Shabbat Nachamu Tu B'Av Va'etchanan August 8 - 9, 2025
Friday Candle Lighting 7:49 pm
Friday Night Services 7:00 pm
Shabbat Morning Services 9:00 am
Latest Shema 9:28 am
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am
Kiddush Luncheon Following services
Talmud Class 6:35 pm
Shabbat Mincha & Seudah Shlishit 7:35 pm
Maariv 8:42 pm
Havdalah 8:52 pm
TORAH READING Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11, Artscroll p. 958 Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26, p. 1196
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah on Shabbat morning titled: “What the creation of a baby teaches us about Man’s relationship to G-d.”
KIDDUSH A dairy Shabbat Kiddush lunch is sponsored by Lisa Gildener and Neil Gildener-Leapman in honor of the bris of their son Shabbat morning. SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by CBAJ.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to Lisa & Neil and the entire Gildener-Leapman and Chalik families on the birth of a son! The Shalom Zachar will take place at 380 New Scotland Ave from 9-11:30pm. The Bris will take place at CBAJ on Shabbat morning following services. Mazel tov to Ilana & Rob Kovach (and the entire Kovach, Ungerman, and Lott families) on the birth of a new granddaughter, Shir Yona, named last Shabbat in Chicago.
Mazal tov to Rabbi Paul & Faye Silton and Elana Silton-Moskowitz & Dr. Ari Moskowitz on the following simchas in the Moskowitz family: -The birth of Elana & Ari's second grandchild, Emuna Penina Soskil; -The graduation of Betzalel Yair from Northwestern University where he received his masters degree in data science; -The graduation of Avishye David from Yeshiva University where he was recognized for excellence in Torah Studies and Biology; -The middle school graduation of Amiad Sapir from Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School. -Tzeitchem l’shalom to Azriel Baruch on his departure for Israel for another 6 months of study at Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem. Welcome to Elana and her two sons Azriel Baruch & Amiad Sapir who are visiting this Shabbos.
REFUAH SHLEMAH CBAJ wishes a Refuah Shleimah to Ethan, Rabbi Yaakov and Lisa Kellman's grandson. Ethan is 7 and was recently diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure. To learn more about ways that you can help, including swabbing to see if you could be a potential donor, click here .
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!
Mazal tov to Neil & Lisa on the birth of their son!
I will be out of town next week, but I will be back in town for Shabbat. While I am gone, I will have limited internet connection and cell service. I will do my best to address urgent matters promptly. Please also direct urgent matters to Elliot and Melissa Brimacomb.
I am deeply disturbed by recent events in St. Louis in which cars were torched and hateful graffiti was sprayed on a street targeting an American IDF vet visiting his family. Such evil and hatred must be denounced loudly and forcefully.
One question that I was asked about was about concealing Jewish identity in response to antisemitism. While everyone must decide what they feel safe doing, and I do not seek to contradict guidance around safety, I know that for me, the answer is that we must always be proud to be Jewish. Part of what makes the United States a great country is our value of religious diversity and acceptance of all.
But to that answer, I want to add an observation from this week's Parshah. Moshe Rabbeinu reminds B'nei Yisrael regarding keeping the Torah and Hashem's commandments:
Observe them faithfully, for that will be proof of your wisdom and discernment to other peoples, who on hearing of all these laws will say, “Surely, that great nation is a wise and discerning people.” For what great nation is there that has a god so close at hand as is our God Hashem whenever we call? Or what great nation has laws and rules as perfect as all this Teaching that I set before you this day? (Devarim 4:6-8)
I believe these verses remind us of a principle that Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z''l wrote in Radical Then, Radical Now, "Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism." We should never be ashamed by our commitment to Judaism, to Torah, or to G-d. It must be a badge of honor, "our wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations."
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING CBAJ & COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jewish Music Lawn Chair Kumzits Wednesday, August 13th - 6:30 pm Torah of Health & Healing Discussion Group - Summer Schedule: Shabbat August 16th - following Shabbat morning services & Kiddush
CSI Security Training Sunday, August 17th - 5:00 pm
Senior Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Kean - Summer Schedule: Tuesday, August 26th - 12:30 pm Tuesday, September 9th - 12:30 pm
Please scroll down for more information
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 Alternating Sundays after Mincha/Maariv at Shomray Torah (the Shteeble). The next date of Beit Midrash Night is Sunday, August 17.
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.
"Intro to the Laws of Repentance" Next Summer Dates: August 26th & September 9th Please register by contacting the CBAJ office at: 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 * A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
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!
Torah of Health & Healing Discussion Group One Shabbat per month following Kiddush Upcoming dates: August 16: parashat Eikev, "The Vibrations Within - the impact of sound on our health", presented by Rakhamim Yakobov Speak to Organizer Yosef Yishai Hilsen if you are interested in learning more, or if you would like to be a presenter!
CSI Security Training August 17th - 5:00 pm Learn about de-escalation techniques and situational awareness during this 1 hour program, with time after allotted for questions. Please email or call to RSVP: office@cbaj.org / 518-489-5819 CSI is a comprehensive program to protect and enhance the security for Jewish communities and institutions in the New York City metropolitan area, from Montauk to Albany, and in Southwest Connecticut.
Jewish Music Lawn Chair Kumzits August 13th - 6:30 pm
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 Planning for the 2025-2026 school year for Torah High, CBAJ's teen learning program for 8th-12th graders, is underway! Classes will be taught by Rabbi Kean and Rav Tzvi Holt. Please contact Rabbi Kean if you are interested in enrolling your child in Torah High! 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 August 10 - August 15, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 am Monday - Friday 6:40 am
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Thursday 7:45 pm
Friday 7:00 pm Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat / Maariv
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, August 15 7:39 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
