Latest Shema 9:00 am Simcha Kiddush following services
Babysitting 10:00 am
NO YOUTH GROUPS THIS SHABBAT
Tot Shabbat 10:30 am
Shabbat Mincha 12:36 pm
Talmud Class 5:20 pm
Shabbat ends 6:05 pm
Ma'ariv 6:20 pm
TORAH READING Exodus 18:1 - 20:23: Artscroll p. 394 Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1- 7:6, 9:5-6 p. 1154
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah Shabbat morning. SIMCHA KIDDUSH The Simcha Kiddush is prepared by the Simcha Kiddush Committee, chaired by Faye Silton & Marta Koblenz. The sponsors are listed below.
SIMCHA KIDDUSH SPONSORS
The February Simcha Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ, and by the families of our celebrants:
CBAJ in appreciation of the Security Committee volunteers & greeters.
Tom Kligerman in celebration of the birthdays of Adina Kligerman and Lisa Woolfe.
Daniel Reznik and Dina Gottesman in honor of their wedding anniversary.
Moshe Kudan in honor of Yossi and Nechama Kagan on the birth a boy, and Mazal Tov to grandparents Ruvain and Shayna Kudan and family.
Clara and Scott Roth in celebration of their wedding anniversary and the birthday of Ilana Schaeffer.
Stan Rosenberg in honor of his milestone birthday.
The Barlaz family in honor of Ayal’s first birthday!
Joshua Schulman-Marcus and Sandra Sabzevari in honor of their wedding anniversary.
MESSAGE FROM RABBI KEAN
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a restful and meaningful Shabbat.
Please join me in welcoming Leah Ahava Weintraub on her visit to Albany. Leah Ahava and her husband Elon (and their son) are considering moving to Albany. Please take the chance to introduce yourself to her if you meet her.
While in this week's parsha we read about the initial Ma'amad Har Sinai (the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai), our tradition teaches that every time we read from the Torah or study Torah, it is like we are reliving Ma'amad Har Sinai.
In that spirit, we are pleased to share a number of new adult education/Torah learning programs to supplement our standing programs and previously announced ones. Check out the "Upcoming Events" and "Adult Education" sections of the Shabbat notes for more information. I hope that you find a learning opportunity that piques your interest!
I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WELLNESS REMINDER Anyone who has symptoms of any illness or is not feeling well is strongly encouraged to stay home, irrespective of vaccination status. Better to miss services than risk spreading COVID or another viral infection. Please also wear a mask if you suspect or know of a covid exposure regardless of symptoms. MINYAN NOTICE In recent weeks, guaranteeing a weekday minyan has been a greater challenge, especially for Mincha/Maariv which is early in the Winter.
In light of this, we ask two things of adult Jewish men: 1) If you are able to attend weekday minyan more frequently (even one day per week), please consider joining. 2) If you think you will be able to join minyan, regularly or occasionally, please sign-up on the weekly sign-up sheet so that we can know whether there will be enough attendees, or if we need to request additional attendees.
Please contact Rabbi Kean to join the minyan WhatsApp group, useful for receiving the sign-up sheet or if you may be available to attend a minyan on short notice.
PARKING NOTICE For security purposes, any time a CBAJ member parks in our parking lot overnight, or the B'nai Shalom parking lotat any time, we request that you display a placard issued from the office. A supply will be left on the shelf in the hallway outside the sanctuary. Please contact office@cbaj.org if more placards are needed.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SECURITY COMMITTEE CSS Level 1 Training This is an in-person Level 1 at CBAJ on Sunday, 12 February at 1 pm. You will need to have complete the online training prior to the class as per your registration with committee chair Ari Fisher.
ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING A 1-hour active shooter training class for the general membership has been scheduled, by our Security Committee in partnership with our NYS Trooper liaison, for February 15 at 7:00 pm at CBAJ. Please consider attending this important training.
NEW LECTURE SERIES: TALMUD TOGETHER Thurs. February 16 & Tuesday February 28 at 7:00 pm (note schedule change) Join Rabbi Ben Kean and Rabbi Greg Weitzman for an evening - or two - of shared learning. Over the course of two evenings, both rabbis will teach their favorite Talmudic texts from their own unique perspectives. The first session will be on Thursday, February 16th at Congregation Beth Emeth (100 Academy Rd)and second on Tuesday, February 28th at CBAJ.Rabbi Greg Weitzman joined CBE as their Co-Senior Rabbi last summer, one year after Rabbi Kean joined CBAJ.
SOFER DAY: MEZUZAH & TEFILIN CHECKING Sunday, February 26, 10 am to 4 pm (note schedule change) Rabbi Mendel Serebryanski, Sofer STA"M, will come to CBAJ to check Tefilin and Mezuzot. Reservations are preferred, but we will try to accommodate walk-ins. To make a reservation, fill out this form. Dedicated in memory of HaRav Chaim Zev Bomzer, z"l, on his 10th yahrtzeit, 28 Shevat, by Rabbi Moshe & Rebbetzin Rochel Bomzer.
LUNCH & LEARN for SENIORS *New* Join Rabbi Kean for the new Lunch & Learn Series for Seniors.
February 28: Contemporary Lessons from the Holiday of Purim
March 28: Four Myths & Facts About Passover
May 9: Myths & Facts: Lag Ba'Omer
All sessions will begin at 12:30 pm. All curious minds are welcome. Lunch catered by 518 Kosher, supervised by the VHCD, free of charge. Please register by contacting our events coordinator Beth Liotta Tyler at 518.489.5819 x4 or beth@cbaj.org. * A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
COMMUNITY-WIDE BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT *New* Jointly presented by CBAJ & the Shteeble Starts Thursday, March 2, 8:30-9:30 pm at CBAJ (social hall) Join the Shteeble & CBAJ for Beis Midrash Night! Take part in the unique experience of in-depth, textual chavrusa or individual learning in a Beis Midrash setting. Cholent & kugel will be served. All levels of experience are welcome—with guided options available for beginners. This will be a recurring program, taking place every other week. For more information, contact: Rabbi Kean, Sean Ference, or Mendy Shepherd.
