TORAH READING Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17, Artscroll p. 998 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5, p. 1199
KIDDUSH Kiddush is sponsored by Yaron & Revital Fuks in appreciation and love for the warm welcome and generous hospitality and the joy and blessing to be part of this special community. SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Paula Mosher, in Honor of the birth of her great granddaughter: Ada Jean, to her parents: Max Dietrich & Amy Berg, of Roslindale, MA.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to Paula Mosher on the birth of her first great-granddaughter Ada Jean! Mazal tov to parents Max Deitrich & Amy Berg and grandparents Rebecca Mosher & William Dietrich.
Mazal tov to Rabbi Paul & Faye Silton on the upcoming marriage of their grandson Elisha Meir Silton to Nisan Bialik. Mazal tov to the parents, Dr. Rabbi Akiva Yosef & Dr. Sharon Silton of Hashmonaim and Eli & Mazal Bialik of Beit Shemesh.
Mazal Tov to Rabbi Moshe & Rebbetzin Rochel Bomzer on the following simchas: The graduation of their daughter Tamar Yafa Goldblatt from medical school, the high school graduations of their grandchildren Leah Hellman and Nachi Kaufman (both learning in Yerushalayim), the middle school graduations of the grandchildren Rivky Goldblatt and Ariel Bomzer, the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Zehava Heifitz, and the Siddur graduation of their granddaughter Penina Bomzer.
CONDOLENCES We regret to inform you of the passing of Roy T Hall, husband of Roseanne Hall, father of CBAJ member Esther Miriam and John Martino, and grandfather of Nesanel Sussman, Devorah Leah Sussman, and Chana Vinisky. The funeral will take place next week in Cleveland. Details about Shiva/Azkarah in Albany are forthcoming. Please note: Until further notice, please refrain from contacting Nesanel to offer condolences. May the family be comforted, and may Roy's 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!
Rosh Chodesh Elul is this Sunday!I will refrain from saying explicitly what that means is just one month away!
The month of Elul is described by Rav Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812, author of Tanya and founder of Chabad Chasidut) as like the time that the king is traveling back to his palace from abroad. When the king is in the fields outside his city, he is more accessible to them than at any other point, when he is in his palace, and visitors must be vetted before meeting the king. Or more succinctly: "HaMelech Basadeh, the King is in the field" and it is time for us to go meet him!
Perhaps it is for this reason that the Sefardim begin reciting Selichot on the first of Elul.
Yamim Noraim preparations are CBAJ are well on their way! We are looking forward to sharing with you everything you need to know about what CBAJ is doing for the Yamim Noraim and the upcoming year!
We mourn the death of Rabbi Berel Wein, z''l, this past week. Rabbi Wein was a pioneer, builder, and pillar of Orthodoxy today. I encourage consider reading the OU's tribute to him, Aish's tribute to him, or this Jewish Action interview with Rabbi Wein on rebuilding Orthodoxy after the Shoah. Yehi Zichro Baruch.
This week also marked the yahrzeit of the horrific and tragic murders of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Or Danino and Alex Lubanov, Hashem Yikom D'meihem, who were killed by their captors after surviving horrifying conditions in captivity for close to a year. We must continue to honor their memories and legacies and stand with their families and persist with our demand that all of the hostages that are cruelly being held in Gaza be returned immediately.
We celebrate the return of Israeli citizen Salah Abu Hussein who had been imprisoned in Lebanon for a year, while his family had no idea of his whereabouts. May his return be a sign of good things to come and freedom for all Israelis still being held hostage.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING CBAJ & COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Senior Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Kean - Summer Schedule: Tuesday, August 26th - 12:30 pm Tuesday, September 9th - 12:30 pm Manischewitz Food Truck Samplings Thursday, August 28th - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
PJ Library Grandparents & Special Friends Tea Party Sunday, September 7th - 11:00 am
Apple Picking with CBAJ September 14th - 2:00 pm Save the date! Details forthcoming.
One-Time Screening of OCTOBER 8 Monday, September 15th - 6:00 pm - 9:00 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 TBD. 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: TBA. Speak to Organizer Yosef Yishai Hilsen if you are interested in learning more, or if you would like to be a presenter!
PJ Library Grandparents & Special Friends Tea Party Sunday, September 7th, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm On Sunday, September 7th, Sheryl Hoffman, (the PJ Library Coordinator at JFED NENY), will be hosting a Grandparent/Special Friends Tea Party in celebration of Grandparents Day, (location provided upon registration). Children ages 4-8 years old and their Grandparents or Special Friends are welcome to come for crafts, a story, and delicious tea party fare. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit their website.
One-Time Screening of OCTOBER 8 Monday, September 15th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
WEEKLY LEARNING AT CBAJ
**NEW!!!** MORNING TANYA: BREAKFAST & LEARNING Tuesdays, 7:30-8:15 am Join us in studying Tanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi's classic work on Chassidut, and enjoy breakfast, discussion, and comraderie.
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 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 24 - August 29, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 am Monday 6:30 am
Tuesday-Friday 6:40 am
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Thursday 7:20 pm
Friday 7:00 pm Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat / Maariv
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, August 29 7:17 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
