TORAH READING Exodus 33:12-34:26, Artscroll p. 504 Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25, p. 892 Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14, p. 1224 Shir Hashirim, p. 1263
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah this Shabbat. KIDDUSH Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ.
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 that you had meaningful and enjoyable S'darim and that the rest of your Pesach is as well.
To my eyes, reading through and discussing the Haggadah, the eternal relevance of the Haggadah came through quite clearly this year. It is difficult to fathom celebrating our freedom from bondage with over 130 hostages still being held in horrific conditions in Gaza.
With our hearts and minds with Israel right now, and with Yom HaZikaron/Yom HaAtzmaut around the corner, I am excited to share that we will be welcome a guest speaker for next Shabbat, Acharei Mot (May 3-4), Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider. Rabbi Goldscheider is a faculty member at the Orthodox Union's Israel Center in Jerusalem, and will share Torah that helps connect us to Israel during this time.
It is interesting to take note of the fact that though our primary remembrance of Yetziat Mitzrayim (the Exodus) is done at the Seder at the beginning of Pesach, the Haggadah tells us that the miracles which took place at the splitting of the sea far eclipsed that which preceded our departure from Egypt. Although our departure from Egypt was on the first night of Pesach, the splitting of the sea actually took place on the final day of Pesach. In that sense then, the greater miracle for us to celebrate is yet to come!
May we continue to experience modern miracles, salvation, and deliverance. I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class!
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom & Chag Kasher V'Sameach, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING EVENTS
Guest Speaker Shabbat with Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider May 3-4 In honor of Yom HaShoah and Yom HaAtzmaut, we are excited to invite Rabbi Goldscheider to share with us a Torah perspective from Jerusalem.
Speaking schedule: 11:00 am Post-Tefilah Shabbat morning drasha: "Rabbi Soloveitchik: Inspiration for Jewish Living"
12:00 pm Post-Kiddush Shiur (lecture): "Lessons From The War and the Wisdom of Rav Kook"
Dvar Torah at Seudah Shlishit: "The Meaning of the Last Hour of Shabbos"
Biography: Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider serves as chief-editor of OU Israel's 'Torah Tidbits', Coordinator of Rabbinic/Leadership Training at Yeshiva University's RIETS Gruss Kollel, and Faculty member at the Rabbinical Council of America's 'Machon Melton' conversion program in Jerusalem. He is the author of the best-selling Haggadahs, The Night That Unites (Urim Press), and Layla Shel Achdut (Yediot Achronot). He just published Torah United, a book on the weekly parashah from Rav Kook, Rabbi Soloveitchik, and the Chassidic Masters (OU Press). To learn more about Rabbi Goldscheider, visit: https://torahunited.com
CBAJ ANNOUNCEMENTS
SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE SHABBAT
Save the date: May 17-18 for our Spring Scholar in Residence Shabbat with Dr. Sara Ronis The Shabbat will include a Friday night dinner (by reservation only) and a Kiddush luncheon (open to all). The deadline to register for the dinner is May 7.
Schedule of Events & Talks by Dr. Ronis Friday 7:00 PM Friday Night Services 8 PM Dinner (by reservation only) 8:45 -9:30pm The Demons in the Details, or What are All Those Demons Doing in the Talmud?
Saturday 11:30 – 11:50am Living in the Center and On the Margins: The Complex World of Rabbinic Babylonia [CW: Infertility]
Approx 1:00-1:45 pm Fetal Positions: The Talmudic Approach(es) to Personhood
6:30 pm Talmud Class (with Dr. Ronis) Yalta in the Talmud
BATTLE OF THE BBQS
Beth Abe is sponsoring a team for the Battle of the BBQ Abe and Jake’s House of BBQ Sunday, June 30, 2024 A community day supporting the Shalom Food Pantry
We are looking for some high spirited goal oriented people to spearhead us towards victory in this battle. The brigade will prepare and barbeque food provided by the Bethlehem Chabad. If interested please contact the “The king of the Barbeque” @ 518-461-9618. Ship Ahoy!
YOUTH PROGAMS
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 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 Mincha 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
The CBAJ bookclub will be reading The Jewish State: From Opposition to Opportunity by Doron Perez two copies are now available - in the Chapel - first come, first serve The next bookclub meeting: TBA
SPRING SEASON OF COMMUNITY BEIS MIDRASH NIGHT Join us at the Shteeble (Cong. Shomray Torah)* new location 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. Topic: Ein Yaakov - Anthology of Talmudic Aggadah.
A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
Lunch & Learn for Seniors with Rabbi Ben Kean
Spring dates to be announced after Passover
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.
Sunday, April 28, Passover VI, Erev Yom Tov Morning Services...8:00 am Evening Services...7:40 pm Candle Lighting...7:34 pm
Monday, April 29, Passover VII, Yom Tov Morning Services...9:00 am Evening Services...7:40 pm Candle Lighting...after 8:40 pm
Tuesday, April 30, Passover VIII, Yom Tov Yizkor is recited Morning Services...9:00 am Evening Services...7:40 pm Shabbat/Yom Tov ends...8:42 pm
DAILY SERVICES
May 1 - May 3, 2024 8th, 9th,10th days of Omer
Shacharit Wednesday - Friday 6:40 am
Mincha/Maariv Sunday - Thursday 7:40pm
Friday 7:00 pm
Candle Lighting Friday, May 3 7:40 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
SAVE THE DATE: Monday, May 13 6:30 - 8:30 PM COMMUNITY-WIDE YOM HAZIKARON COMMEMORATION & YOM HA'ATZMAUT CELEBRATION at Proctors Theater, Schenectady Early-bird pricing thru Monday April 21 Hosted by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York & Israel Bonds. Featuring: Yom Hazikaron Special Guest Izzy Ezagui, Decorated IDF Soldier, Inspirational Speaker & Author; Tekes Maavar (transition ceremony) led by the Capital District Board of Rabbis & Cantors; and Judah Gavra, Israeli Singer & Songwriter accompanied by keyboardist Orian Rosenzweig. For more information or to RSVP, go to:https://www.jewishfedny.org/community-calendar/israel-76
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND USA EVENT Join the JNF for their second annualWomen for Israel event Wednesday, May 29, 7pm - 9pm Featuring Olga Meshoe Washington: Female Voices for Our Homeland; Israel andthe False Apartheid Narrative RVSP required by Monday, May 20 at JNF.ORG/WFICR
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.
