CBAJ Programming News

 Message from the President 

Preserving Our Past – Protecting Our Future

Dear Friend,

For nearly 200 years, our CBAJ cemetery has stood as a sacred place and final resting place for generations of righteous souls. It stands not only as a physical space of eternal peace, but as a living testament to our shared history, values,
and reverence for kavod ha’met (honoring the deceased).

With the passage of time, the needs of the cemetery grow – aging monuments require care, grounds must be maintained, and security must be ensured. Now, we turn to you to help preserve this historic legacy for the next 200 years and beyond.

We are pleased to announce the creation of
The CBAJ Cemetery Endowment Fund

This fund will enable us to secure and sustain our cemetery’s
operations in perpetuity

This launch includes a unique opportunity:
Every dollar you give to the Cemetery Endowment Fund will be matched
— dollar for dollar —
thanks to the generosity of dedicated benefactors

The campaign is off to a great start - we have raised over $20,000 in gifts and pledges, which doubles to over $40,000 thanks to our generous matching donors.

If you have not already contributed, please consider supporting the campaign today - any donation you make will be similarly doubled.

 
Will you help us protect this sacred heritage?

Your support honors not only the memory of those who came before us, but also our collective responsibility to the future. Whether you have family buried here or simply value the preservation of our Jewish history, your gift matters deeply. With your help, we can preserve the dignity of those who came before us and fulfill the mitzvah of chesed shel emet (charity of truth)— the truest act of kindness, one that can never be repaid.
​​​​​​​

With gratitude and blessings,

Elliot Chester, President, Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob
Mark Israel, Cemetery Chair, Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob

Donations may also be mailed to:
CBAJ (Memo: Cemetery Fund)  
380 Whitehall Road | Albany, NY 12208

 Message from the President 

Dear {{first_name}}, 

It is my bitterweet duty to announce that our office manager, Seanan Herrick, will be departing CBAJ on June 30.

Seanan joined CBAJ in October 2017, taking over an Office Manager position that had been vacant for nearly two months. She quickly learned the ins and outs of the organization and has become an invaluable and committed partner in all facets of our shul's work, from member relations and events planning to vendor coordination and financial organization.

Her work has run the gamut from learning and mastering our new website platform to clearing dishes from the kitchen counters after an event - through the years, no task or project has been too big or too small for Seanan.

Seanan recently obtained her master's degree in Counseling and Community Psychology from Russell Sage College, and has accepted a position with Northern Rivers as a Mental Health Clinician in the Prevention Program. (You can read more about the program's work here.)

Although Seanan's last day as a regular CBAJ employee will be June 30, she has graciously agreed to continue working with us on a per diem basis after that date to ensure a smooth transition of her responsibilities and knowledge.

This Sunday, June 15, Seanan will attend our annual membership meeting and BBQ - the meeting will include a tribute to her time with the organization. She will also be joining us for an upcoming Shabbat kiddush - stay tuned for more details.

The Personnel & Grievance committee has already begun its search for a new Office Manager, and will conduct multiple in-person interviews with finalists for the position early next week. We will update the congregation as the search progresses.

Please join me in thanking Seanan for her eight years of dedicated service to CBAJ - if you want to get in touch, you may email her at seanan@cbaj.org for the rest of the month.

Warm regards, 
Elliot Chester
President

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Dear  {{first_name}} ,

 Message from the President 

Preserving Our Past – Protecting Our Future

Dear Friend,

For nearly 200 years, our CBAJ cemetery has stood as a sacred place and final resting place for generations of righteous souls. It stands not only as a physical space of eternal peace, but as a living testament to our shared history, values,
and reverence for kavod ha’met (honoring the deceased).

With the passage of time, the needs of the cemetery grow – aging monuments require care, grounds must be maintained, and security must be ensured. Now, we turn to you to help preserve this historic legacy for the next 200 years and beyond.

We are pleased to announce the creation of
The CBAJ Cemetery Endowment Fund

This fund will enable us to secure and sustain our cemetery’s
operations in perpetuity

This launch includes a unique opportunity:
Every dollar you give to the Cemetery Endowment Fund will be matched
— dollar for dollar —
thanks to the generosity of dedicated benefactors

This is a rare opportunity to make your gift go twice as far. A donation of $180 becomes $360. A gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000. Together, we can secure perpetual care for our cemetery - so that it will remain a place of peace, memory, and Jewish continuity for generations to come.

 
Will you help us protect this sacred heritage?

