Babysitting 10:00 am Youth Groups On hiatus for summer
Kiddush following services
Talmud Class 6:05 pm
Shabbat Mincha & Seudah Shlishit 7:05 pm
Maariv 8:05 pm Havdalah 8:13 pm
TORAH READING Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17, Artscroll p. 998 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5, p. 1199 KIDDUSH Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ.
SEUDAH SHLISHIT Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Michal & Ronen Hofman, Dalia & Haim Ben-Eliezer, and Lior Huli & Shoham Fiorentino in honor of the yahrzeit of Chen Zilberberg z"l, daughter of CBAJ members Keren & Amir Zilberberg.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Howard Carr, z''l, husband of Linda Carr; father of Aaron (Lauren) Carr and Lauren (Brett) Baxt; grandfather of Jordyn Baxt, Noah Baxt and Maddison Carr; brother of Melvin (Sandy) and CBAJ member Murray (Risa) Carr.
Click here for the obituary from Levine Memorial Chapel. Click here for a professional obituary from Albany Business Review.
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.
This week begins the month of Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. Traditionally, the month of Elul is associated with reflection and introspection in order to prepare our hearts for the spiritual experience of the Yamim Noraim.
On the one hand, this time can be associated with a sense of awe and trepidation, as we are approaching the most holiest days of judgment, in which our Tefilot tell us: "Malachim yechafezun, v'chil ur'adah yochezun - The angels rush forward, and they are grasped by trembling and shaking." (And let's face it, three weeks with three three-day yomtovs is a lot to prepare for!)
However, there is another side to Elul as well. Homiletically, Elul is understood as an acronym for the verse in Shir HaShirim "Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li - I am to my beloved, and my beloved is to me."
Similarly, R' Schneur Zalman of Liadi, better known as the "Alter Rebbe," the founder of Chabad Hassidut, wrote of Elul that it is the month of "Hamelech ba-sadeh - the King is in the field," a time when G-d is more available to us and more easily approached.
As Elul begins, let us use this as a time to already begin thinking about our relationship to Hashem and how we can nurture it for the coming year.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Torah High Announcement Open House for 2024-2025 Semesters
See Below For More Information
MIZRACHI'S SIMCHAT TORAH PROJECT
This year, CBAJ is participating in The Simchat Torah Project, by Mizrachi, in which synagogues around the world are dedicating a new Me'il (Torah cover) in memory of a Kadosh (martyr) who was killed in Hamas's horrific terror attacks last Simchat Torah in Israel to be used on Simchat Torah in years going forward.
In doing so, we carry their memories in our hearts and minds even as we continue to celebrate Torah.
On September 3, 12 PM EST, there will be a ceremony in Jerusalem, broadcast via livestream, in which representatives of each synagogue will be presented with their Torah covers. Our rabbi emeritus, Rabbi & Rebbetzin Bomzer, will receive the Torah covers on our behalf.
Torah High 2024-2025 Save the date for the Torah High Open House Monday, September 16 at 7:00 PM. (Please note revised date.) Details forthcoming. Tot Shabbat 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 Youth groups for children in grades k-5 will be on hiatus for the summer.
Babysitting Babysitting is available for children ages 0-5 every Shabbat morning 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 or 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 Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) * 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 Taanit.
*CBAJ ZOOM ROOM (weekday classes only) Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 | Enter passcode: 613518
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
CBAJ BOOK CLUB
The next book is "The gifts of the Jews: how a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels" by Thomas Cahill We'll meet by Zoom on October 9 at 8pm Shul copies available in the Carr Chapel during minyan times or by appointment Contact office@cbaj.org as needed.
Summer 2024 Senior Lunch & Learn Series Topic: Talmudic Personalities & their Relevance Today
Based on your feedback, and following-up on a popular lecture series at CBAJ, we will explore the life and times of some of the greatest figures of the Mishnah and Talmud. Through exploring their lives, we will get a window into the world of the Mishnah and Talmud, the foundational texts of Rabbinic Judaism, and explore the eternal relevance of their legacies.
September 24 Reish Lakish: The Gladiator Rabbi
Please register by contacting Seanan Herrick 518.489.5819 x3 or office@cbaj.org
All sessions will begin at 12:30 pm at CBAJ 380 Whitehall Rd.
Lunch is free of charge catered by 518 Kosher Catering & supervised by the Vaad Hakashruth of the Capital District
Please feel welcome to wear a mask during the event & take lunch home to enjoy
Community Beit Midrash Night will be on hiatus for the summer. Stay tuned for information about the Fall series!
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.
“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.
Please click HERE for an important message from our Security Committee & security partner, Community Security Service (CSS) regarding guidelines for attending pro-Israel events
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
JEWISH COALITION FOR LITERACY - Jewish Federation of NENY For over 20 years, the Jewish Coalition for Literacy has played an integral part in helping Kindergarten through 3rd grade students learn to read. We are looking for more volunteers and are having a Kick-off event on Thursday, September 19th at the Federation.Click here for more information.
PRICE CHOPPER KOSHER STORE RELOCATED & EXPANDED OPTIONS New Location: 1730 Central Avenue in Colonie We need you with us to show our solidarity behind the new venture, which will expand the kosher offerings in the community. The new store will host our kosher department as well as new offerings of To-Go-Meals & Kosher Sushi.
