TORAH READING Genesis 41:1 - 44:17, p. 222 Haftarah: I Kings 3:15 - 4:1, p. 1143 SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver the first installment of the Shabbat morning lecture series, Prophetic Personalities. This week's installment: "What is a Prophet?"
KIDDUSH Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ this Shabbat.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Lillian Willen, wife of the late Alfred Willen, z''l, mother of CBAJ Member Michael (and Sharon) Willen, grandmother of Aaron (& Alana) Willen and Jessica Willen.
The funeral will take place on Sunday, December 17, 11 am, at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Queens, NY.
Shiva Monday, Dec 18 - Friday, Dec 22, Michael will attend Shacharit at CBAJ, and will sit shiva at CBAJ until 8 am.
Home visits at Michael and Sharon's home are welcome from Monday - Thursday, 12-8 pm. 125 Kaydeross Park Rd Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Shiva minyan: There will be a Maariv minyan at the Willen's home on Wednesday, Dec 20, at 7 pm. Please email to Rabbi Kean if you are able to attend, rabbi@cbaj.org
May the family be comforted, and may Lillian's memory be for 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.
As much as Chanukah had a difficult start last week, I hope that it was full of joy, Jewish pride, and meaning. As Chanukah concludes, I wish you a year full of light.
I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class! Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING EVENTS
SIMCHA KIDDUSH & TOT SHABBAT The December Simcha Kiddush & Tot Shabbat has been rescheduled for next Shabbat, December 23
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS A new season of weekly Kiddush Conversations has begun COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT Sunday, 8:00 pm at CBAJ
Lunch & Learn for Seniors with Rabbi Kean Tuesday, December 19
Stop the Bleed Training Course Wednesday, December 20
CBAJ BOOK CLUB New book announced: Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution (Jewish Lives) by Yehudah Mirsky
See the Adult Education Programming & Security Announcements sections below for more information about these upcoming events and other programs
SIMCHA KIDDUSH
The Simcha Kiddush Committee invites you to join CBAJ for the next SIMCHA KIDDUSH on Shabbat Vayigash December 23
Celebrate a birthday or mark an anniversary. Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby Make known an achievement or express gratitude
Sponsors are invited to submit their celebratory announcements by next Thursday 12/21/2023
Click here to complete the online form or email office@cbaj.org
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 Rescheduled for December 23 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
CBAJ BOOK CLUB Announcing the next book to read: Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution (Jewish Lives) by Yehudah Mirsky The next book club meeting date to be announced
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
* 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 Jan 20 Shmuel with Rabbi Kean Feb 17 Yonah with Daniel Grossberg 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.
Friday Fast of Tevet Shacharit: 6:20 am Fast begins 6:11 am
Mincha/Maariv Sunday - Friday 4:10 pm
Candle Lighting Friday, December 22 4:07 pm
MESSAGE FROM LIFE & LEGACY
“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
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
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.
