A Note from Rabbi Weinberg: Reflecting on 27 Remarkable Years

The past few weeks have truly been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I’m sitting in my office right now, surrounded by boxes, empty bookshelves, and memories. I’ve come across letters you’ve written to me, photos from Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and so much more. It’s a reminder of just how special this journey has been.

While I look ahead to retirement, I also find myself reflecting with deep appreciation for what these years together have meant. Serving as your rabbi has been an extraordinary blessing, one of the most fulfilling labors of love I could have ever imagined.

As I prepare for this next chapter, I know the future of our synagogue is in good hands. Rabbi Kushnick and the wonderful team around him will continue to lead Anshai Torah to new heights and open new horizons for our community.

Of course, like so many of you I’ve also been reflecting on the events unfolding in Israel. In those difficult days after October 7th, I worried, as did many of us about Israel losing its sense of security in such a dangerous part of the world. But then, the miracles began to unfold. Through the remarkable power of technology, ingenuity, and determination, Israel has reclaimed its strength, and today, it’s being recognized as the Middle East superpower.

It may be bittersweet, but the reality is that strength protects freedom. Israel’s strength and the values we hold dear help secure not only our future but the future of the free world.

This week, as we observe Rosh Chodesh Tammuz and welcome in Shabbat, we sing the words of Hallel, expressing gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. And so, I want to close by simply saying thank you.

Thank you for 27 incredible years. Thank you for trusting me as your rabbi. Thank you for the love, the partnership, and the memories.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Stefan Weinberg

Capital Campaign Donor Spotlight: Meet Liz & Rusty Cooper

Appearing in the first photo: Rusty and Liz Cooper | Appearing in the second photo, center: Rusty and Liz Cooper surrounded by their children and grandchildren, from left: Jordan and Sophie New and their son Cooper, Jordan and Hanna Shamis and their two daughters, Riley and Olivia, Eli and Abby Cooper, and their son Beau. Not pictured: Tyler (Jordan and Hanna), Harvey (Eli and Abby)

What initially drew your family to Anshai Torah, and what keeps you connected to the community? 

As close friends with Rabbi Weinberg, Wende and the kids from our then Solomon Schechter neighborhood, we emerged as founding members of Shomray Torah which soon became Anshai Torah.  Rusty was on the Executive Committee and became President after the 3rd year.  Over the 25+ years, our love for Stefan and the Anshai community has deepened, and for this we are filled with gratitude.  Anshai Torah is our family.  

What is a meaningful Anshai Torah experience or moment that stands out to you? 

The voices of the very first B’Nai Mitzvah class in 2001.  Liz was one of the 14 women who came together to study and celebrate this momentous achievement, led by Rabbi Weinberg.  

We love Friday night services accompanied by the beautiful voices of Kol Rina.  The melodies, warmth and charm of the a Capella group bring an uplifting joy as we welcome in Shabbat.  

The Inaugural B’Nai Mitzvah Class of 2001

Appearing from Left to Right:

Top row: Katty Rosenstock, Ann Sebert, Rabbi Weinberg, Wendy Korenman, Nancy Stanley, Donna Schwartz
Middle row: Louelle Chimes, Tobi Gottesman, Leslie Peskind, Leslie Kahn
Bottom row: Carol Cohen, Lori Goldberg, Liz Cooper, Nikki Roy, Tracey Cherner

Why do you believe it is important to support Anshai’s capital campaign at this time? 

To be proactive as we expand and make our sacred space even more attractive to all ages in hopes of increasing participation and bringing Judaism into our community, all days of the week. 

What is your hope for the future of Anshai Torah? 

That we continue to develop and grow a safe space for congregants to feel fulfilled spiritually through services, education and other social programs.  

In 3 words or less, what do you love most about Anshai Torah? 

Community, Spirit, Song.

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We are nearing the end of our campaign deadline, but there is still plenty of opportunity to participate in our 25 Years Together Capital Campaign.  We have almost reached our goal of $8Million. You can help us get there!  Donations will ensure our facilities meet our needs for the next 25 years and beyond.  To learn more or participate, please click here or email Alisa Makler or Nicole Post  for more details.

