TORAH READING Exodus 10:1 - 13:16, Artscroll p. 340 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28, p. 1151
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah Shabbat morning.
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS This week, Kiddush Conversations will be led by Barry Siegel, and the topic is: "The Nature of Miracles."
KIDDUSH This week Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to CBAJ member Etana Zack on her engagement to Mark Dredze of Rockville, MD!
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Rabbi Joel Lehrfield, z''l, the grandfather of Rabbi Benyamin Lehrfield, former rabbi of CBAJ. May his memory be for a blessing, and may his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THIS SHABBAT
Please be aware of the Winter Weather Advisory that is in effect in Albany this Shabbat, with a low in the single digits on Saturday. The dangerously cold temperaturescould cause frostbite on exposed skin. Everyone is encouraged to take this into account when walking to shul, and those who may be at greater risk are encouraged to consider remaining at home this week.
MESSAGE FROM RABBI KEAN
**PLEASE NOTE: Rabbi Kean will be on vacation from Sunday, February 8 to Sunday, February 22, and will then attend a rabbinic conference from Monday, February 23 to Thursday, February 26.
As always, Rabbi Kean will do the utmost to respond promptly to urgent rabbinic matters.**
Dear CBAJ Family,
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a restful and meaningful Shabbat!
As those of you who have been to weekday Shacharit in recent weeks are likely aware, I have recently become enamored with a book titled Soul Powered Prayers, by Rabbi David Aaron, the founder and Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Orayta (where a number of Albany-natives have studied over the last several years). For me, this book has been a paradigm-shift in how I relate to tefilah.
It is for that reason, that I am excited to share that CBAJ will soon be receiving a number of Rabbi Aaron's books, which will be available for you to read! They will be kept in the Carr Chapel! Please make use of this wonderful resource.
A brief thought from Soul Powered Prayers: The Hebrew word "lehitpalel," which is used to mean "pray" does not really mean to "pray." "Prayer" comes from the Latin word meaning "to beg." Rabbi Aaron writes that Jewish prayer is NOT predicated on the idea that Hashem will change His mind as a result of our "begging."
Rather, "lehitpalel" more accurately means "to envision," as in Yaakov's words to Yosef, upon being reunited with him in Egypt: "To see your face, I never imagined (pilalti, from the same root), and now G-d has even shown me your descendants." (Genesis 48:11). Rashi, commenting on that verse, explains the term thusly: "I never filled my heart to think the thought that I would see your face again."
Tefilah can thus be understood as a faith-building exercise, as a conscious practice in shaping our emunah, the way that we see the world, and allowing Hashem and his blessings to come into our lives and change who we are.
On that note, we continue to daven and demand the release of the body of Ran Gvili, the final hostage whose body remains in Gaza.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
CBAJ UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Winter Shabbaton January 30-31 | Grades 5 - 12 For more info please contact: shore.goldberg@ncsy.org
Tu B'Shevat Paint & Plant Event February 1st | 5:30 pm | @ CBAJ Please join us for an afternoon of parsley planting, pot painting & seder refreshments! Fun for all ages!
COMMUNITY BEIT MIDRASH NIGHT Alternating Sundays, 8-9 pm Presented by CBAJ & Shomray Torah Guided learning Chaburah with Rabbi Kean studying Ein Yaakov. Next meeting: February 1 @ CBAJ
READING CLASSICAL HEBREW COURSE With Mike Kupferschmid Hebrew Course Restarts in January Want to learn how to say words written in Hebrew letters? Want to learn what the words mean? Visit https://www.ashermath.com for details about the course. Send email to nancylawson10@gmail.com if you are interested.
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS
2025/2026 Topic: PARSHAPERSPECTIVES Got an insight? Lead a session! Develop and share your insights and understanding of a Parashah. Speak to Rabbi Kean or Simma K if you are interested in learning more.
HALACHA YOMIT Mondays, Wednesdays - Fridays following Shacharit (approx. 7:20 on Tues/Fri, 7:30 on Mon/Thurs). Join us in studying halacha every morning Kitzur Shulchan Aruch for 5-10 minutes following weekday Shacharit.
MORNING TANYA: BREAKFAST & LEARNING WEDNESDAYS, 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 camaraderie.
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 the end of Shabbat. 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
Family Learning Night For children in grades K-8 and families. On Motzei Shabbat on select weeks during winter months. Dates: February 14, March 14 All events at CBAJ. Free admission. Pizza dinner included. Please contact Shore Goldberg with any questions.
Albany NCSY Guy's Night Out At Dave & Busters February 12 | 5 - 6:30 PM | Grades 6 - 12 Email: shore.goldberg@ncsy.org for more info > Click here < to see the Guy's Night Out poster.
Albany NCSY Girl's Pizza And Parashah February 26 | 6 - 8 PM | Grades 6 - 12 | @ CBAJ Email: shore.goldberg@ncsy.org for more info > Click here < to see the Girl's Pizza And Parashah poster.
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. *Remaining Tot Shabbat Dates for the 2025 - 2026 year: 2/7, 2/28 & 3/14. 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 all children ages 0-5 every Shabbat morning from 10:00-11:30 am!
DAILY SERVICES NEXT WEEK January 25 - 30, 2026
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 AM
Monday - Friday 6:40 AM
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Friday 4:35 PM
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, January 30, 2026 4:47 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.
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.
Camperships & Scholarships available through JFED Camperships: Thinking about overnight camp for your child? (They) can help. Scholarships: Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York offers a number of scholarships for college and graduate school students based on merit and/or financial need. APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 20, 2026 For more information on Camperships & Scholarships, please visit: https://www.jewishfedny.org/scholarships
Registration Open: 2026 NORPAC Mission to Washington, DC Registration is now open for the 2026 NORPAC Mission to Washington, DC - Wednesday, May 13th. Contact Rabbi Kean for a CBAJ connection to learn more. As the challenges facing Israel and the Jewish community grow more serious and complex, direct engagement with Members of Congress is more important than ever. The NORPAC Mission allows our members to advocate face-to-face on the issues that matter most. This year, it is essential that we show up in large numbers—our presence, our voices, and our commitment make a real difference. Register for the 2026 NORPAC Mission here: www.norpac.net/mission-to-washington
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
