Chanukah Shabbat Mevarchim Vayeshev December 8 - 9, 2023
Friday Candle Lighting 4:03 pm
Friday Evening Services 4:05 pm
Friday Night Dinner for Chanukah 5:15 pm
Morning Services Shabbat 9:00 am
Latest Shema 9:30 am Kiddush following services
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am
Shabbat Mincha 12:10 pm Talmud Class 4:25 pm
Havdalah 5:09 pm Maariv 5:25 pm
TORAH READING Genesis 37:1-40:23, Artscroll p. 198 Maftir: Numbers 7:18-23, p. 766 Haftarah: Zachariah 2:14-4:7, p. 1210 SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah on Shabbat morning.
Kiddush conversations will be led by Rabbi Kean, on the topic "Processing antisemitism & our lives."
KIDDUSH This Shabbat Kiddush is sponsored by Maureen and Chester Elliot in honor of Saul Chester's 1st birthday.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of long-time CBAJ member Helene (Lee) Lieberman, wife of the late Bertram Lieberman, z''l, mother of Joni Lieberman Basen (& Donald Basen), Marcy (& Jeff) Weisburgh, Amy Lieberman (& Marc Flatt), and the late Risa Skerker, z''l, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of one.
May the family be comforted, and may Lee's memory be a blessing.
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 and a joyous Chanukah.
It goes without saying that the shooter at Temple Israel last night is extremely alarming and at the forefront of all of our minds.
First and foremost, my thoughts are with the families of the Temple Israel preschool and the Temple Israel staff that were placed under lockdown. We should all be deeply grateful that the suspect was immediately apprehended and that Governor Hochul, Mayor Sheen, other elected officials and the state and local police have been extremely supportive.
We have received updates from the Jewish Federation and we have been informed that there will be increased police presence around Jewish institutions and the surrounding neighborhoods.
We will also have greeters and a guard at our Chanukah dinner this evening. The safety of our members remains a top priority.
It is not lost on us that this attack shortly before Chanukah began, the holiday which commemorates the unbeatable strength of Jewish identity and our refusal to give in to those who seek to take away our Torah, our religion, our Judaism. We know that whatever hateful goals anyone has against us will ultimately fail.
I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class! Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom & Chag Chanukah Sameach, Rabbi Ben Kean
We thank the CBAJ Programming Committee for organizing a festive Chanukah Friday night dinner following evening services, approx. 5:15 pm
We thank our generous sponsors, Marjorie & Stuart Gang and Paula Mosher
UPCOMING EVENTS
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS A new season of weekly Kiddush Conversations has begun
Chanukah on Jay Sunday, December 10 COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT Sunday, 8:00 pm at CBAJ
FALL LECTURE SERIES Tuesday, December 12: Does Life Have Meaning?
PROPHETIC PERSONALITIES SHABBAT LECTURE SERIES Part 1 is Shabbat, December 16. "What is a Prophet?" with Rabbi Kean
See the Adult Education Programming & Community Announcements sections below for more information about these upcoming events and other programs
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 for standard 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
SECURITY COMMITTEE PROGRAMMING
The Security Committee is hosting a Stop the Bleed Training Course offered by Albany Medical Center Trauma Dept. Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00 - 8:30 pm Click Here to RSVP
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. Contact Simma Kinderlehrer or Rabbi Kean to sign up
FALL LECTURE SERIES Select Tuesdays at 7:30 pm at CBAJ (in the Carr Chapel) Zoom option also available - see link to Zoom room above. Part III: 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. 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.
Prophetic Personalities A lecture series for select winter Shabbatot
Dec 16 What is a Prophet? with Rabbi Kean Jan 20 Shmuel with Rabbi Kean Feb 17 Yonah with Daniel Grosberg March 16 Huldah with Simma Kinderlehrer
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.
“A community is too heavy to carry alone” Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:10
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
Chanukah on Jay Sunday, December 10 Time: 2 - 4 PM Location: Jay Street (Schenectady) CBAJ is proud to join the Capital District Jewish community again! https://www.chanukahonjay.com
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.
