Shabbat Shoftim
August 21-22, 2020
Our building remains closed. Please continue social distancing. We are working diligently with a task force of Synagogue leadership and medical experts on a reopening plan for CBAJ.
Please reach out to us if you need help with anything at all, or even if you just need to talk, during this prolonged difficult period.
RABBI'S MESSAGE
Click here to view a video message from Rabbi Feldman.
NEW VIRTUAL SHABBAT SCHEDULE
Thursdays: Thursdays with Beth Abe on Zoom at 8 pm.
Fridays: A Video Dvar Torah from Rabbi Feldman (link in weekly CBAJ Notes).
TORAH READING
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9, Artscroll p. 1024
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12, p. 1199
MAZAL TOV
Mazal Tov to Ilana and Rob Kovach on the marriage of their daughter, Jenny, to Simcha Gold.
Mazal Tov to Bill Rockwood on the engagement of his grandson Jack Rosenbaum to Adina Gao of Jerusalem.
Mazal Tov to Ruth and Sheldon Singer on the engagement of their son Nathan Singer to Sara Coleman.
Mazal Tov to Sheri and Ira Woren, on the birth of their first grandchild, Noah Ryan, son of Rachael and Rob Schertzer.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
CBAJ is pleased to announce our newest members:
Robert "Bob" Crystal
Kenneth Dymond
Sam Sonenberg
THE HIGH HOLY DAYS IN THE ARTS
Please join us for a three-part Zoom Guest Lecture Series on three upcoming Tuesday evenings at 8 pm on the experience of the High Holy Days in the Arts.
August 25: The Art of the High Holy Days.
Naomi Roter of the Jewish Art Education Organization will take us through 1500 years of the Jewish visual art depicting the experience, objects, and symbolism of the High Holy Days.
September 1: The Experience of the High Holy Days in Literature.
Dr. Gillian Steinberg, English teacher at SAR High School and formerly a tenured Associate Professor of English Literature at Yeshiva University and director if its writing program, will explore depictions of the High Holy Day experience in contemporary literature.
September 8: The Music of the High Holy Days.
Cantor Eric S. Freeman, Associate Director of Yeshiva University's Belz School of Jewish Music, will teach about the history and meaning of the traditional liturgy and melodies of the Yamim Noraim.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
Rabbi Feldman and the CBAJ Family is available to speak with you. Please e-mail him at rabbi@cbaj.org or call the CBAJ Office to leave a message.
CBAJ President Artie Brenner is reachable at president@cbaj.org .
The Chesed committee can be reached through the form below.
CHESED AT CBAJ
If you would like help with shopping, errands, or other things since you are remaining home as much as possible, or conversely, if you would like to volunteer to help people in the community who may need help, please fill out the form at this link . Please be in touch with Rabbi Feldman with any needs.
CONDOLENCES
CBAJ mourns the passing of our Past President Bertram Lieberman, husband of CBAJ Member Lee Lieberman, and father of Risa Skerker (z"l), Debra Sue Lieberman (z"l), Joni Lieberman Basen, Marcy Weisburgh, and Amy Lieberman. Virtual shiva "visits" in the CBAJ Zoom Room (info below) Sunday, August 23 from 2pm to 4 pm. Lee Lieberman can be reached by phone at 518-229-4280, and notes of condolences can be sent to the family at Jonilb3@gmail.com.
CBAJ mourns the passing of Leonard Candib, brother of CBAJ Member Sam (and Linda) Candib.
Notes of condolence can be sent to linsam@juno.com and Sam can be called on his cell phone at 518-852-4732.
May the families be comforted, and may the memory of their loved one be a blessing.
MISHNA CLUB
Click here for this week's Mishna Club learning. For more information on joining, contact Rabbi Feldman.
YOU SEND IT, WE PRINT IT
Please be sure to send the CBAJ office information about celebrations or other achievements to be mentioned in the weekly e-mail and printed notes.
DAVID AND ROSE UDELSON BRAY SCHOLARSHIP
Applications can now be submitted for the David and Rose Udelson Bray Scholarship Fund. The award is available to support undergraduate or graduate study.
