Reice (Congregation Shir Ami), and Rabbi Eleanor Steinman (Temple Beth Shalom).
Mind & Body Healing | 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Three program opportunities: Resilience Yoga, Israeli Folk Dancing, or a session with Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service on sustained grief and loss.
Reflections & Film | 2:45 – 4:30 PM
Listen as Austin’s Shinshinim reflect on their personal experiences during and after October 7. 2:45 – 3:30 PM
Film experience provided by the Austin Jewish Film Festival from 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Community Memorial Ceremony | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Community-wide commemorative ceremony
Movie Screening
October 7 | Agudas Achim
In commemoration of the tragic events that unfolded in Israel on October 7, 2023, the Jewish community is coming together on Monday, October 7 to remember, and to pray for the speedy release of the hostages. Part of this day includes the screening of Tragic Awakening at 3:30 in the sanctuary at Congregation Agudas Achim.
This is a free event, however tickets are needed. Click here for tickets.
Tie-Dye Workshop
October 13 | 11 am -1 pm
Volunteer at Three Oaks Hospice in Austin
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 hosted by Shir Ami via Zoom
Free to attend
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.
Fri, July 18 2025 22 Tammuz 5785