Your support honors not only the memory of those who came before us, but also our collective responsibility to the future. Whether you have family buried here or simply value the preservation of our Jewish history, your gift matters deeply. With your help, we can preserve the dignity of those who came before us and fulfill the mitzvah of chesed shel emet (charity of truth)— the truest act of kindness, one that can never be repaid.
​​​​​​​

With gratitude and blessings,

Elliot Chester, President, Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob
Mark Israel, Cemetery Chair, Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob

Donations may also be mailed to:
CBAJ (Memo: Cemetery Fund)  
380 Whitehall Road | Albany, NY 12208

SIMCHA KIDDUSH LUNCHEON
on Shabbat Emor
*5/17/2025*

Share with us announcements
of a birthday or mark an anniversary,
 Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby 
Make known an achievement or express gratitude. 

The Kiddush Luncheon is organized by by our
Simcha Kiddush volunteers and co-sponsored
(at any level you'd like) by members of our community celebrating a special occasion. 

SIMCHA KIDDUSH LUNCHEON
on Shabbat Emor
5/14/2025

Share with us announcements
of a birthday or mark an anniversary,
 Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby 
Make known an achievement or express gratitude. 

The Kiddush Luncheon is organized by by our
Simcha Kiddush volunteers and co-sponsored
(at any level you'd like) by members of our community celebrating a special occasion. 

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Dear {{first_name}},

You are invited to attend CBAJ's next Living Room Learning on 
Sunday, May 4th at 11:00 pm, led by Rabbi Dr. David Bauman 
"Ashkenazi or Sephardic? What does it mean to be an indigenous Jew?".

Hosted by Elly & Rabbi David Bauman (address provided after registration).
 
Kindly REGISTER HERE to help the presenter and the hosts plan accordingly.
Deadline to register is Wednesday, April 30th.

Living Room Learning
The Adult Education Committee is pleased to present a new learning initiative! 
​​​​​​​Living Room Learning will give CBAJ 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 or teaching for Living Room Learning,
please reach out to Simma Kinderlehrer!

by 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 20

SIMCHA KIDDUSH LUNCHEON
on Parshat Parah Vayakhel for
Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat with Rabbi Sam Shor
3/22/2024
 
Share with us announcements
of a birthday or mark an anniversary,
 Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby 
Make known an achievement or express gratitude. 

The Kiddush Luncheon will be specially prepared by our Simcha Kiddush volunteers and co-sponsored
(at any level you'd like) by members of our community celebrating a special occasion. 

Scroll down to read about upcoming events!

KI MI-TZION TEITZEI TORAH:
Shabbat with Rabbi Sam Shor
ON SHABBAT VAYAKHEL / PARAH
MARCH 21-23

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MARCH 21
6:30 pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv
7:30 pm Friday Night Dinner (by paid registration only)
8:40 pm First talk by R' Shor: "SEEING THE GOOD IN ONE ANOTHER"
The Mishna in Avot Presents us with the mandate to Judge our Fellow Favorably. What are the parameters and practical applications of this sacred principle?

SHABBAT DAY, MARCH 22
9:00 am Shacharit
11:15 am Second Talk by R' Shor: "ONE PEOPLE, ONE HEART - A VISION FOR MEDINAT YISRAEL"
We will explore a few powerful teachings from two Chasidic Masters who lived in Tel Aviv as the State of Israel was established. Their beautiful teachings about Jewish Unity give us a vision for the Future of Medinat Yisrael.
12:00 pm Kiddush Luncheon (open to all)

5:45 pm  Pre-Mincha shiur by R' Shor: "DIVINE CONNECTIONS - DISCOVERING MEANING IN MITZVOT"
We often define mitzvot as commandments or obligations, but does that definition truly capture what mitzvot are truly all about?
6:45 pm Mincha
7:05 pm Seudah Shlishit, featuring Dvar Torah from R' Shor: "THE RELEVANCE OF SHABBAT PARAH IN THE ABSENCE OF THE BEIT HAMIKDASH."
7:42 pm Maariv
7:52 pm Shabbat concludes

SUNDAY, MARCH 23
7:30-9:15 pm GETTING IT RIGHT ON THE SEDER NIGHT
Enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and beverages, learn inspiring ideas to elevate your Pesach Seder. By registrations only. In conjunction with the Vaad HaKashruth of the Capital District and 518 Kosher Catering. See flyer below for details.
​​​​​​​Deadline to register for the BBQ is Monday, 3/17/2025.

