TORAH READING Exodus 18:1 - 20:23: Artscroll p. 394 Haftarah: Isaiah 5:1- 7:6, p. 1154
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah Shabbat morning.
KIDDUSH CONVERSATION Kiddush conversation this week will be led by David Selis, who is visiting Albany from Washington Heights, New York City. His topic is on illuminated haggadot and other liturgical texts, and how Jews have used illustration to add meaning to our prayer. David is a PhD candidate at Yeshiva University's Bernard Revel Graduate School.
SIMCHA KIDDUSH The Simcha Kiddush this Shabbat is prepared by the Simcha Kiddush Committee, and co-sponsored by CBAJ, and by the families of our celebrants:
Nanette and Artie Brenner and family in honor of Lianna Brenner's birthday.
Stacy and David Cohen in honor of their son Ben's marriage to Ilana Oestreicher.
Moshe Kudan in honor of Zalmy and Shterna Kudan on the birth of a boy named Moshe Aharon!!
Nina Mikhaylova and Grigoriy Mikhaylov in honor of Shabbat Hattan of Vadim Mikhaylov and Daniela Mikhaylova, first birthday of Yaakov Yehiel Perkins, and birthdays of David Mikhaylov and Nina Mikhaylova. In honor of the Shabbat Hattan, we will be having Sheva Brachot at Kiddush.
Marcy Stryker in honor of Rabbi Bomzer and the kindness he shows to her parents.
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a meaningful and restful Shabbat. Once again, please remember to dress warmly this Shabbat!
We hope to see you soon at one of our services, classes, youth programs or social events.
This week, we feel a mix of emotions in response to the attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas last Shabbat: Shock that an attack like this happened once again so close to home.
Anger at the fact that violent hatred of Jews remains at once so prevalent in the world, yet at the same time, is an afterthought in the media and in society at large.
Fear for our safety in light of the above and the possibility that such an attack may happen again.
Admiration for the bravery, courage, and cool and quick thinking Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, Jeffrey Cohen, and the other escaped hostages. Gratitude, first and foremost to the Almighty, for granting safety and salvation to all of those who were trapped inside, and to the law enforcement and security personnel who have assisted in protecting our communities.
If you would like to talk about any of the feelings or fears that you may have in response to this attack, please reach out to me. I would be happy either to speak to you myself or connect you to other mental health resources in our community.
Finally, I hope that in spite of whatever fear remains, our response to this tragedy can include, along with a continued commitment to ensuring our security, a strengthened resolve not to allow hatred and anti-Semitism from deterring us even one iota from being proud of who we are as Jews and from expressing and practicing our religion.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
WEEKLY LEARNING AT CBAJ
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS Kiddush Conversations are discussions led by CBAJ members following kiddush (& before Mincha). This year's topic isTefilah: Making it Personal To sign-up to lead a conversation, email Rabbi Kean.
WEEKLY CLASSES TORAH & TEA Torah & Tea is back on Thursday mornings, 9:30 - 10:30 AM, in person in the chapel & on Zoom*. We will continue studying II Kings.
PARSHAH CLASS Rabbi Kean hosts a weekly class on the ParshahThursday nights at 7:30 pm. Join for in-depth discussions on topics in the weekly parasha on the CBAJ Zoom room*.
This week's parshah class was sponsored by Mark & Chana Israel and Emunah and Ron Sohn and family in memory of Shalom Hirsch ben Nachum (Mark and Emunah's father), whose yohrtzeit was this past Sunday.
TALMUD CLASS Join our Saturday night TALMUD SHIUR on the CBAJ Zoom room*. We are studying Masechet Makkot. This week, the shiur starts at 6:40 pm.
This week's Talmud class is sponsored by Mark & Chana Israel and Emunah and Ron Sohn as a merit for the refuah shalayma for Shlomo ben Basha. *ZOOM INFORMATION Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 Enter passcode: 613518
SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES
SHABBAT MORNING LECTURE SERIES A lecture series, entitled Talmudic Personalities, will be held on select Shabbat mornings following 9:00 AM services (11/20, 12/18, 2/12, 3/12). This next lecture is 2/12/22, entitled Rabbi Meir & "Acher": A Sage and His Heretical Teacher
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Youth Groups Kids in grades k-5 will meet each Shabbat morning at 10-11 am. Groups will be led by our youth director, Jack Hartstein, and teen youth leaders. For more information about attending, or if your teen wants to work as a youth leader, contact Jack Hartstein.
Torah High The first semester of Torah High is underway! For questions about enrollment, please contact Rabbi Kean. First semester runs through 2/14/2022. Second semester starts 2/28/2022.
Mishna Club Children in grades 5-8 are invited to Mishnah Club during kiddush with Jack Hartstein this Shabbat (Jan 22)! (approx. 11:30 am). NCSY Events Save the date for the next chapter Shabbaton on 2/5/2022!
David and Rose Udelson Bray Scholarship
Applications for 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 next semester are due by Sunday, January 30, 2022.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SIMCHA KIDDUSH PARTICIPATION The CBAJ Simcha Kiddush Committee invites you to co-sponsor the upcoming February SimchaKiddush on February 12th - click here to sponsor.
DAILY SERVICES
January 23 - January 28, 2022
Shacharit Sunday: 8:00 am Monday - Friday: 6:45 am
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 a Life & Legacy committee member about partnering on this crucial initiative to ensure the vitality of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob for the next 200 years. For more information, contact office@cbaj.org .
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CAMP GIVAH 2022 Camp Givahis a wonderful Jewish camp located in the scenic Helderberg Mountains, which welcomes campers from preschool through high school. Camp Givah is actively looking for staff for Givah 2022. Interested applicants, who are at least going into the 11th grade, should apply here by February 1, 2022. 2022 Scholarships - Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY The Federation is pleased to announce the availability of Academic based on merit and/or financial need for undergraduate and graduate students, and financial-need based scholarships for enriched Jewish experiences for children in grades k-12. Visit the Federation's website for more detailed information The deadline for all applications is Friday, February 25, 2022.
Unpacking Israel Series for Jewish High School Students The Federation invites Jewish teens to participate in an exciting new interactive program with OpenDor Media to explore what Israel means to them personally. The program begins Sunday, January 9, 1-2:30 PM, and will continue monthly through the June. There is no cost to participate, and lunch will be served to all in-person attendees. To learn more about the program,click here or contact Shara Siegfeld (email: sharasiegfeld@gmail.com, text: 518-281-4221).
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES JFS Support Groups JFS has launched their new winter series of support groups for all ages, facilitated by JFS clinical staff. Groups are held via Zoom or over the phone.
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
