SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah this Shabbat. Kiddush Conversation will be led by Mitch Abolafia.
KIDDUSH Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by CBAJ.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing Sara Schaffer-Pollack, wife of Michael Pollack, sister of CBAJ member Howard A. Schaffer (Simma) and the late Merle Schaffer (Lewis) Sperber, z''l, and Donna (Harry, z''l) Minassian. The funeral took place on Tuesday. The family sat shiva at the home of Michael and Sara, z''l.
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 hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class!
ALBANY NCSY SHABBATON February 23-24 Details below
FEBRUARY FAMILY LEARNING NIGHT Saturday, February 24, 7:00 PM Parsha learning for families, pizza, raffle, prizes, and bonding! Geared to kids ages 5-12
COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT* NEW LOCATION! Sunday, 8:00 pm at THE SHTEEBLE (Cong. Shomray Torah) Rabbi Kean's guided learning group will meet this week. New Topic: Exploring Ein Yaakov (anthology of Talmudic Midrash)
CHILDREN'S CREATIVE ART DAY with Youth Director Daniella Mikhaylova Sunday, February 25, 10 AM - Noon & CBAJ LIFE & LEGACY "What I Love About Beth Abe" Art Contest
SUNDAY SHMOOZE*NEW* Sunday, February 25, following morning minyan (approx. 8:30 am) Join your CBAJ friends and Rabbi Kean for Sunday morning bagels, brief D'var Torah, and shmoozing! Sponsored by Sam & Barbara Sonenberg in l'ilui nishmat Lorraine Sherman and by Rob Kasper. Funded in part by the Theodore Strauss z''l Endowment Fund.
SENIOR SHIUR & DINNER *NEW* “End of Life Issues and Halacha” presented by Rav Dovid Cohen February 26, 2024 Dinner: 6:00 pm Lecture: 7:00pm See below under Adult Education for registration details. Sponsored in part by the Theodore Strauss z''l Endowment Fund
*See the sections below for more information about these upcoming events and other programs
YOUTH PROGAMS
Tot Shabbat The next Tot Shabbat will be March 16 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. Children's Creative Art Day with Youth Director Daniella Mikhaylova & "What I Love About Beth Abe" Art Contest details Sunday, February 25, 10 AM - Noon @ CBAJ Social Hall Join Youth Art Director Daniella Mikhaylova to work on your submission for the upcoming "What I love About Beth Abe" art contest, organized by CBAJ's Life & Legacy Committee. There will be a variety of art supplies available but you are welcome to bring your own too. Young children should be accompanied by a parent.
All art contest submission are due by Monday, March 4 Award winning art pieces will be presented, along with all submissions, at our very special Life & Legacy Simcha Kiddush on March 16. Show us your artistic talents and celebrate Life & Legacy. Our Children are indeed our future !!!
NCSY ALBANY NCSY SHABBATON at CBAJ February 23-24 Friday Night: Oneg with snacks, games & hangout 8:30 - 10:00 pm at Kovach's Saturday: Shabbos lunch at CBAJ at 1:00 pm Saturday Night Activity: Dave and Busters arcade, 7:15-9:00 pm
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
Shiur Screening & Dinner for Seniors “End of Life Issues and Halacha” Presented by Rav Dovid Cohen February 26, 2024, Dinner: 6:00 pm Shiur: 7:00 pm At CBAJ, dinner prepared by 518Kosher RVSP required by Thursday, February 22 by calling 518.489.5819 x 3 or emailing office@cbaj.org Please include number attending and names click here for more details Sponsored in part by the Theodore Strauss z''l Endowment Fund
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 Join us at the Shteeble (Cong. Shomray Torah) for the new season of Beis Medrash Night 8:00 PM this Sunday.
Independent & Guided Learning Guided learning with Rabbi Kean will meet once or twice a month.
Rabbi Kean's guided learning group will meet this week. New Topic: Exploring Ein Yaakov (anthology of Talmudic Midrash)
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
Announcing the winter season of Lunch & Learn for Seniors with Rabbi Ben Kean: Midrash Rewriting the Story
February 27: How Does Midrash Work? March 19:Who is "The King" in the Purim Story? April 9: TBA
All sessions will begin at 12:30 pm. Lunch is free of charge, catered by 518 Kosher and supervised by the VHCD. Please feel welcome to wear a mask during the event & take lunch home to enjoy. Please register by contacting our office at 518.489.5819 x3 or office@cbaj.org
Prophetic Personalities A lecture series for select winter Shabbatot 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
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
THANK YOU LETTERS TO IDF SOLDIERS Nathan and Sarah Singer (son and daughter-in-law of CBAJ members Ruth & Sheldon) are requesting letters of appreciation to IDF soldiers to be distributed while visiting hospitals in Israel. These simple messages are very meaningful and appreciated by Israel’s defenders. Messages can be sent to Nathanesinger@gmail.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
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.