For details of the application, please see Bray Scholarship. Applications for the fall semester are due by Monday, August 31.
ACCESS INFORMATION FOR OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
Our Zoom conferences can be accessed on a computer or smartphone at: https://zoom.us/j/9405089347
For Facebook programming, visit facebook.com/rabbifeldman
DAILY SERVICES
In person for registered participants.
Sunday - Thursday: 6:10 pm on Zoom
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JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
JFS is offering many programs and help at this time, and they also seek volunteers for many of those initiatives. Click here for more information if you'd like to volunteer or participate. Our very own Nanette Brenner will be leading Activities for Emotional Well-being on Mondays; click here for more information or to register .
CORONA-VIRUS INFORMATION
If you have health related questions, concerns, or needs regarding COVID-19, St. Peters Health Partners has social workers and nurses available to speak with you at 518-525-1132. If you need more emotional support during this difficult time,
the NY State COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline is 844-863-9314.
When it comes to possibly saving lives, Jewish law always follows the most stringent opinion that will save the most lives. Let us be part of the solution by staying safe and following protocols suggested by public health experts. Keep social distancing guidelines:
Do not be within 6 feet of anyone else, except the people with whom you live.
If you can, work from home; if you cannot, maintain the social distancing protocols.
Playdates should not take place between children.
If you experience symptoms, contact your doctor.
Do not invite guests for Shabbat or Yom Tov meals, and make Shiva and Bikkur Cholim visits by phone.
If you are High Risk due to age or other conditions, please stay home as much as possible and take advantage of our Chesed Committee's generous offers.
The Mikva is open by appointment and is following protocols suggested by the Orthodox Union in consultation with public health experts.
The Utensil Mikvah is also open. Please bring gloves to use, and wash your hands with soap before and after using the Utensil Mikvah. If you cannot follow these sanitary protocols, or if you have personal concerns about using the Utensil Mikvah for current health-related reasons, you may use this form to have the Beth Din of America arrange to sell your new utensils to someone who is not Jewish. They will arrange to buy those utensils back at a later date (which will be shared with you), at which point your utensils must be "toveled" in the Mikvah. This solution is only to be used in cases of great need, such as ours.
TEFILAH AT HOME
Use this opportunity to take extra time and read the Tefilot meaningfully (and learn their meaning), sing with new melodies (if you have others at home, sing together).
Aside from not reciting Bar'chu, Kaddish, Kedusha, or the repetition in any services:
Friday Night: Recite Vayechulu paragraph following the Amidah, then skip to Aleinu. If starting Shabbat early, daven Mincha before Plag Hamincha (the time labeled "Earliest Shabbat" on this e-mail's time-bar), candles may be lit and Ma'ariv may be davened after Plag Hamincha.
Shabbat Morning: Start davening in time to recite Shema before the latest time for Shema. After Shacharit Amidah, read the Torah Portion and special Maftir without any of the blessings. Yekum Purkan is not recited, then Ashrei and the Mussaf Amidah should be recited, and the concluding prayers (if you have children at home, ask them to lead Ein Kelokeinu, Aleinu, Shir Shel Yom, and Adon Olam). Shir HaKavod is not recited.
Ma'ariv and general: One may daven Ma'ariv 15 minutes before the end of Shabbat and include Atah Chonantanu in the Amidah. It is Rabbi Feldman's opinion that one does not say the three words "E-l Melech Ne'eman" before Shema in Ma'ariv or Shacharit, contrary to the instructions in many Siddurim. It is also his opinion that one who usually recites the paragraph at weekday Ma'ariv that begins ברוך ה' לעולם אמן ואמן does not recite this paragraph when praying without a Minyan.
LIFE & LEGACY *
We are excited and honored to be partnering with 10 other local organizations in the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY™ program. We completed a successful first year! Please help us pay it forward and leave a legacy for future Capital District Jews. Please speak to a Life & Legacy committee member about partnering on this crucial initiative to ensure the vitality of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob for the next 200 years. Please consider completing a Letter of Intent. For more information, contact office@cbaj.org.
