Latest Shema 9:42 am Kiddush Luncheon following services
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am Shabbat Mincha 12:33 pm Talmud Class 5:00 pm
Havdalah 5:47 pm Maariv 6:00 pm
TORAH READING Exodus 10:1 - 13:16, Artscroll p. 340 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28, p. 1151
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah this Shabbat.
Kiddush Conversations will be led by Chaim Schaffer.
KIDDUSH Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by CBAJ.
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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.
Please see below some upcoming community announcements: the Jewish Federation's mission trip to Israel and Maimonides High School's pizza night.
If you are able to join the Federation trip to Israel, I encourage you to do so. Perhaps the most common two words that I heard on my trip this month were "Todah She-batem - thank you for coming." It is hard to underestimate how much it means to Israelis to see and feel that we are there for them during this difficult war.
As we read Parshat Beshalach this week, the parsha in which describes our ultimate triumph over Egypt as the Yam Suf is split, B'nei Yisrael pass through it, and the Egyptian army is drowned, it behooves us to remember a few lessons from this story of redemption:
1. G-d's salvation can come in an instant, even in our darkest moment - just moments before the G-d split the sea, the newly freed B'nei Yisrael believed they were doomed.
2. The Egyptians were the mightiest empire at the time, they must have seemed all-powerful, and even claimed moral authority by virtue of their might. We are reminded that all of that is just an illusion.
3. Moshe's promise to the distressed Israelites: "Hashem yilachem lachem, v'atem tacharishun - G-d will wage war for you, but you shall remain silent." Our trust in Him is to remain steadfast.
4. In contrast, yet consistent with, the above, G-d's reply to Moshe: "Mah titzak elai? Daber el b'nei yisrael vayisa'u! - Why do you cry out to me? Speak to the Children of Israel and let them travel forth!" Our redemption requires to take the first bold steps, like the midrash's depiction of Nachson ben Aminadav wading into the sea at Moshe's command before it split.
I believe this lessons remain as relevant today as when the Torah was given.
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
COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT* Sunday, 8:00 pm at CBAJ
CBAJ FAMILY LEARNING NIGHT Led by youth director Yonah Schneier February 3rd at 6:30 PM (following Ma’ariv) Ages 5-12
FEBRUARY SIMCHA KIDDUSH Share your special life moments with us at the February 10th Simcha Kiddush Click Here to sponsor
CBAJ MEET-UP IN FLORIDA Rabbi Kean will be visiting with CBAJ members in Florida (Boca Raton & Fort Myers) the week of Presidents’ Day! Please reach out to Rabbi Kean if you are interested in receiving details and attending rabbi@cbaj.org
*See the sections below for more information about these upcoming events and other programs
YOUTH PROGAMS
Tot Shabbat The next Tot Shabbat will be February 10 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 Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) * 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 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: Wednesday, February 28 at 8:00 pm
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 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
Prophetic Personalities A lecture series for select winter Shabbatot Jan 20 Shmuel with Rabbi Kean Feb 17 Yonah with Daniel Grossberg March 30* Huldah with Simma Kinderlehrer *Please note new date.
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
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.
