Adonai, You abide though all things change.
I am anxious and fearful, and I turn my heart to You,
looking to You and leaning on Your strength.
It is written, “Blessed is the one whose strength is in You.”
Bless me now with faith and courage.
Help me to feel that You are with me,
steadying and sustaining me with the assurance that I am loved.
Be with me and bring me hope, that in the days to come,
my aspirations may be fulfilled for my good
and the good of those I love who depend on me.
Banish my fears with the sense that You are always present,
to uphold and sustain me, as it is written,
“Have no fear, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with the power of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). Amen.
By Rabbi Chaim Stern, from Mishkan R’fuah: Where Healing Resides. Copyright ©2013 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold, or copied without express written permission. Originally appeared in On the Doorposts of Your House, Revised Edition © 1994, 2010 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, p. 163.
- Worship With Us
- Resources to Assist You
- How You Can Help Others
- Educational Opportunities
- Words of Inspiration from Our Clergy
- Pastoral Meetings: Our clergy are fully engaged in serving the pastoral needs of our members as well as the temple community generally. During this time, we are happy to arrange individual appointments with clergy by video or by phone. To arrange an individual appointment, simply contact Marissa Wright at marissa.wright@bethshalomaustin.org or at 512-735-8912. Also look for daily postings for these times from our clergy on the Facebook Community Forum for members and the temple website.
Congregational Message: April 29, 2020
Chaverim,
As we continue to navigate these uncertain times, the health and well-being of our entire community remains our first priority; therefore, Temple Beth Shalom will continue to suspend on-site operations until at least May 31. We are working to acquire the resources and develop procedures needed to follow recommended guidelines for gathering together. Although our building will remain closed, our temple remains open, warm, and welcoming!
Please continue to enjoy our weekly Shalom Message (each Monday) which details a variety of opportunities for engagement, worship, learning, and involvement. If you haven’t already done so, join our members-only Community Forum of Temple Beth Shalom Facebook page and bookmark our website.
In hard times, the Jewish people have always persevered. We are not alone, and while we may not be together in person as a congregation for a while, technology enables us to maintain our personal connections.
Temple Beth Shalom is your spiritual home and your staff, clergy, and lay leadership are here for you.
Congregational Message: March 19, 2020
Chaverim,
In this time of ambiguity and change, we want to reassure you that this temple community is here for you. We will still pray, sing, learn, and socialize together but in new and creative ways as we identify and implement opportunities to adjust to our ever-changing circumstances. We invite everyone in your family to join us in whatever ways are meaningful to you. Today, we are updating you on the opportunities your temple is providing for connection and to bring comfort and strength to one another in the days ahead.
Worship
Friday night services: For the first time ever, our temple clergy will stream our Friday night Shabbat services for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Please visit our Shabbat page to access the link to join in, and find an electronic version of our Mishkan T’filah, along with a copy of this week’s daf t’filah.
Learning
Religious School: Our Sunday School will reconvene with at-home learning beginning March 29, and Hebrew School will extend Spring Break and reconvene on March 30 with online classes. Jordan Magidson will send families all the information needed to engage your child in meaningful and relevant learning and activities. If you don’t have a child enrolled in our Religious School but would like to be kept abreast of the latest online Jewish learning opportunities for your kids and teenagers, please check out our Religious School Blog.
Torah Study: Class will be held on Saturday, at 9:00 a.m., as usual but will meet online. An invitation to join the online class will be sent to all the regular attendees, but if you’d like to try it out, contact Marissa Wright, and she will happily send you the invitation: (marissa.wright@bethshalomaustin.org).
Project Zug: Connect with other temple members by enrolling in a Project Zug course offering self-paced, relevant learning on a wide variety of topics.
Connections and Compassion
Community Forum Facebook Group: If you haven’t already, join our congregants-only Facebook group.This is a space where you can connect and share with other congregants. And, since things have gotten wonky, the clergy have been posting a daily, interactive message, so check it out!
Tots: Join the Shalom Families Facebook Page where you will see song sessions led by our very own Music Program Assistant, Sara Kaye.
8th -12th Grade Teens: Did you know our temple teens have a GroupMe account (monitored and moderated by Sarah Abrams, Youth Engagement Coordinator) to get information on ways to stay connected with each other? An invitation to all 8th-12th graders will be going out, so consider accepting our invite to the TABSY (8th-12th grade) GroupMe account—even if your teen is not a member of TABSY at this time. If your teen doesn’t have an email address on file with the temple, the invitation will be sent to the adults in the household.
Congregant-to-Congregant Check-in: Expect a phone call from one of the temple’s board members soon! The purpose of these calls is to check in, let us know if you need anything, and share any ideas/feedback you might have on ways to support and connect with each other. As a reminder, the temple communicates primarily via email, so be sure to read our content for the most up-to-date information about congregational life and how to engage with your fellow community.
Social Justice and Advocacy: Be a part of a joint Temple Beth Shalom and Congregation Beth Israel All-Reform Jewish Social Justice Organizing Meeting, Monday, March 30, at 12:00 -1:30 p.m. This meeting will focus on what is going on in the areas of social justice that you might like to plug into or help others plug into, and identify what issues have community-wide consensus for advocacy. Join the meeting here with Zoom at the time of the meeting.
Community
We’d love to hear your ideas on how we can strengthen community. Please reach out to our Director of Engagement, Jennifer Braham
(Jennifer.braham@bethshalomaustin.org), or one of our committee chairs.
It is important now, more than ever, to let the temple know if you or someone you know in our community is in need of support. Please reach out to any staff or clergy (click here for a full listing) if we can be of comfort or assistance.
Information Updated March 16, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
In the face of these unprecedented times, Temple Beth Shalom remains committed to our core values more than ever. Keeping the health and well-being of our entire community in mind, we are suspending on-site operations effective Tuesday, March 17, until at least Friday, May 1. Although our building will be closed, our temple community remains open, warm, and welcoming! Here’s what this means for you:
- The building will be closed to the public until at least Friday, May 1.
- Clergy and staff will be working remotely each day and will be available by email and temple phone extensions. Click here to see emails and extensions.
- All in-person meetings and programs are canceled. When feasible, meetings may be held virtually.
- Note that there may be a delay in U.S. mail sent to our temple during the closure.
Our remote operations will continue to evolve over the coming days. We ask for your patience and support as we work through the details of how temple life will change during this health care crisis, including opportunities for prayer, learning and service. We will have further details later this week.
Please check your email for future updates, and members, be sure to check our Facebook Community Forum page and this webpage for the most current information. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email.
In hard times, the Jewish people have always persevered. We are not alone, and while we may not be together in person as a congregation for a while, technology will connect us.
Temple Beth Shalom is your spiritual home and your staff, clergy, and lay leadership are here for you in the coming days and weeks.
Pandemic Plan:
Please see the attached Pandemic Response Plan for Temple Beth Shalom.
Livestreaming:
Please join our Temple Beth Shalom clergy online for Shabbat! Here's what you need to know:
For Erev Shabbat services:
Go to our livestreaming page, where you will find:
* A window to view services live on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
* An electronic version of our Mishkan T’filah
Remember to get your ritual items ready--candles, kiddush cup--so you can fully participate!