RABBI SAM SHOR'S BIO

Albany native, Rabbi Sam Shor is the Director of Torah Initiatives for OU Israel, where he oversees a vast network of educational initiatives,
including Torah classes, tours and experiential educational programming
for the Anglo community across Israel.
For the past three decades, Rabbi Shor has gained acclaim for his inspirational teaching, his work in adult education and as a mentor for young rabbis across the globe. His weekly column of inspirational Jewish wisdom-Simchat Shmuel appears as a regular feature of OU Israel's popular Torah Tidbits publication with a readership of more than 30,000 people each week. 
Sam grew up in Albany at CBAJ, served as NCSY Chapter and Regional President, then later as NCSY City Director and Associate Regional Director. Following his work with NCSY, Sam served with distinction as the Director of Judaic Life at the Sidney Albert Albany JCC.  Since leaving Albany,
​​​​​​​Rabbi Sam has maintained a strong connection with the Capital District Jewish community, even following his aliya to Israel in 2009.
Rabbi Shor lives with his family in Yerushalayim where he is a popular Torah teacher for the English speaking community.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

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Dear {{first_name}},

You are invited to attend the next Living Room Learning
February 22nd at 7:00 pm, led by Josh Wildman
Hosted by Lori & Akiva Calka (address provided after registration)
 
Please REGISTER HERE to help the presenter and hosts plan accordingly
Deadline to register is Thursday, 2/20/24

Living Room Learning
The Adult Education Committee is pleased to present a new learning initiative! 
​​​​​​​Living Room Learning will give CBAJ 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 or teaching for Living Room Learning,
please reach out to Simma Kinderlehrer!

Last Chance to submit for the Winter Simcha Kiddush  
Submit your dedication by 8:00 am tomorrow morning 
Friday 2/7/2025

JOIN US! 
for our January/February
SIMCHA KIDDUSH LUNCHEON
& TOT SHABBAT
 on
Shabbat Beshalach
2/8/2025
 
Share with us any special announcement:
mark a birthday or an anniversary
 Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby 
Make known an achievement or express gratitude. 

The Simcha Kiddush Committee has planned the next Simcha Kiddush Luncheon (dairy) with
 518Kosher, 
supervision provided by Va'ad Hakashruth
of the Capital District.

JOIN US! 
for our January/February
SIMCHA KIDDUSH LUNCHEON
& TOT SHABBAT
 on
Shabbat Beshalach
2/8/2025
 
Share with us any special announcement:
mark a birthday or an anniversary
 Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby 
Make known an achievement or express gratitude. 

The Simcha Kiddush Committee has planned the next Simcha Kiddush Luncheon (dairy) with
 518Kosher, 
supervision provided by Va'ad Hakashruth
of the Capital District.

{{current_date}}

Dear  {{first_name}} ,

There are 2 learning opportunities this week with time sensitive information - please continue reading!

1) CBAJ's FALL LECTURE SERIES, Lashon Hara: Laws, Practice, Values
NOTE:  DATE CHANGED TO WEDNESDAY 12/11/2024 @ 7:30!
(no lecture tonight) 
Both in-person in the Carr Chapel and on Zoom - click here for the link,
passcode 613518

2) LIVING ROOM LEARNING
Saturday evening, December 14th 7:30 pm
Location: Home of Chaim Schaffer & Simma Kinderlehrer.
Topic: Coexisting with My Inner Demons with Judaism as a Mediator
led by Daniela & Vadim Mikhaylov
For planning purposes, please register ahead here 
deadline to register 12/12/24

Living Room Learning
The Adult Education Committee is pleased to present a new learning initiative! 
​​​​​​​Living Room Learning will give CBAJ 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 or teaching for Living Room Learning,
please reach out to Simma Kinderlehrer!

SIMCHA KIDDUSH LUNCHEON
& Scholar-in-Residence on
Shabbat Vayetzei
12/7/2024
 
Share with us announcements
of a birthday or mark an anniversary,
 Announce an engagement, marriage, or a new baby 
Make known an achievement or express gratitude. 

The Kiddush Luncheon will be specially prepared by our Simcha Kiddush volunteers and co-sponsored
(at any level you'd like) by members of our community celebrating a special occasion. 

Dear CBAJ Membership, 

Applications can now be submitted for the David and Rose Udelson Bray Scholarship Fund. The award is available to support undergraduate or graduate study. 

Details about eligibility, the application process, and award amounts can be found here. Inquiries and completed applications may be sent to president@cbaj.org. 

Applications for the current fall semester or upcoming spring semester are due by Tuesday, Decmeber 31, 2024. 

Sincerely, 
Elliot Chester
​​​​​​​President