TORAH READING Exodus 30:11 - 34:35, p. 484 Haftarah: I Kings 18:1-39, p. 1160 SPEAKER Rabbi Kean will deliver a Dvar Torah. KIDDUSH This Shabbat, Kiddush is sponsored in honor of the first yahrzeit of Rabbi Meyer Leifer, father of Mark Leifer, father-in-law of Simi Leifer and Zayde to Ella and Abby Leifer.
MAZAL TOV Mazal Tov to CBAJ member Nachum Wildman and the Wildman family on Nachum's aufruf on Shabbos, and Mazal Tov to Nachum Wildman and Aviva Friedman on the occasion of their wedding Sunday in Baltimore.
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 and joyous Purim!
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN & READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE EMAIL! We have many upcoming events you may be interested in!
Our Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat with Rabbi Sam Shor is next week! Remember that the deadline to register for both the Friday night dinner and Sunday BBQ & seder prep evening is this Monday, March 17!
I also wanted to draw your attention to a special opportunity to help out our youth department with the next Family Learning Night -- something which EVERYONE can do! It is fill out this survey about Purim: https://forms.gle/JTJavoLEx9uPcg4eA.
The next Family Learning Night is modeled on the tv classic "Family Feud" -- and the answer to all the questions is based on survey results! Your participation will make for a fun and educational program for our shul's youth!
Additionally, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the World Zionist Congress election has begun. The deadline to vote is May 4. The World Zionist Organization controls the influence and funding that affect the future of the Jewish people in both Israel and the United States and your community's involvement is essential to getting the vote out in our orthodox community.
The OIC-Mizrachi (Orthodox Israel Coalition) slate (Slate #5) represents the major Orthodox Zionist institutions in the United States and stands for the ideals of defending Eretz Yisrael, Uniting Am Yisrael and Spreading Torat Yisrael.
Initiatives of OIC-Mizrachi directly affect the U.S. Jewish community here in the U.S. with programming such as shlichim in the local yeshivot, funding for yeshivot and seminaries in Israel, JLIC initiatives in the U.S. and Israel and much more.
We continue to pray for those who still remain in Gaza and their families, with hopes that they are returned home soon, especially given what we know about the absolute hell that those who were released have endured.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
CBAJ INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
Partnership with EPIC Family. CBAJ is proud to partner with Epic Family, an organization that provides support and counseling to children living in Israel. Epic Family has seen a tremendous uptick in need in the past year since October 7 due to the war. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to support care for one child for one year, or recruit 20 people to give $25 per month for 1 year. Click here to view the flyer or visit EPIC Family's websiteto learn more.
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.
* CHOCHOLATE WORKSHOP AT CBAJ * with kitchen coach Henny Shor Tuesday, March 25, at 7:30 pm
Click Here to Register $36 per person & other sponsorships available Sign up by Sunday 3/23
Scroll down for additional details on all upcoming events & programs
CBAJ COMMUNITY
Announcing a new CBAJ Program! 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.
We are eager for everyone to attend our services and programs and to feel welcome and safe while in our building. Anyone who has symptoms of any illness or is not feeling well is strongly encouraged to stay home. Better to miss services than risk spreading illness. While in attendance, frequent hand-washing is encouraged as well as minimizing close contact with others.
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Torah High The Torah High Winter/Spring 2025 semester is underway! Taught by Rabbi Kean and Rabbi Tzvi Holt. Mondays at 7:00 pm for students in grades 8 - 12, dinner included! Any interested families whose students are interested in learning more about Torah High should contact Rabbi Kean directly, rabbi@cbaj.org Tot Shabbat For children ages 0-5 and their parents at 10:30 am in classroom 2. 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 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 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*. 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 Motza'ei Shabbat Maariv 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
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.
The Next Living Room Learning is March 30th at 8:00 pm Hosted by Lori & Akiva Calka Led by Barry Siegel The Prayer of Solomon A Vision Unfulfilled
Please REGISTER HERE to help the presenter and hosts to plan accordingly
If you are interested in either hosting and or leading a future Living Room Learning, please reach out to Simma Kinderlehrer!
Topic for the Winter 2025 Series: "Great Torah Commentators We Don't Hear From" A look at lesser-known and lesser-studied commentators on the weekly Parsha. Final Winter Installment: March 18 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
Save these dates too for the SPRING 2025 LUNCH & LEARN SERIES April 29, May 27, June 17
Community Beit Midrash Night Begins Again! Alternating Sundays at 8:00 PM at CBAJ. Presented by CBAJ & Shomray Torah Guided learning Chaburah with Rabbi Kean studying Ein Yaakov. Dedicated as a merit for the refuah shleimah of Zev Chaim ben Michal Sivan. Next Beit Midrash Night: Sunday, March 9
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
WOMEN'S PHILANTHROPY COUMMUNITY-WIDE EVENT March 20, 2025 at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob Women's Philanthropy invites you to join Abigail Pogrebin and Dov Linzer for a deep dive into the Torah in their new book, It Takes Two to Torah. CLICK HEREto learn more about this Jewish Federation sponsored event, being moderated by Rabbi Ben Kean. Pre-registration required.
518 KOSHER CATERING Passover Offerings - Click Here Learn more about 518 Kosher's Shabbos catering at their website. https://kosher518.com
Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob 380 Whitehall Rd Albany, NY 12208
