Kiddush following services Shabbat Mincha 12:30 pm
Talmud Class 4:50 pm
Havdalah 5:36 pm
Maariv 5:50 pm
TORAH READING Exodus 1:1-6:1, Artscroll p. 292 Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:12, 29:22-23, p. 1147
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS This week, Kiddush Conversations will be led by Elly Bauman on Tehilim 30.
KIDDUSH This Shabbat, Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ
MAZAL TOV Mazal Tov to Rabbi Moshe and Rebbetzin Rochel Bomzer on becoming great-grandparents with the birth of their great-granddaughter, to their grandchildren Moshe & Leah Sprei.
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.
"Thus said G-d: A cry is heard in Ramah—Wailing, bitter weeping—Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted, for her children, who are gone. Thus said G-d: Restrain your voice from weeping, your eyes from shedding tears; For there is a reward for your labor—declares G-d: They shall return from the enemy’s land." - Jeremiah 31:15-16
The news of an upcoming hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas brings tremendous relief and hope along with a complex mix of emotions. Rather than fumble for the rights words, I share with you a statement from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, with the acknowledgement that I will not be able to encapsulate every possible perspective, emotion, or concern that some may have:
"We, the families of 98 hostages, welcome with overwhelming joy and relief the agreement to bring our loved ones home. We wish to express our profound gratitude to President-elect Trump, President Biden, both administrations, and the international mediators for making this possible. Since November 2023, we have been anxiously awaiting this moment, and now, after over 460 days of our family members being held in Hamas tunnels, we are closer than ever to reuniting with our loved ones.
This is a significant step forward that brings us closer to seeing all hostages return - the living to rehabilitation, and the deceased for proper burial. However, deep anxiety and concerns accompany us regarding the possibility that the agreement might not be fully implemented, leaving hostages behind. We urgently call for swift arrangements to ensure all phases of the deal are carried out.
We will not rest until we see the last hostage back home."
Other than that, all I have to say is that me continue to daven on behalf of everyone who is suffering or in danger and continue to find ways - material, emotional, spiritual - to support Israelis.
Unfortunately, we must also mourn the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers were killed in action this past week: Yair Yakov Shushan, 23; Yahav Hadar, 23; Guy Karmiel, 20; Yoav Feiffer, 19; Aviel Wiseman, 20; Yahav Maayan, 19; Alexander Fedorenko, 37; Danila Diakov, 21; and Eliav Astuker, 19. We also mourn the death of Tamar Edri, 75, who was critically injured by a Hezbollah rocket attack in November, on the day in which the ceasefire took effect, who succumbed to the wounds that she incurred. May their memories be for a blessing, may their neshamot have an aliyah.
I also ask you to keep in your prayers all of those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles, including the now 27 people believed to be dead, the 18 missing, and the tens of thousands of people who have lost their homes and who have been displaced.
This weekend we will also mark two significant national occasions for the United States: the inauguration of Donald Trump as the next president and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The inauguration is an opportunity for us to thank President Joe Biden for four years of service to this country and for us to extend our best wishes to incoming-President Donald Trump for a successful tenure that benefits all residents of the United States.
Martin Luther King Day should serve for us as a reminder of the important legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of advocacy for racial equality in the United States. We should use this day as an opportunity to remember and recommit ourselves to the values and causes that King championed.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
CBAJ INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
Partnership with EPIC Family. CBAJ is proud to partner with Epic Family, an organization that provides support and counseling to children living in Israel. Epic Family has seen a tremendous uptick in need in the past year since October 7 due to the war. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to support care for one child for one year, or recruit 20 people to give $25 per month for 1 year. Click here to view the flyer or visit EPIC Family's websiteto learn more.
We are eager for everyone to attend our services and programs and to feel welcome and safe while in our building. Anyone who has symptoms of any illness or is not feeling well is strongly encouraged to stay home. Better to miss services than risk spreading illness. While in attendance, frequent hand-washing is encouraged as well as minimizing close contact with others.
UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcing a new CBAJ Program! The Shabbat and Yom Tov Meal Matching Program Our goal is to promote hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests) and strengthen the friendship bonds among people in our community. This is a trial process for the local Albany community. This is an opportunity to either volunteer to host members of our community, or to request a seat at a Shabbat or Yom Tov table. This week, Shabbat Shemot, January 17th & 18th, is our pilot Shabbat. This initiative will be an ongoing opportunity to host and be hosted.
SIGN UP FOR KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS - JOURNEY THROUGH TEHILIM - Following Kiddush on winter Shabbats Contact Simma Kinderlehrer or Rabbi Kean to sign up
Scroll down for additional details on all upcoming events & programs
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Torah High The Torah High Winter/Spring 2025 semester is underway! Taught by Rabbi Kean and Rabbi Tzvi Holt. Mondays at 7:00 pm for students in grades 8 - 12, dinner included! Any interested families whose students are interested in learning more about Torah High should contact Rabbi Kean directly, rabbi@cbaj.org Tot Shabbat New Location - Classroom 2 (middle) For children ages 0-5 and their parents at 10:30 am in classroom 2. 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 us for studying a section 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 Motza'ei Shabbat Maariv We are studying Masechet Taanit.
*CBAJ ZOOM ROOM (weekday classes only) Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 | Enter passcode: 613518
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
Living Room Learning The Adult Education Committee is pleased to present a new learning initiative! Living Room Learning will give CBAJ members an opportunity to share a Torah teaching of their choice in the informal setting of a private home.
The next Living Room Learning will be January 18 at 7 pm. Led by Simma Kinderlehrer at her home. Topic: "The Six Continuous Commandments."
If you are interested in either hosting and or leading a future Living Room Learning, please reach out to Simma Kinderlehrer!
Share your insights into one chapter of Tehilim (Psalms), what it means to you, and what it can teach us! Following Kiddush on winter Shabbats Contact Simma Kinderlehrer or Rabbi Kean to sign up
Stay Tuned for our Winter Schedule!
Community Beit Midrash Night Begins Again! Alternating Sundays at 8:00 PM at CBAJ. Presented by CBAJ & Shomray Torah Guided learning Chaburah with Rabbi Kean studying Ein Yaakov. Dedicated as a merit for the refuah shleimah of Zev Chaim ben Michal Sivan. Next Beit Midrash Night: Sunday, January 26
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.
“The synagogue is a community which values who I am, how I live, what I give to others now and to those who follow me in years to come. It is the place where they know my name." Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
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 Join AMIDAH Albany at Albany JCC Sunday, February 23 at 1:00 PM for a headliner event: They Stand Corrected featuring Josh Levs, for a special program discussing anti-Israel bias in the mainstream media. Click Here for more information and the preregistration requirement QR code.
JEWISH FEDERATION OF NENY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The Jewish Federation is offering two scholarship opportunities: Academic Scholarships & Financial-Need Based Jewish Enrichment Scholarships Academic Scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate studies are available and based on need and/or merit. Please contact Deborah Chapman Goldstein, (518) 783-7800 ext. 230 or dgoldstein@jewishfedny.org if you have any questions regarding academic scholarships. Jewish Enrichment Scholarships are being offered to area children and college students for Jewish enrichments, including overnight Jewish camps, Jewish summer-travel experiences, and summer and year-long Israel experience programs, and seminars. Please contact Rebecca Miller for more details, (518) 783-7800 ext. 225 or rmiller@jewishfedny.org. APPLICATION DEADLINES: February 21, 2025 Applications for both scholarship opportunities can be found HERE.
518 KOSHER CATERING Learn more about 518 Kosher's Shabbos catering at their website. https://kosher518.com
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
