TORAH READING Numbers 30:2-36:13, Artscroll p. 900 Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4-28,3:4, p. 1193 SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah at Shabbat morning services.
KIDDUSH This Shabbat 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.
Recently, I have been asked a question by multiple people, asked in a few different ways: How are we to relate to a period of "added" mourning for Tisha B'av and the Three Weeks when so many of us are still reeling from the horrors of October 7 and the war which has followed and continued to threaten the lives and safety of so many Israelis, coupled with the rise in antisemitism throughout the world? Perhaps the feeling of trauma from October 7 "overshadows" the memory of the Churban (destruction of the Temple)? Perhaps it simply is not possible to add more mourning during this year?
I am not going to pretend to have a definitive answer to this question, and many greater than I are thinking about it. For example, my teacher, and mentor to many North American rabbis, Rabbi JJ Schacter discussed it ina podcast with Mosaic magazine, and Aleph Beta produced a five part video series on the subject. (Both of which, I have not yet seen, but plan to).
My first thought, though, is the principle at the heart of Tisha B'av, that all suffering of the Jewish people can ultimately be connected back to the Churban, to the destruction of the Temple.
It is for that reason that the Mishnah in Masechet Taanit connects multiple tragedies to Tisha B'av (the sin and lack of faith of the Spies, the crushing of the Bar Kochva revolt with the fall of Beitar, the plowing of the Temple Mount). It is for that reason that the Talmud Yerushalmi (Yoma 1a) states that "any generation in which the Temple is not rebuilt, it is as if it had been destroyed in their times." It is for this reason that the kinot recall events such as the expulsions from various European countries or the burning of the Talmud in Paris in 1242 - events which took place centuries after the Churban HaBayit - and why contemporary poskim instituted kinot for the Shoah.
This period of (increased) mourning should force us to put the tragedies of the past year in the context of the history of tragedies that our people have experienced and in the context of our reality of living in an unredeemed world which we must still work to repair.
We must also remember that it was for the sins of sinat chinam (baseless hatred) and division that the second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed. These are problems that still plague us to this day and that we must still work to rectify.
I hope to see you soon at a tefilah, children's program, event, or class!
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
GUIDE TO THE THREE WEEKS
Tisha B'av is August 12-13. During these three weeks leading up to Tisha B'av, known as Bein Ham'tzarim (lit. "Between the Straits"), Jewish tradition dictates customs of mourning to be observed in commemoration of the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple). See below for Rabbi Kean's guide to these customs.
Announcing: Summer 2024 Senior Lunch & Learn Series
Announcing: Next CBAJ Book Club Book copies now available in the Carr Chapel
Tisha B'Av Film Screening: Legend of Destruction August 13th at 5:30 PM Location: Temple Israel Sponsored by the Jewish Federation, Temple Israel, Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, Bnai Sholom, Beth Emeth, & Ohav Shalom.
Legend of Destruction, winner four Israeli Academy Awards, created a stir in Israel when it first came out. The movie is based on historical events that led up to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE – a calamity that changed the destiny of the Jewish people forever. Click here to view flyer with event details As a review by the NY Times describes, its relevance to current themes of disunity in Israeli society led then-Prime Minister Bennett to encourage all Knesset members to watch it and President Herzog to wish that every Israeli school child would see it. Click here to view the trailer. Click here for a review by Rav Stav founder of Tzohar, which also highlight the relevance of this production to today’s events.
Note: Summer Hiatus announcements for Youth Programming & Beis Medrash See Below For More Information
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
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 Youth groups for children in grades k-5 will be on hiatus for the summer.
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 next book is "The gifts of the Jews: how a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels" by Thomas Cahill We'll meet by Zoom on October 9 at 8pm
Summer 2024 Senior Lunch & Learn Series Topic: Talmudic Personalities & their Relevance Today
Based on your feedback, and following-up on a popular lecture series at CBAJ, we will explore the life and times of some of the greatest figures of the Mishnah and Talmud. Through exploring their lives, we will get a window into the world of the Mishnah and Talmud, the foundational texts of Rabbinic Judaism, and explore the eternal relevance of their legacies.
Please register by contacting Seanan Herrick 518.489.5819 x3 or office@cbaj.org
All sessions will begin at 12:30 pm at CBAJ 380 Whitehall Rd.
Lunch is free of charge catered by 518 Kosher Catering & supervised by the Vaad Hakashruth of the Capital District
Please feel welcome to wear a mask during the event & take lunch home to enjoy
New Date To Be Announced Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi: Savior & Destroyer of “Oral Torah” September 24 Reish Lakish: The Gladiator Rabbi
Community Beit Midrash Night will be on hiatus for the summer. Stay tuned for information about the Fall series!
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 Kaplowitz the 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
AMIDAH ALBANY EVENT : CELEBRATE ISRAEL RALLY Meet at Moses statue, Washington Park (Albany) Sunday, August 4that 1:30 2:00 Pm Run For Their Lives - Free-The-Hostages Walk 2:30 Celebrate Israel Rally Click hereto view flyer for more details Rabbi Kean will be a speaker at this event.
JEWISH COALITION FOR LITERACY - Jewish Federation of NENY For over 20 years, the Jewish Coalition for Literacy has played an integral part in helping Kindergarten through 3rd grade students learn to read. We are looking for more volunteers and are having a Kick-off event on Thursday, September 19th at the Federation.Click here for more information.
PRICE CHOPPER KOSHER STORE RELOCATED & EXPANDED OPTIONS New Location: 1730 Central Avenue in Colonie We need you with us to show our solidarity behind the new venture, which will expand the kosher offerings in the community. The new store will host our kosher department as well as new offerings of To-Go-Meals & Kosher Sushi.
