Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of CBAJ member Arthur Schwartz (Avraham ben Yitzchak), husband of CBAJ member Frances Schwartz, father of CBAJ member and past president Ben (Tanya) Schwartz, and loving grandfather of Aviva, Elior, and Eitan Schwartz.
The funeral and first part of Shiva will take place in Israel, with complete details to be announced.
May the family be comforted, and may Arthur's memory be a blessing.
INFERTILITY AWARENESS SHABBAT
CBAJ is proud to participate in Yesh Tikva's Seventh Annual Infertility Awareness Shabbat along with over 100 synagogues in North America, Israel, and Australia. This event aims to increase empathy for those facing infertility in our community while increasing awareness and raising sensitivity to their struggles. Our goal is to create a more inclusive communal space for our fellow Jews who dream of growing their families.
Please see the counter outside of the CBAJ sanctuary for flyers on Yesh Tikvah's work and copies of Yesh Tikvah's Fertility Prayer to recite on behalf of couples facing infertility.
MESSAGE FROM RABBI KEAN
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a meaningful and restful Shabbat.
We are just two weeks away from Passover. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to start learning about Passover. Please keep an eye out for communications from CBAJ about preparing for Passover, including a Passover holiday guide, information about selling chametz, scheduling, etc.
I am proud that CBAJ is partnering with Yesh Tikvah for the 7th annual Intertility Awareness Shabbat. Yesh Tikvah is an organization that provides support for couples facing the challenge of infertility. This year, the theme of Infertility Awareness Shabbat is Empathy. In addition to referring to the resources above, I encourage you to view this video from Yesh Tikvah on how to more empathically support couples facing infertility.
We mourn the tragic murder of 11 Israelis in a wave of terror that has gripped Israel in the past week. Please pray for acheinu kol beit Yisrael, our brethren in Israel.
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine ongoing, I urge you to take a moment to pray on their behalf. CBAJ is joining the "Shuls for Ukraine" initiative organized by the OU, the RCA, and the National Council of Young Israel, along with over 100 other Orthodox synagogues. If you are able to, please consider donating to a relief fund for the Ukrainian people, such as the Orthodox Union's Ukraine fund. We pray for the safety of all Ukrainians, including the tens of thousands of Jewish Ukrainians. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
APRIL SIMCHA KIDDUSH
Share your happy moments with us at the The April Simcha Kiddush is 4/9/2022, the week before Passover. The Simcha Kiddush Committee will prepare a bagel buffet and we welcome anyone to co-sponsor (at any level you would like) in honor of a special occasion. Click here to become a co-sponsor by Tuesday, 4/5/2022.
NEW CBAJ ENDEAVORS
SECURITY TRAINING The CBAJ Security Committee is planning a CSS level 1 training - This training is open to anyone interested in joining the security committee or who would like to learn how to react in an emergency - such as the incident in Colleyville, TX. Click here to register your interest - schedule will be determined by registrations.
CBAJ CHILDREN'S BOOK DRIVE Pay it forward and donate a book! CBAJ is participating in a book drive to benefit children in our community. Please drop off secular children's books in good or like new condition at CBAJ.
There is a box in the lobby and a box outside the parking lot doors for your donations.
WEEKLY LEARNING AT CBAJ
WEEKLY CLASSES **Please note that due to changing service times with the time change, some of our classes have changed times.**
TORAH & TEA Torah & Tea is back on Thursday mornings, 9:30 - 10:30 AM, in person in the chapel & on Zoom*. We will continue studying II Kings.
PARSHAH CLASS **Please note the time change.** Rabbi Kean hosts a weekly class on the Parshah This Thursday night (3/31) at 7:45 pm. Join for in-depth discussions on topics in the weekly parasha on the CBAJ Zoom room*. The class is now open for in-person attendance in the Carr Chapel. TALMUD CLASS **Please note the time change** Join our Shabbat AfternoonTALMUD SHIUR in-person, at CBAJ, one hour before Shabbat Mincha. We are studying Masechet Makkot. This week, we will begin at 6:00 pm.
