"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
It is with great gratitude to Hashem that we welcome back to Israel Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher after enduring nearly 500 days of captivity by Hamas in Gaza. We anxiously await the return of all the others, and continue to pray for their speedy release.
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
Next Beit Midrash Night: Sunday, January 26, at 8:00 pm
Winter Senior Lunch & Learn Series Begins Tuesday, February 4, at 12:30 pm
Chevra Kadisha Training & Review Program: Monday, February 3, 7:30-9:00 pm at CBAJ
SAVE THE DATE: Tu Bishevat Seder at CBAJ, February 12 For all ages! Details to be announced.
SAVE THE DATE: March 21-22 Spring Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat with Rabbi Sam Shor! Details forthcoming.
Scroll down for additional details on all upcoming events & programs
CBAJ COMMUNITY
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.
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
CHEVRA KADISHA TRAINING AND REVIEW Monday - February 3, 2025 at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. You are invited to learn about the dedicated work of Metaharim (members), Review proper protocol & Discuss delicate issues Consider joining the Ritual Team
RSVP 518-727-5566 (Rabbi Bomzer) Rabbi Moshe E. and Rochel Bomzer Josh Katz, President
Written materials provided & Refreshments served
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.
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
Topic for the Winter 2025 Series: "Great Torah Commentators We Don't Hear From" A look at lesser-known and lesser-studied commentators on the weekly Parsha. February 4 - February 25 - March 18
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
Save these dates too for the SPRING 2025 LUNCH & LEARN SERIES April 29, May 27, June 17
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
