Shabbat Mevarchim Chayei Sara November 10 - 11, 2023
Friday Candle Lighting 4:19 pm
Friday Evening Services 4:20 pm
Morning Services Shabbat 9:00 am
Latest Shema 9:10 am Simcha Kiddush following services
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am
Tot Shabbat 10:30 am
Shabbat Mincha 12:04 pm Shabbat ends 5:21 pm
Talmud Class 4:30 pm Taught by Rabbi Moshe Kurtz
Shabbat Maariv 5:35 pm
TORAH READING Genesis: 23:1 - 25:18 Artscroll p.106 Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31, p. 1136 SCHOLAR-IN RESIDENCE & SPEAKER We welcome Rabbi Moshe Kurtz as scholar-in-residence this Shabbat. Please see below for a full listing of Rabbi Kurtz's speaking schedule and topics.
Chana Israel will deliver brief remarks following Shabbat morning services on the occasion of the shloshim of Ilan Fiorentino, HY"D, on behalf of his sisters, Keren Zilberberg & Shoham Fiorentino. SIMCHA KIDDUSH This Shabbat, the Simcha Kiddush (dairy) is prepared by the Simcha Kiddush Committee, chaired by Faye Silton & Marta Koblenz.
We are celebrating simchas, and honoring our Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Moshe Kurtz. Honorees, celebrants, and sponsors of both the Simcha Kiddush and Scholar-in-Residence events are listed below, along with a full listing of Rabbi Kurtz's speaking schedule and topics.
MAZAL TOV Mazal Tov to Marjorie and Stuart Gang on the birth of twin granddaughters.
MESSAGE FROM RABBI KEAN
Dear CBAJ Family,
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a restful and meaningful Shabbat.
I look forward to joining you this week for a weekend dedicated to learning with my colleague and friend, Rabbi Moshe Kurtz. We decided to invite Rabbi Kurtz to join us for Shabbat so that we could learn from his refreshing use of the lens of halacha to explore contemporary issues, alongside his relevant and timely writing on the synagogue and tefilah (prayer services) in the 21st century, especially post-COVID. I hope that you will join us and that you find his Torah engaging, enlightening, and thought-provoking.
This coming week features two rallies for Israel that I believe are important to share. First, on Monday night, November 13, is a rallyat the New York State capitol, organized by the local Capital District Jewish community.
Second, on Tuesday, November 14, national organizations have called for a national March for Israel in Washington. Organizers hope it will be one of the largest Jewish demonstrations in US history.
I encourage to do whatever you can to attend either march. Details are shared beneath the kiddush sponsorship, below.
I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class! Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE
This Shabbat we welcome Rabbi Moshe Kurtz as our guest scholar
Schedule of Shabbat & Rabbi Kurtz's talks:
Friday Night lecture & Discussion Sugarcoating, Apologetics, and Censorship in Jewish Education & Outreach following Friday night dinner (approximately 6:30 pm) Please note: The talk is open to everyone. Dinner by prior registration only.
Shabbat morning lecture & discussion: Harmful Speech, Sensitivity, and "Political Correctness" following morning services
Simcha Kiddush following Shabbat morning lecture
Shabbat Afternoon Shiur (in lieu of weekly Talmud Class) Is it ever 'Too Hot' for Halachah? Exploring the Concepts of איסטניס and מצטער 4:30-5:30 pm (followed by Maariv)
Dessert Reception, book signing, and discussion Saturday evening 7:00 pm in the Carr Chapel & on Zoom
The November Simcha Kiddush and Scholar-in-Residence programming are sponsored by CBAJ, and by the following families
Keren Zilberberg and Shoham Fiorentino in memory of their brother, Ilan Fiorentino, HY"D, on the occasion of his Shloshim. Marjorie & Stuart Gang in celebration of their grandchildren’s birthdays: Jacob, age 6, Joseph, age 4, Zoe, age 2, and Liam, 6 months old Marta and Mark Koblenz, Scholar-in-Residence sponsor Ilana & Rob Kovach, Scholar-in-Residence sponsor Paula Mosher, Scholar-in-Residence sponsor Amarit & Seth Rosenblum, Scholar-in-Residence sponsor Laura & Zvi Segal, Scholar-in-Residence sponsor
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT Sunday, 8:00 pm at CBAJ
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS A new season of Kiddush Conversations starts next Shabbat, 11/18
See the Adult Education Programming section below for more information about these upcoming events and other Adult Education programs
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 - MARCH FOR ISRAEL IN WASHINGTON, DC 1:00-3:00 PM on the National Mall. Gates open at 10:00 AM. See the March for Israel website: MarchForIsrael.org. The Jewish Federation of NENY is organizing transportation and accommodations to the rally, with a bus leaving Monday night, returning Tuesday night. Click here for more information and registration for transportation from Albany.
YOUTH PROGAMS
Torah High2023-2024 CBAJ's Torah High meets Mondays, 7-9 pm and is open to all students in grades 8 - 12. Dinner is served. Contact Rabbi Kean with questions. Online registration available HERE Tot Shabbat 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 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 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 or 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
NACH YOMI 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 Join our Shabbat Afternoon TALMUD SHIUR in-person, at CBAJ,starting 1 hour before Maariv, note: new time 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
FALL SEASON OF COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT This season, all sessions will be held WEEKLY on SUNDAYS at CBAJ at 8:00 pm
Independent & Guided Learning Guided learning with Rabbi Kean will meet once or twice a month. Guided learning with Rabbi Kean will not meet this week.
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS 2023-2024 Share Jewish experiences or ideas that inspire you! Following Kiddush on winter Shabbats, begins Nov. 18 Contact Simma Kinderlehrer or Rabbi Kean to sign up
FALL LECTURE SERIES November 28: Concealing Kohelet Did the Rabbis almost remove Kohelet from Tanakh? December 5: A Season for Everything The famous "Time Poem" & cycles of hope & despair in Kohelet December 12: Does Life Have Meaning? Competing answers from Kohelet's Conclusion
* A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
The Lunch & Learn for Seniors with Rabbi Kean series has resumed and the fall theme is Life's Highs and Lows. 11/21/2023 Grief and Loss in Judaism note: new date 12/19/2023 Judaism and Positive Living All sessions will begin at 12:30 pm. Lunch, catered by 518 Kosher and supervised by the VHCD, is free of charge. Please feel welcome to wear a mask during the event & take lunch home to enjoy. Please register by contacting our events coordinator Beth Liotta Tyler at 518.489.5819 x4 or beth@cbaj.org.
THE DEE PIRKEI AVOT PROJECT
The Dee Pirkei Avot project disseminates a weekly Pirkei Avot study and discussion sheet in honor of their memory of Lucy, Maia, and Rina, z''l, who were killed in a terrorist attack this year.
“It’s when the winds blow the hardest that you need the deepest roots” Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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 Kaplowitzthe Life & Legacy committee chairs about partnering on this crucial initiative to ensure the vitality of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob for the next 200 years.
Please click HERE for an important message from our Security Committee & security partner, Community Security Service (CSS) regarding guidelines for attending pro-Israel events
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
I Stand with Israel bracelets are available for purchase $5.00 each (cash or Venmo @SherylHoffman). Pick up at Temple Israel All proceeds will go to Federations Support Israel Efforts
Introducing: The Drama Daughters A musical theater club for Jewish girls, grades 2 - 6. Contact Elisheva Lieberman at 518.704.1096 for participation details. Practices will be held on Tuesdays, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, at CBAJ.
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.