Capital Campaign Donor Spotlight: Meet Jana & Barrett Stern

Appearing in both photos: Barrett & Jana Stern and their twins, Bailey & Sawyer

What initially drew your family to Anshai Torah, and what keeps you connected to the community?

We started the Twins, Bailey and Sawyer, in the Anshai Torah’s mommy & me Preschool program when they were a year old and attended High Holidays for the first time that year.  The sense of caring, community, and joy brought us into the shul and also is what keeps us connected to our community to this day.  

What is a meaningful Anshai Torah experience or moment that stands out to you? 

We have so many meaningful experiences and moments that stand out to us, including our children attending Preschool and Barrett being President of Anshai from 2018-2020.

Sharing the joy of children’s B’nai Mitzvah will always stand out as the most meaningful moment with our Anshai Community.  

Why do you believe it is important to support Anshai’s capital campaign at this time? 

We believe supporting Anshai’s capital campaign provides our members, our family, and the future generations with a path for successful growth, progress, foundation, and structure for many years (decades) to come.  

What is your hope for the future of Anshai Torah? 

Our hope for the future of Anshai Torah is that each generation finds our shul as special and important as our family does in order to continue its success going forward.  

In 3 words or less, what do you love most about Anshai Torah? 

Family, Community, Home  

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We are nearing the end of our campaign deadline, but there is still plenty of opportunity to participate in our 25 Years Together Capital Campaign.  We have almost reached our goal of $8Million. You can help us get there!  Donations will ensure our facilities meet our needs for the next 25 years and beyond.  To learn more or participate, please click here or contact Alisa Makler alisamakler@gmail.com or Nicole Post npost17@gmail.com for more details.

Capital Campaign Donor Spotlight: Meet Janet Behringer, Jaime & Michael Cohen, and Diana & Brad Behringer

Appearing from Left to Right: Jaime and Michael Cohen and their children, Claire, Ryan, and Lucy | Janet and Robert z”l Behringer | Diana and Brad Behringer and their children, Mylo, Bella, and Bertie.

What initially drew your family to Anshai Torah, and what keeps you connected to the community?

For over 20 years, we have called Anshai Torah our home. Undoubtedly, the sense of belonging and being a part of a welcoming community was what initially drew us to Anshai Torah. Our machatunim, Trudy and Leon Cohen were original members and seeing their commitment and dedication to Anshai was an initial draw for us.  The enthusiasm of Rabbi Weinberg, and the comfort we felt as part of the congregation was a breath of fresh air for us all.  Life can be busy but we have always felt an unwavering connection there, as we are always met with open arms by the welcoming Anshai community. 

What is a meaningful Anshai Torah experience or moment that stands out to you? 

There are so many, including being a part of Project 613 and the dedication of Wende’s Torah, our life milestones, including weddings, baby namings and Bat Mitzvahs, to name a few, but one that stands out is the completion and dedication of the Sanctuary. As the Anshai community grew, High Holidays were held at the Plano Civic Center. Services were always warm and welcoming, but being able to gather and pray in a space of our own was something we dreamed of. Once that dream became a reality and the sanctuary was completed we knew we would always have a space of our own and place to call home. 

Why do you believe it is important to support Anshai’s capital campaign at this time? 

In our lifetimes, there has never been a more significant time to support our Jewish organizations and places of prayer more than now. Ensuring that Anshai Torah remains strong as our community grows is vital so that we are able to meet the needs of our community and of future generations. 

What is your hope for the future of Anshai Torah? 

Our hope for the future of Anshai Torah is that it will always be a home away from home for our Jewish community and that it can grow both in size and in vision along with our children and the future generations. As the torch is passed to Rabbi Kushnick, we know the congregation is in great hands and the future is bright!

In 3 words or less, what do you love most about Anshai Torah? 

Warmth, Welcoming, Community

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We are nearing the end of our campaign deadline, but there is still plenty of opportunity to participate in our 25 Years Together Capital Campaign.  We have almost reached our goal of $8Million. You can help us get there!  Donations will ensure our facilities meet our needs for the next 25 years and beyond.  To learn more or participate, please click here or contact Alisa Makler alisamakler@gmail.com or Nicole Post npost17@gmail.com for more details.

Q&A: Meet Anshai’s New Cantor

Cantor Matt Austerklein, his wife, Rabbi Elyssa Joy Austerklein, and their kids, Georgie and Beatrice.

