TORAH READING Deuteronomy 31:1-52, p. 1100 Haftarah, II Samuel 22:1-51 p. 1205
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah at Shabbat morning services titled, "Is He Not Your Father? Honoring the Victims of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Terror Attack."
KIDDUSH Kiddush this week is sponsored by CBAJ. SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit this week is sponsored by CBAJ.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to CBAJ members Millie & Dan Grossberg on the birth of their first great-granchild, Chana Shayna! Mazal tov to the grandparents, Sharona Grossberg & Alex Schudrich, and to the parents, Ayelet & Sammy Markowitz.
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!
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Yamim Noraim so special! From our ba'alei tefilah, leiners, shofar blowers, greeters, youth leaders, gabbais, volunteers for set-up and kiddush, we could not have done it without you. And don't forget that there's still more to come at CBAJ with Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah!
We will mark the second anniversary of the October 7/Simchat Torah attacks on Shemini Atzeret, which is the yahrzeit (anniversary on the Hebrew calendar) of that terrible day in which 1,200 were killed, 3,400 were wounded, and more than 250 were taken hostage, and so much of the world was upended. Our Yizkor service will include additional tefilot in memory of the victims and the Dvar Torah will include a brief memorial.
Our hearts break over the news of the horrific attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, UK, on Yom Kippur that killed Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, and injured three others.
A friend and colleague of mine, whose parents are lifelong members of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, requested that we daven for the complete and speedy recovery of Anshel Yitzchok ben Malka (Andrew Franks, the volunteer security guard and single father & widower who was injured by the assailant) and Yehonoson ben Shina Gittel (Yoni Finlay, who injured by a ricocheting bullet fired by police responding to the attack).
I share with you a prayercomposed the UK's Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, along with a video of an interview he gave to Sky News, in which he emphasizes that "we will not be cowered" by this abominable terrorist attack. Chillingly, Chief Rabbi Mirvis notes "this was a day that we feared with come... given the deep tone of Jew-hatred... it was only a matter or time" and calls for a change in policing, language, and culture in the United Kingdom. I join him, and I am sure that you do as well, in calling for a more tolerant society that reaches out across divides, and in praying for that day to come.
May the families of the victims be comforted, may their memories be a blessing, and may the wounded have a refuah shleimah b'karov (a complete and speedy recovery.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING CBAJ EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sukkah Building On 10/5 at 8:45 am, after Shacharit Refreshments will be served Volunteers, please bring your own gloves, ladders & tools!
A Special Memorial October 7 Two Years Sunday, October 5, at 1 pm Location: Sidney Albert Albany JCC (340 Whitehall Road) Organized by Amidah Albany, Run for their Lives, the Sidney Albert Albany JCC, and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York. Community-Wide SUKKOT PARTY! Sunday, October 12th, 4 pm - 6 pm, at CBAJ.
Please scroll down for more information.
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, 8-9 pm On hiatus until after the Chagim Presented by CBAJ & Shomray Torah Guided learning Chaburah with Rabbi Kean studying Ein Yaakov.
Torah of Health & Healing Discussion Group One Shabbat per month following Kiddush Next date: October 18. Speak to Organizer Yosef Yishai Hilsen if you are interested in learning more, or if you would like to be a presenter!
WEEKLY LEARNING AT CBAJ
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 comradery. On hiatus until after the chagim.
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. On Hiatus until after the Chagim. 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 2025-2026 school year for Torah High, CBAJ's teen learning program, is underway! This year, we are opening up a fun middle school program aimed at supplementing your middle schooler's current Jewish education! Open to students 6th-12th grade. 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. The next date for Tot Shabbat is the first day of Sukkot, Tuesday, October 7th.
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 October 5 - October 10, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 am
Monday 6:40 am
Tuesday-Wednesday Sukkot I-II 9:00 am
Thursday-Friday Chol HaMoed Sukkot 6:20 am
MINCHA/MAARIV Monday-Friday 6:05 pm
CANDLE LIGHTING Monday, October 6 1st night of Sukkot 6:10 pm
Tuesday, October 7 2nd night of Sukkot AFTER 7:08 pm
Friday, October 10 Shabbat 6:03 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. ____________________________
Community Events
A Special Memorial - October 7, Two Years Sunday, October 5, at 1 PM - Albany JCC, Whitehall Rd., Albany
Community-Wide SUKKOT PARTY! Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Volunteers - please bring your own gloves, ladders & tools!
An Evening with Montana Tucker Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 7:30 PM
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