YOUTH PROGAMS
NCSY Events Stay tuned for more information. Torah High 2022-2023 - Next semester starts 2/27/2023! CBAJ's Torah High meets Mondays, 7-9 pm and is open to all students in grades 8 - 12. Pizza dinner is served. Registration information available here Tot Shabbat Next Tot Shabbat March 18! For children ages 0-5 and their parents at 10:30 am in classroom 3. Please contact Joshua Schulman-Marcus (jschumar@gmail.com) if you would like to be added to the Young Families WhatsApp group. Youth Groups THERE WILL NOT BE YOUTH GROUPS THIS SHABBAT! (Our teen leaders are all out of town for Northeast NCSY's regional Shabbaton. Youth groups will resume next Shabbat.) Kids in grades k-5 will meet each Shabbat morning at 10-11 am. Groups will be led by our youth director, Yael Gonzalez, and teen youth leaders. For more information about attending, or if your teen wants to work as a youth leader, email office@cbaj.org.
Babysitting Babysitting is available for children ages 0-5 every Shabbat morning for from 10:00-11:30 am! You do not need to be a member to drop off your kids. At least one parent or guardian must be at CBAJ for the duration of babysitting. Babysitting will take place in Classroom 3. The babysitters will bring the kids to Kiddush, please remember to pick up your kids when babysitting ends! Please make sure to inform the babysitters if your child has any food allergies/restrictions. Children in diapers may participate, but babysitters will not be able to change diapers, so please check on kids in diapers.
WEEKLY LEARNING AT CBAJ
WEEKLY CLASSES NACH YOMI - *NEW* Join Rabbi Kean for studying a chapter of NACH (Nevi'im & Ketuvim, the latter two sections of Jewish scripture) every weekday before Shacharit, Sunday through Friday, half an hour before the regular start time for morning services (7:30 am on Sundays, 6:10 am Monday - Friday) - in the social hall.
TORAH & TEA*Thursday mornings, 9:30 - 10:30 AM on Zoom*. Studying Kings 2. * A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
TALMUD CLASS -5:20 pm this Shabbat Join our Shabbat AfternoonTALMUD SHIUR in-person, at CBAJ, starting 45 minutes before Shabbat ends. We are studying Masechet Makkot.
*CBAJ ZOOM ROOM (weekday classes only) Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 | Enter passcode: 613518
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS This year's Topic: "The World of Midrash" Join CBAJ members in discussing a different Midrash every week! Midrash is one of our Tradition's most powerful and ancient tools for understanding the Torah and demonstrating its relevance to later generations, For more information, suggested source material, or the volunteer sign-up page, please click here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Rabbi Kean or Steve Rich. Begins November 19, and will take place following Kiddush.
KABBALAH AND CONSCIOUSNESS *New* With Simma Kinderlehrer & Howard Schaffer Curious about Kabbalah? We are offering a taste of the book Kabbalah and Consciousness, by Allen Afterman. We will discuss a few juicy tidbits to wet your appetite for an ongoing study of this accessible, experiential ascent from ordinary consciousness toward knowledge of and union with The Infinite. Sunday, March 19, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom. Future sessions will be in person, time dependent on participants. R.S.V.P. Requested. Please text response and questions to (516) 382-5201
READING CLASSICAL HEBREW COURSE *New* Beginning after Pesach, on one evening each week students will meet on Zoom for a 90-minute class to learn grammar and vocabulary from the textbook The First Hebrew Primer. The instructor will be Mike Kupferschmid. For more information, please send an email for him to nancylawson10@gmail.com. (The day of the week will be determined by the availability of the students.)
HAGGADAH INSIGHTS *New* Tuesdays, March 7, 21, & 28, 7:45-8:30 pm at CBAJ Join Rabbi Kean for a three-part lecture series exploring the Haggadah. Rabbi Kean's goal is to primarily share ideas that are new to him.
PILLARS LECTURE SERIES Please note change of final installment to February 25th
FEEDBACK REQUESTED The Adult Education Committee wants to hear from you! All ideas about classes, lectures, and other adult education programs of interest should be forwarded to events@cbaj.org
DAILY SERVICES
February 12 - February 17
Shacharit Sunday 8:00 am (Nach Yomi 7:30 am)
Monday - Friday 6:40 am (Nach Yomi 6:10 am)
Mincha/Maariv Sunday - Friday 5:10 pm
Candle lighting Friday 2/17/2023 5:11 pm
MESSAGE FROM LIFE & LEGACY
“The things you do for your self are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” Kalu Ndukwe Kalu
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 Paula Mosher or Ellen Kaplowitz, the Life & Legacy committee chairs about partnering on this crucial initiative to ensure the vitality of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob for the next 200 years.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community-wide Shabbat Dinner at JCC Save the date: March 31, 6:30 - 8:30 pm CBAJ will be joining in the program and CBAJ's Friday evening services will be moved to the JCC on March 31. More details to follow! Hosted by the Jewish Federation at Albany JCC
Jewish Family Services - Grief & Loss Support Group JFS is offering an in-person weekly support group for anyone who is grieving the death of a family member or friend. Select Thursdays in February & March, starting 2/16, 2 - 3 pm. Locations TBA. For dates, registration & fee information CLICK HERE
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 will be a personal choice. This applies to both services and social activities, such as kiddish.
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.
