SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver the Shabbat HaGadol Discourse, entitled "Remembering Egypt: How is this Night Different from all other Nights?" Rabbinic Intern Jack Hartstein will deliver a Dvar Torah at Friday night services, at the Kiddush luncheon, and at Seudah Shlishit.
KIDDUSH LUNCHEON & SHEVA BRACHOT Following regular Shabbat morning services and Shabbat HaGadol lecture, join CBAJ for a pre-Pesach luncheon & sheva brachot for Shoshie & Ami Israel. Luncheon sponsors are listed below.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to CBAJ members Mark & Chana Israel and Ellen Brickman on the marriage of their children, Ami and Shoshie this past Sunday and on Sheva Brachot this Shabbat. Mazal Tov to the grandparents, CBAJ member Nina Israel, Sonia Wilgowicz, and Judy Brickman.
CONDOLENCES We regret to inform you of the passing of Shirley Notarius, grandmother of CBAJ members Amarit Rosin (Seth Rosenblum). She is survived by her three children, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. May the family be comforted, and may Shirley's memory be for a blessing.
FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES THIS SHABBAT
CBAJ's Friday night services will take place this week at the Albany JCC at 6:00 PM in order to take part in the Federation's Community-wide Friday night dinner program.
You do NOT need to be registered for the dinner to attend the services (registration to attend the dinner is closed).
In order to allow people to leave their cars at CBAJ over Shabbat, the CBAJ parking lot gate will be open from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, and OpenPath will work, and the pedestrian entrance on Whitehall Rd will be accessible using the regular passcode to enable access to the building.
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.
Pesach is fast approaching! Please see email entitled "Passover at CBAJ" for CBAJ's plans for Pesach (including information about chametz sale forms, seder hospitality. If there are any questions that you may have about Pesach preparation, please do not hesitate to reach out.
I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY-WIDE SHABBAT DINNER - March 31 (For Pre- Registered participants only) Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York unites with local clergy at the Albany JCC. CBAJ will be joining in the program & CBAJ's Friday evening services will be held at AJCC 6:00 PM SERVICES | 7:01 PM CANDLE LIGHTING 7:00 PM COMMUNITY KIDDUSH & DINNER Supervised by Vaad Hakashruth of the Capital District
SHABBAT HAGADOL KIDDUSH LUNCH - April 1
The Shabbat HaGadol Kiddush Luncheon is sponsored by Laura & Zvi Segal, Marta & Mark Koblenz, Paula Mosher, Rina & Elliot Chester. The Luncheon is generously prepared by Dina Gottesman & Daniel Reznik and Amanda & Josh Gurock.
Join Rabbi Kean for the new Lunch & Learn Series for Seniors NEXT Session: Tuesday, 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 NOTE: Please feel welcome to wear a mask during the Lunch & Learn & take lunch home to enjoy.
YOUTH PROGAMS
Torah High 2022-2023 CBAJ's Torah High meets Mondays, 7-9 pm and is open to all students in grades 8 - 12. Pizza dinner is served. Contact Rabbi Kean with questions. Registration information available here
Tot Shabbat Next Tot Shabbat April 22 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 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 - Only on Chol Hamoed, Sunday & Monday 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* Postponed until after Passover Thursday mornings, 9:30 - 10:30 AM on Zoom*. Studying Kings 2. * A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
TALMUD CLASS -5:55 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
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
CBAJ BOOK CLUB Our next zoom gathering is Wednesday, May 3 at 8:00 pm. We will discuss The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczu. It is available on Amazon, Thrift Books and in local libraries. CBAJ has 2 available copies to loan.
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.)
COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT*New* ALTERNATING THURSDAYS 8:30-9:30 PM Jointly presented by CBAJ & the Shteeble Next date: TBA Beginner topic: "Sources of the Seder" 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. For more information, contact: Rabbi Kean, Sean Ference, or Mendy Shepherd.
“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.
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. We ask that adult Jewish men to attempt to come to minyan more frequently.
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.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
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.
