TORAH READING Genesis 47:28-50:26, p. 268 Haftarah: 1 Kings 21:1-12, p. 1145
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah entitled "Reflecting on Legacy" this Shabbat.
Kiddush Conversations will be led by Daniela Mikhaylova.
KIDDUSH Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ this Shabbat. MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to CBAJ members Shoshie & Ami Israel on the birth of a daughter! Mazal tov to the grandparents, CBAJ members Mark & Chana Israel and Ellen Brickman, and great grandparents, CBAJ member Nina Israel, Sonia Wilgowicz, and Judy Brickman.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Lorraine Thomas Sherman (Ahuva bat Baruch), wife of the late Jack Sherman, z''l, mother of CBAJ member Barbara (and Sam) Sonenberg and Leonard Sherman; grandmother of Bernie, Shera, Sarah, and Mollie Sonenberg; great grandmother of two. Shiva: Barbara will sit shiva at CBAJ. There will be visiting hours for half an hour after the following daily services: -Sunday morning and evening, December 31 -Monday morning, January 1. Donations in Lorraine's memory can be made to Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob's Rabbi's Discretionary Fund.
MESSAGE FROM RABBI KEAN
SUBJECTS: Albany Letter Writing Campaign; Message from the Parsha
Dear CBAJ Family,
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a restful and meaningful Shabbat.
First, I ONCE AGAIN urge you to write the Albany Common Council to stop a misguided resolution that is currently being put forward to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. PLEASE TRY TO SEND YOUR EMAIL BEFORE JAN. 4. Send emails to:commoncouncil@albanyny.gov Subject line: Opposition to Potential Ceasefire Resolution A short, simple message, noting that this resolution will only cause more division, and that calls for a ceasefire are misguided and will not lead to peace, will suffice. It was requested that this request only be distributed through private channels, such as email and text, rather than social media platforms. You can write to albanyresolution@gmail.com to request access to a document with prepared talking points to be included in emails.
This Shabbat, we will read Parshat Vayechi, in which Ya'akov Avinu (Jacob) realizes that he is at the end of his life. He uses this opportunity to bless his descendants to prepare them for the future of Israel after his passing and to provide instructions for how he wishes to be buried.
I believe that this Parsha gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own legacies: that of our ancestors, that which we hope to leave for those who come after us, and how we hope live our lives to depart this world with a sense of wholeness.
Each, the National Association of Chevra Kaddisha (NASCK) uses this Shabbat as an opportunity to partner with synagogues across the English-speaking world to help us have this conversation. I encourage you to visit their website to read more about their work and check out the resources they have: https://shabbosvayechi.org.
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
Join CBAJ January 13th, Shabbat Vaera for the January Simcha Kiddush/ Annual New Member Luncheon Click Here to be a Simcha Kiddush sponsor
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS A new season of weekly Kiddush Conversations has begun COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT Sunday, 8:00 pm at CBAJ
CBAJ BOOK CLUB New book announced: Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution (Jewish Lives) by Yehudah Mirsky
See the Adult Education Programming section below for more information about these upcoming events and other programs
YOUTH PROGAMS
Tot Shabbat The next Tot Shabbat is January 13 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
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
Stay tuned for the Winter schedule
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.
“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.