We’re thrilled to welcome Matt Austerklein as the newest member of our clergy team at Anshai Torah. Matt brings a deep love for Jewish music, a passion for teaching, and a heartfelt commitment to building community. As he and his family prepare for their move to Dallas, we had the chance to sit down with him and learn more about his journey, his vision, and what excites him most about joining our congregation.

What makes Anshai feel different?

From the very first conversations, there was this sense of warmth, sincerity, and deep connection. My family and I had been in other communities, but Anshai just felt different. What sealed it for us was how genuinely people embraced our whole family -- not just me, but my wife, Rabbi Elyssa Joy Austerklein, and our kids, Georgie and Beatrice. They immediately had people who wanted to know them, kids to play with, places to run around. We felt like people were truly looking out for us. That’s what you want in a religious community, a place where people look out for each other. It felt like home.

When do you start?

I officially begin August 1, 2025. We’ll be settling in over the next couple of months, getting our bearings. Dallas is a big town but we’re excited to start this next chapter.

What are you most excited about?

Meeting everybody. That’s the great thing about working in a synagogue, you meet people from all walks of life and connect with them through Torah, prayer, and music. That’s the easy and fun part for me. I love learning how people connect spiritually through music, it’s a way to find God, to express the soul, and to feel something real. I’m always looking to meet people where their heart leads them.

What does a cantor do?

A cantor is kind of like a music minister, but in modern congregational life, it’s a lot more. I lead services, teach, preach, officiate life cycle events, and offer pastoral care. I function as a full clergy person. While I may not have a rabbi’s legal training, I serve in every other way and music is the foundation I bring to all of it.

Have you always practiced music?

Since I was five. I was that kid running up and down the synagogue aisles singing at the top of my lungs. For my bar mitzvah, I learned a lot of traditional liturgy and people just kept asking me to come back and lead. Synagogue became a place where I felt at home and it still is.

What were you doing before Anshai?

I spent about ten years in full-time cantorial roles in Conservative synagogues. Then I had the opportunity to be a faculty research fellow at Oxford University where I studied how the role of the cantor evolved from a function into a deep spiritual vocation. For the last few years, I’ve been working on my PhD in Jewish studies (remotely) at the University of Halle-Wittenberg. I just finished my dissertation and have been combining that academic work with part-time cantorial ministry and lecturing around the country.

Why does G-d care about music?

Music models human community. It shows how we relate to each other, whether we’re singing together or being sung to, the dynamic shifts. Even people with memory loss often respond to music in ways that feel almost miraculous, something comes back to life in them. I believe G-d speaks through that part of us. Music touches something primal. It’s how we organize our spirit, connect with each other, and reach toward the Divine. That’s why I think God cares deeply about music.

What else should we know about you?

I’m a writer and a teacher. I’ve been publishing weekly reflections on Jewish music for nearly two years on Substack. Sometimes it’s scholarly, sometimes it’s more pop culture or contemporary, but it’s always meant to help people connect. I also have a little creative project produced by UCLA called Jewish Music Guy where I make fun, educational videos because sometimes joy is the best teacher. I also love Irish music and have done a Yiddish-Irish pub sing for the last three years. And I’m a big Shakespeare fan and have led “Jewish-Shakespeare Weeks” at both synagogues and universities — something I’d be excited to bring to here to Dallas.

Connection & Storytelling: Why Passover is the most observed Jewish holiday of the year

In just a few days, Jewish families around the world will gather to celebrate Passover—Pesach in Hebrew—by retelling the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Of all the Jewish holidays, more Jews observe Passover than any other. Why? Because the Seder isn’t just a ritual—it’s an experience that takes place in the heart of the Jewish home.

We gather around the table not just to eat, but to talk. To ask questions. To share stories. And most importantly, to pass on our values. The Seder is a built-in opportunity to pause from our hectic lives and sit face-to-face with our children and grandchildren. It’s a rare chance to be fully present—to communicate what truly matters, to share what we believe in, and to make sure the next generation knows who they are and where they come from.

