Shemini Atzeret
Simchat Torah
October 9-11, 2020
SERVICES
Registered participants are welcome at our services. Please note that due to the pandemic, we cannot allow anyone who is not registered into our building. Exact times are sent to registrants. Even if you are registered, if you feel sick at all, please exercise good judgment and stay home rather than attending services. When leaving the building, please continue to exercise social distancing and do not congregate in the hallways / vestibules.
- Shemini Atzeret and Yizkor services will take place as usual on Shabbat morning, with the same modifications we have been making daily and weekly. If you are not registered to attend, and were unable to join our Zoom Yizkor on Thursday evening, you may recite Yizkor at home. Our Yizkor book is available for you to print before Shabbat at this link . You may make a Yizkor contribution in memory of your loved ones to CBAJ at this link .
- We are saddened we cannot celebrate Simchat Torah in our usual festive, joyous fashion with spirited dancing, singing, and our dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Celebrating in that way would be, at this time, irresposible and potentially dangerous. Therefore:
- Those leading each Ata Horeita will walk a "Hakafa" around the Torah, and the rest of the congregation will sing in honor of the Torah at each Hakafa from our seats.
- The Torah reading will proceed as on a regular Shabbat and Yom Tov - those reading the Torah and receiving each Aliyah will have the congregation in mind and recite the blessings on everyone's behalf.
- As we cannot have the usual Kol HaNe'arim, we will have all the children in mind at that Aliyah, and recite a prayer for those trying to have children. We will celebrate with children at Buckingham Pond Sunday afternoon (see below).
- As there is no Kiddush or food/drink consumed in the building, Birkat Kohanim will take place at Mussaf as on other Yamim Tovim.
GRAB AND GO KIDDUSH
On Simchat Torah, special "take home kiddush" is sponsored by the Ungerman family in honor of their father, Myer Ungerman's Yahrzeit.
GUIDE FOR PRACTICES AT HOME
Click here to view and print a comprehensive guide for those praying at home, as well as instructions for Kiddush, Candle Lighting, and other home practices, on the holiday of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah.
SIMCHAT TORAH WALK & "KOL HANE'ARIM"
Join us on Sunday at 3:30 pm for a Beth Abe Community "Hakafa Walk" around Buckingham Lake. There will be a station with individually wrapped "grab and walk" snacks and beverages. Adults and children are welcome; we will sing in honor of the children and distribute candy at 4 pm near the playground.
The Simchat Torah Walk is sponsored by Paula and Paul Mosher in memory of Paul's grandparents and parents, Rabbi Abraham and Esther Swire Horwitz and Dr. Solomon and Millie Horowitz Mosher.
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.
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.
ACCESS INFORMATION FOR OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
Our Zoom conferences can be accessed on a computer or smartphone at: https://zoom.us/j/9405089347 and entering password .
For Facebook programming, visit facebook.com/rabbifeldman
DAILY SERVICES
In person for registered participants.
Monday - 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.
