TORAH READING Genesis 1:1 - 6:8, Artscroll p. 2 Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5 - 43:10, p. 1130
SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah on Shabbat morning entitled "Standing Strong, Never Backing Down," responding to the war in Israel. KIDDUSH Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by CBAJ this Shabbat.
SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit this Shabbat is sponsored by CBAJ.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Ilan Fiorentino (Ilan ben Yehuda v'Nurit), Hashem Yikom Damav, brother of Keren (and Amir) Zilberberg and Shoham Fiorentino. Ilan was killed by Hamas in the ongoing attacks against Israel. Funeral and Shiva will take place in Israel. May Ilan's family be comforted, and may his memory be a blessing.
MESSAGE FROM RABBI KEAN
Dear CBAJ Family,
Needless to say, this has been a dark and difficult week for the entire Jewish people. Words cannot possibly express the depths of our sorrow and anger over hearing of the news of the abhorrent and brutal slaughter of 1,200 Jews in Israel, Hashem Yikom D’meihem, by Hamas terrorists which cruelly targeted civilians, babies and young children, the elders, and the vulnerable, along with the taking of at least 150 hostages, including civilians of all ages, thousands more injured, and other brutal atrocities. Our hearts with Israel now more than ever.
We continue to urge you to look for opportunities to support Israel, including donating money (either to the Federation's fund, or any of the other organizations we recommended to you earlier), through prayer and learning, through personal outreach, and through political advocacy.
We have been in touch with the Jewish Federation as well as the authorities about our local safety. We have been assured that in spite of Hamas's despicable calls for "global jihad," we should feel safe continue normal activities. Local authorities are taking our security seriously, and we have coordinated with the Albany County Sheriff's office to have extra patrols in neighborhoods where congregants will be walking to and from CBAJ.
The impossible question now for me is: what should the mood of this Shabbat be? On the one hand, we cannot ignore our intense feelings of mourning, grief, and anger. We will be expressing these feelings with special prayers, including Avinu Malkeinu, normally not recited on Shabbat, but with Rav Herschel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and Senior Posek of the OU, is instructing communities to recite.
On the other hand, we cannot let Hamas or anyone else break our joy, our determination, our confidence, our love for Israel or being Jewish. In light of that, I encourage you to come to shul, and we will still be singing and celebrating Shabbat.
I know that this may be hard to do right now. But if it helps, please watch this widely-circulated video by a brave Israeli soldier, Arkie, encouraging Jews around the world to joyously celebrate this Shabbat as a sign of our resolve and determination.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
Please click HERE for an important message from our Security Committee & security partner, Community Security Service (CSS) regarding guidelines for attending pro-Israel events
UPCOMING EVENTS
TAKING DOWN THE CBAJ SUKKAH This Sunday, 10/15, after shacharit, Volunteers are needed to help take down our CBAJ Sukkah. (If we get significant rain over the weekend, then we would reschedule for an afternoon/evening next week)
CHALLAH BAKE FOR ISRAEL FUNDRAISER
By CBAJ & Capital Chabad Date: Wednesday, October 18 Location: CBAJ Social Hall Time: 7:00 pm Click HERE to donate or indicate if you will be attending Recommended minimum donation of $18. Donations of all sizes are accepted. All proceeds will go to supporting United Hatzalah in their efforts to support Israel during the ongoing crisis.
ISRAEL SOLIDARITY & SIMCHA KIDDUSH
The next Simcha Kiddush is October 21 (Next Shabbat) We are changing this Simcha Kiddush to be a "Solidarity & Simcha Kiddush" for the situation in Israel. Funds raised in excess of the costs of Kiddush will be donated to Friends of the IDF. Sponsors are invited to submit their celebratory announcements by Thursday, 10/19/2023. Click hereto complete the online form or email office@cbaj.org.
YOUTH PROGAMS
Torah High2023-2024 Semester began Monday October 9th CBAJ's Torah High meets Mondays, 7-9 pm and is open to all students in grades 8 - 12. Dinner is served. Contact Rabbi Kean with questions. Online registration available HERE Tot Shabbat The next Tot Shabbat is 10/21/23 For children ages 0-5 and their parents at 10:30 am in classroom 3. Please contact Joshua Schulman-Marcus (jschumar@gmail.com) if you would like to be added to the Young Families WhatsApp group. 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 for 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/restrictions. Children in diapers may participate, but babysitters will not be able to change diapers, so please check on kids in diapers.
WEEKLY LEARNING AT CBAJ
NACH YOMI Join Rabbi Kean for studying a chapter 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*. Studying Kings 2. * 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 Mincha. We are studying Masechet Makkot.
*CBAJ ZOOM ROOM (weekday classes only) Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 | Enter passcode: 613518
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
SENIOR LUNCH & LEARN * A Theodore Strauss z"l Endowment Fund sponsored program
The Lunch & Learn for Seniors with Rabbi Kean will resume after the High Holy Days on 10/24. Please contact our events coordinator Beth Liotta Tyler at 518.489.5819 x4 or events@cbaj.org for more information.
THE DEE PIRKEI AVOT PROJECT
The Dee Pirkei Avot project disseminates a weekly Pirkei Avot study and discussion sheet in honor of their memory of Lucy, Maia, and Rina, z''l, who were killed in a terrorist attack this year.
“It’s when the winds blow the hardest that you need the deepest roots” Rabbi Lord 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 Kaplowitzthe Life & Legacy committee chairs about partnering on this crucial initiative to ensure the vitality of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob for the next 200 years.
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
