Shabbat Mevarchim Behar-Bechukotai May 23 - 24, 2025 41st Day Omer
Friday Candle Lighting 8:00 pm
Friday Night Services 7:00 pm
Shabbat Morning Services 9:00 am
Latest Shema 9:09 am
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am
Kiddush Following services
Talmud Class 6:50 pm
Shabbat Mincha & Seudah Shlishit 7:50 pm
Maariv 9:00 pm
Havdalah 9:10 pm
TORAH READING Vayikra 25:1-27:34, Artscroll p. 696 Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14, p. 1179
SPEAKER We are joined this week by guest speaker David Selis. Following morning services, David will deliver a talk entitled: "Torah for a World Built, Destroyed, and Rebuilt." Following Kiddush, David will deliver a presentation entitled: "How Did the Mikraot Gedolot Take Shape?" See below for complete bio and description of talks.
KIDDUSH This Shabbat, kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ.
SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by CBAJ.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to CBAJ members Ben & Netanya Simons on the birth of a son! Mazal tov to the grandparents, CBAJ members Seth Rigberg & Debbie Fruchtman and Judith Simons, and older sisters Jasmine and Ruth. The brit milah will take place at CBAJ on Thursday, May 29, following Shacharit (approx. 7:30 am).
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!
Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) begins this Sunday evening, on which we celebrate the 58th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem from Jordanian rule and Israel's victory in the Six Day War.
On this fateful day, depicted above when Rav Shlomo Goren sounded the shofar flanked by chayalim, Jews were for the first time in 19 years able to pray at the Kotel, which they had been barred from doing while the city was under Jordanian control, and for the first time in nearly two thousand years, Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people, returned to the hands of a sovereign Jewish government.
Jerusalem and Har HaBayit in particular is the most sacred place on earth, the place through which the Shechinah (Divine Presence) rests on Israel and on earth. We say every day in the Amidah that Hashem is"Boneh Yerushalayim" (the One Who Builds Jerusalem) and "Ha-Machazir Shechinato l'Tziyon (The One Who Restores His Presence to Zion). It is a bracha that we must celebrate and give thanks for to be ability see these promises and hopes come to reality.
We continue to mourn the deaths Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, hy''d, murdered yesterday in Washington, DC, and pray for their families to find solace and comfort.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent community-wide Tekes Maavar to mark Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut! It was truly a powerful event.
The organizers of our speakers from Israel are raising funds for an organization dedicated to helping those impacted by October 7 and the war, and to healing for Israeli society, United for Life.
UPCOMING CBAJ & COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPCOMING CBAJ PROGRAMMING Guest Speaker Shabbat, May 24, with David Selis: Join us for a Shabbat of learning with David Selis, the Leon Charney Doctoral Fellow at Yeshiva University's Bernard Revel School of Jewish Studies. David will deliver two talks:
Following morning services: "Torah for a World Built, Destroyed, and Rebuilt." What does it mean to learn, to live, to teach, and create Torahin the midst of upheaval?
Following Kiddush: "How Did the Mikraot Gedolot Take Shape?" This talk and showing of early Hebrew printed books will explore how the formatting of the Mikraot Gedolot ("Rabbinic Bible") came to be. We will explore the diverse personalities who pioneered Hebrew printing and how it shaped our understanding of Torah study.
Living Room Learning Sunday, May 25th at 4:00 PM Hosted by Lori & Akiva Calka Discussion led by Akiva Calka, Matan Torah Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Kean Tuesday, May 27 at 12:30 pm Topic: The Life & Work of Rambam (Maimonides) Save the Date ! for the CBAJ Annual Membership Meeting and End of the Year BBQ! Father's Day, June 15 Meeting starts at 5:30 pm & BBQ starts at 6:00 pm
Shavuot with CBAJ Shavuot begins Sunday, June 1! As in years past, CBAJ will host a dairy dinner on the first night of Shavuot, a vibrant Tikkun Leil Shavuot for both adults and teens! Stay tuned further details after Shabbat! scroll down for more details and registration links
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.
Community Beit Midrash Night Begins Again! Alternating Sundays after Mincha/Maariv at Shomray Torah (the Shteeble).
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.
Save these dates for the SPRING 2025 LUNCH & LEARN SERIES May 27, June 17 The Life & Work of Rambam (Maimonides) Please register by contacting Seanan Herrick: 518.489.5819 x3 or office@cbaj.org All sessions will begin at 12:30 pm at CBAJ & are free of charge Catered by 518 Kosher Catering & supervised by the Vaad Hakashruth of the Capital District
Living Room Learning The Adult Education Committee is pleased to present Living Room Learning, an initiative givingCBAJ 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 Sunday, May 25th at 4:00 PM hosted by Lori & Akiva Calka and discussion led by Akiva Calka, Matan Torah
If you are interested in either hosting and or leading a future Living Room Learning, please reach out to Simma Kinderlehrer!
NEW DISCUSSION SERIES: The Torah of Health & Healing One Shabbat per month following Kiddush Next date TBD Organized by Yosef Yishai Hilsen In the opening talk, Yosef Yishai Hilsen will discuss what important Torah health & healing psychotherapeutic messages are offered to us in Sefer Vayikra. Speak to Yosef Yishai if you are interested in learning more!
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*. Join Rabbi Kean in studying the Book of Daniel. * 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 Shabbat Mincha. 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
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 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.
DAILY SERVICES NEXT WEEK May 25 - 30, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday & Monday (Memorial Day) 8:00 am
Tuesday Rosh Chodesh Sivan 6:30 am
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 6:40 am
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Thursday 8:05 pm
Friday 7:00 pm Mincha/ Kabbalat Shabbat/ Maariv
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, May 30 8:06 pm
MESSAGE FROM LIFE & LEGACY
“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
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING HEALTH & WELLNESS
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.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
JFS Mensches & Mimosas Join JFS for their annual Mensches & Mimosas on June 5th at 7:00 pm. Click Here to learn how to participate in the virtual celebration. Mazal Tov to Dan Reznik & Dina Gottesman, CBAJ's nominee. Mazal Tov to CBAJ member Laura Weisblatt on her nomination for AMIDAH.
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
