TORAH READING Bamidbar 4:21-7:89, Artscroll p. 748 Haftarah Judges 13:2-25, p. 1181
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah at services Shabbat morning.
KIDDUSH This Shabbat, kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ.
SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by CBAJ.
MAZAL TOV Mazal Tov to Dan Reznik and Dina Gottesman on being named CBAJ's mensch at Jewish Family Services Mensches & Mimosas this past week.
Mazal Tov to Laura Weisblatt on being named Amidah's menschat Jewish Family Services Mensches & Mimosas.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of CBAJ member Dr. Lyon Greenberg, z''l.
The funeral will take place on Monday, June 9, at 11 am, at Levine Memorial Chapel, with the burial to follow at the Independent Benevolent Cemetery.
May Lyon's family be comforted, and may his memory be a blessing.
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!
Please see the email that I and the other Albany synagogues sent to you regarding recent antisemitic incidents, both nationally and locally.
I want to emphasize again the importance of two things: 1) that we continue to take our security seriously and 2) that we refuse to back down on our proud celebration of our Jewishness and our beliefs.
In light of that, I want to highlight this week's Run For Their Lives rally for hostages held by Hamas on Sunday, June 8, at 2 pm.
Especially since it was Run for Their Lives march that was targeted in the attack in Boulder, I feel it is especially important to show it our support. I hope to join this week's Run for their Lives.
This week, the bodies of Israeli hostages Judith Weinstein-Haggai and Gad Haggai were retrieved from Gaza by the IDF. This news hits our local community especially strong given Judy's many trips to Albany leading delegations of Israeli students to visit as part of our partnership with the Eshkol Region. Our hearts are with their families in this challenging time that recalls their awful murder and more than 600 days in which their family was denied the right of a dignified burial, even as we are grateful that their bodies are finally home. We continue to pray for the hostages who still remain in Gaza and their families, with hopes that they are returned home immediately.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING CBAJ & COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Beit Midrash Night Begins Again! June 8th after Mincha/Maariv at Shomray Torah (the Shteeble).
CBAJ's June Graduation Simcha Kiddush ! June 14th A celebration of all moving-up or graduation accomplishments (plus any special reason to celebrate) Click Here to be a Simcha Kiddush Sponsor Be sure to email a photo of your graduate to office@cbaj.org for a special display
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
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). Next date June 8!
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 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.
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 each of the parshiots 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 June 8 - 13, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 am Monday - Friday 6:40 am
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Thursday 8:15 pm
Friday 7:00 pm Mincha/ Kabbalat Shabbat/ Maariv
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, June 13 8:15 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.
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