*ZOOM INFORMATION Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 Enter passcode: 613518
SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES - LAWS AND HASHKAFAH OF PESACH Join us between Shabbat Mincha and Saturday night Maariv for a discussion of the laws and thought of Passover, each Shabbat between this week and Passover.
TALMUDIC PERSONALITIES The fourth and final installment of Talmudic Personalities, "Heleni HaMalka: Queen, Convert, and Moral & Halachic Role Model," will be rescheduled for a later date.
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Youth Groups Kids in grades k-5 will meet each Shabbat morning at 10-11 am. Groups will be led by our youth director, Jack Hartstein, and teen youth leaders. For more information about attending, or if your teen wants to work as a youth leader, contact Jack Hartstein.
Torah High The first semester of Torah High has concluded. The second semester is now underway! Contact Rabbi Kean to learn about enrolling
NCSY Events Chapter Shabbaton is May 7th. Upstate NCSY's Spring Regional is May 27-28.
MISHNA CLUB Stay tuned for future dates.
DAILY SERVICES
April 3 - April 8, 2022
Shacharit Sunday: 8:00 am Monday - Friday: 6:45 am
We are excited and honored to be partnering with 10 other local organizations in the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY™ program. 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. For more information, contact office@cbaj.org .
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CAPITAL REGION UKRAINE SUPPORT RALLY Next Wednesday, April 6 @ 7 PM, at Temple Israel in Albany, the Jewish Federation of NENY is hosting an in-person (and livestreamed) Ukraine Support Rally .This program is open to the public and registration is recommended, click here. Livestream is available: www.tialbany.org/livestream We’ll learn from Hank Greenberg, who will have returned 24 hours prior from a mission to Medyka, Poland, (on the border 50 miles west of Lviv, Ukraine) and hear from Union College Professor Stephen Berk on Ukraine in Crisis. The Federation will be accepting donations to continue its support of urgent relief efforts in Ukraine.
KOSHER PRICE CHOPPER PASSOVER MENU 2022 Our local Kosher Price Chopper is offering a Passover Menu - click here to view.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES JFS has launched their Spring 2022 schedulefor a variety of support groups for all ages, facilitated by JFS clinical staff. Groups are held via Zoom or over the phone.
JFS-CBAJ Volunteer Partnership CBAJ invites you to volunteer with one of JFS's programs to support seniors and vulnerable individuals in our community. Volunteer opportunities are time flexible, and include participation in the Capital District's kosher Meals on Wheels program, volunteer transportation for seniors, and grocery shopping for homebound seniors. Email Simma Kinderlehrer to learn more.
Unpacking Israel Series for Jewish High School Students The Federation invites Jewish teens to participate in an exciting new interactive program with OpenDor Media to explore what Israel means to them personally. The program begins Sunday, January 9, 1-2:30 PM, and will continue monthly through the June. There is no cost to participate, and lunch will be served to all in-person attendees. The next meeting is April 10. To learn more about the program, click here or contact Shara Siegfeld (email: sharasiegfeld@gmail.com, text: 518-281-4221).
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
Visitors please e-mail the CBAJ office regarding registering for our services during the ongoing pandemic.
Please review and adhere to our COVID POLICY when planning your visit.
The wearing of masks by individuals ages 5 and older who have been fully vaccinated and boosted (as per eligibility) will be a personal choice. This applies to both services and social activities, such as kiddish.
Unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks while at CBAJ, in keeping with current CDC recommendations.
Fully vaccinated community members are welcome to register as "vaccinated" at this link.
If you feel sick at all, please exercise good judgment and stay home rather than attending services, regardless of vaccine status.
We still request those who are able to help our Minyan status register for weekday and Friday and Shabbat afternoon services, so that we can continue to confirm a Minyan for those times. A registration email is sent weekly.
