Shabbat Parshat Zachor Tetzaveh February 27 - 28, 2026
Friday Candle Lighting 5:24 pm
Friday Night Services 5:20 pm
Shabbat Morning Services 9:00 am
Latest Shema 9:21 am
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am
Tot Shabbat 10:30 am
Kiddush Following services
Second Zachor Reading 12:00 pm
Shabbat Mincha 12:36 pm Talmud Class 5:40 pm
Havdalah 6:25 pm Maariv 6:40 pm
TORAH READING Exodus 27:20 - 30:10, Artscroll, p. 464 Maftir: Deuteronomy 25:17-19, p. 1066 Haftarah: I Samuel 15:2-34, p. 1214
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah Shabbat morning.
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS This week, Kiddush Conversations will be led by Rabbi Kean, titled, "The Revelation of Purim."
KIDDUSH This Shabbat, Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to Rob & Ilana Kovach on the upcoming marriage of their son Levi to Goldy Franks, daughter of Laurence & Shayna Franks and Naomi Surtees. Mazel tov to grandparents Barbara & Harry Ungerman, Rainy & Stu Kovach, Brenda Franks, and Doreen Surtees.
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!
After a very meaningful, enjoyable, and restful vacation, I am very excited to see everyone this Shabbat!
As a reminder, this week is when we read Parshat Zachor, which according most authorities is an obligation to hear once a year, ideally on this Shabbat, ideally from a Torah reader. For that reason, we have a second, later reading of Zachor at 12 pm, after Kiddush. Those unable to make it should recite the words of Zachor (Deuteronomy 25:17-19, Artscroll p. 1066) from a printed Chumash.
This also means that Purim is this Monday night! Scroll down to see everything that we have planned. I hope to join you in celebrating! The messages of Purim - v'nahafoch hu, "it was reversed," and the idea of G-d's protection of the Jewish people in distress; the need for us to take proactive efforts to defend ourselves and play an active role in history; the idea of seeing G-d even when He is hidden - all remain so powerfully relevant today.
Fast Begins: 5:18 am Shacharit: 6:20 am Mincha: 5:20 pm Maariv & Family Megillah Reading: 6:05 pm Followed by light break fast Fast ends: 6:17 pm Late "Quiet" Reading: 8 pm
Tuesday, March 3 Purim Day:
Shacharit & Megillah Reading: 6:20 am - Remember Tzedakah for Matanot La'Evyonim CBAJ PURIM CARNIVAL with HACD & MAIMONIDES: 12 pm - 3 pm Late Family Megillah Reading: 4:30 pm Mincha/Maariv: 5:30 pm
CBAJ UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Winter Senior Lunch & Learn March 10 | 12:30 PM | CBAJ Social Hall Please email: office@cbaj.org to RSVP
Community Shushan Purim Celebration March 4 | Doors open @ 5:30 PM | Albany JCC Featuring: Live music, prizes & dancing! Catering provided by 518 Kosher; pre-order by March 1 using the following link: https://www.tinyurl.com/518Kosher
A Journey Through Middle Eastern Spices with The Spice Detective - a flavorful, hands-on culinary experience to savor! Thursday, March 19 | 7 PM | @ CBAJ | Hosted by the Jewish Federation of NENY For more info and to register for this event, please visit: https://www.jewishfedny.org/federation-events/spice-detective Click hereto see the flyer for this event!
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
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
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: March 8 at 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. Next date:March 14 All events at CBAJ. Free admission - Pizza dinner included! Please contact Shore Goldberg with any questions.
Tri-State NCSY Upstate Regional SHABBATON March 20 & 21 | In Albany | Grades 6 - 12 | More details to follow... Click here to see the poster for this event!
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:2/28 & 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 March 1 - 6, 2026
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 AM
Monday Shacharit & Selichot 6:20 AM
Tuesday Shacharit & Megilah Reading 6:20 AM
Wednesday - Friday 6:40 AM
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday 5:30 PM
Monday 5:20 PM
Tuesday - Friday 5:30 PM
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, March 6, 2026 5:32 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.