This is also a time to reflect on our connection to Israel. Regardless of political views or the news of the day, Israel remains a central part of Jewish identity. It has been part of our prayers for millennia. And today, especially when the Jewish world feels increasingly vulnerable, it is more important than ever to reaffirm that connection—not as a political statement, but as a reflection of peoplehood, heritage, and responsibility.

The Seder also reminds us of empathy. As we recite the ten plagues and remove drops of wine from our cups, we acknowledge that even in moments of our own redemption, we cannot ignore the suffering of others. That deep moral awareness—of standing up for those without a voice—has defined the Jewish people for generations.

So as you prepare for your Seder, take a moment to think about the conversations you want to have. The values you want to share. The stories you want to pass down. Because this night is about more than what happened thousands of years ago—it’s about who we are today.

Shabbat Shalom v’Hag kasher v’sameach. Wishing you a peaceful Shabbat, and a meaningful and joyous Pesach.

When Faith Fails: Why We Keep Building Our Own Golden Calves (and How It Holds Us Back)

There are moments in life when we feel lost, when we don’t know what comes next, and when fear takes over. In those moments, instead of confronting the challenge head-on, we look for something—anything—that makes us feel safe. But sometimes, what we grab onto isn’t real security at all. It’s just a distraction.

This week’s Torah portion tells that story. Moses disappears at the top of Mount Sinai, engulfed in thunder, lightning, and mystery. The Israelites, left at the base of the mountain, feel abandoned. Even after everything they’ve witnessed—the miracles in Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea—they panic. They convince themselves that if they can just create something tangible, something visible, their fears will go away. And so, they build the Golden Calf.

I wonder how often we do the same thing. When we feel overwhelmed, do we reach for an easy escape? Do we rewrite our own story rather than sit with our discomfort? It’s easier to turn away than to face what’s in front of us. But that never actually solves the problem. It just delays the inevitable.

Fear and uncertainty are a part of life. There will always be moments when we feel unsure of ourselves, when the world seems chaotic, and when we are tempted to take the easy way out. But the voice from Sinai still calls to us, urging us to choose honesty over illusion, responsibility over avoidance, and faith over panic.

May we all find the courage to meet life’s challenges with integrity, and may we build a future that reflects the best of who we are.

A Year Later: Standing Together in Solidarity In Israel

Reflect. Remember. Stand with Israel—Reflecting on My Trip After October 7th

A year ago, I stood with many from our congregation on the soil of Kibbutz Zikim, witnessing firsthand the destruction that had unfolded. The images are burned into my memory—the shattered homes, the remnants of lives interrupted, and the overwhelming sense of loss. We were there not as visitors, but as family. Because when our brothers and sisters in Israel suffer, we feel it, too.

Traveling from Dallas, we weren’t just bringing words of support; we were carrying the weight of our collective responsibility. In that moment, as we stood among the ruins, we knew that our presence mattered. It wasn’t just about seeing—it was about standing together, about affirming that we are one people, no matter where we are, and that no one should ever feel alone.

Since that visit, our connection to Kibbutz Zikim has deepened. This past week, our Jewish Federation received a letter from its members—people we met during that trip, people who were rebuilding their lives one step at a time. They wrote of the unimaginable hardships they endured, of the fear and uncertainty that became part of their daily lives. And yet, they also spoke of hope. They described how our visit reminded them that they were not forgotten, that there were people halfway across the world who saw their pain and stood with them.

In their words, they expressed gratitude—not just for the support we have given, but for the strength they have drawn from knowing they are not alone. They shared how the simple act of showing up, of listening, of standing beside them in solidarity, has helped them find the courage to rebuild.

We adopted this kibbutz because their challenges became our challenges. Their fears became our concerns. And as we reflect on this past year, one thing remains clear: The bonds of our people are unbreakable. When one part of our community is in pain, we don’t turn away. We lean in. We show up.

A year ago, we walked through destruction. Today, we walk alongside those rebuilding. And tomorrow, we will continue to stand together, because that’s who we are. That’s what it means to be part of this Jewish community.

Plano City Council Recognizes Holocaust Remembrance Day

Thank you to Mayor John Mums and Plano City Council for recognizing Holocaust Remembrance Day and inviting Rabbi Weinberg to pray at the city council meeting. We are thankful for a mayor and city council that is willing to stand agianst hatred in our community and around the world. Rabbi Weinberg said this weekend,