Shabbat Mevarchim Chayei Sara November 14-15, 2025
Friday Candle Lighting 4:15 pm
Friday Night Services 4:20 pm
Shabbat Morning Services 9:00 am
Latest Shema 9:13 am
Babysitting 10:00 am
Youth Groups 10:00 am
Tot Shabbat 10:30 am
Kiddush Lunch Following services
Shabbat Mincha 12:15 pm
Shabbat Afternoon Lecture 12:30 pm
NO Talmud Class This Week
Havdalah 5:17 pm Maariv 5:30 pm
TORAH READING Genesis: 23:1 - 25:18, Artscroll p. 106 Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31, p. 1136
GUEST SPEAKER We welcome Rabbi Moshe ("Rav Moish") Kornblum, Assistant Dean of Yeshivat Orayta, as our guest speaker this Shabbat. See below for the schedule of Rav Moish's talks. SIMCHA KIDDUSH/NEW MEMBER LUNCH This Shabbat, our Simcha Kiddush & New Member Lunch (meat) is prepared by the CBAJ programming committee. Sponsors are listed below.
MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to Daniela & Vadim Mikhaylov on the birth of a daughter, Sivan Nechama! Mazal tov to grandparents, CBAJ members Nina & Grigoriy Mikhaylov and to Daniela's parents Vinicio Samaniego & Alex Silverio.
Mazal tov to CBAJ member Mark Koblenz for being honored at the Daughters of Sarah 2025 Game Changer Fundraiser on his retirement.
CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Avi Schwarzmer (HaChazan Avraham ben David), z''l, husband of Peggy Schwarmer; father of CBAJ member Ra'anan (Rebecca) Schwarzmer, Tonny (Jennifer) Schwarzmer of Sderot, and Tali (Koby) Schwarzmer of Zichron Yaakov; grandfather of Nate, Lele, Juliet, and Ayelet; brother of Penina (Asher) Arbit of Baka, and Rabbi Sam (Malka) Schwarzmer of Los Angeles. The funeral took place in Lakewood, late Sunday evening. Shiva minyanim: Saturday night: 5:35 pm (Maariv only) Sunday: 8:30 am (Shacharit) Shiva visitation: Friday: 9 am to 2 pm Saturday: 6 to 9 pm Shiva will conclude following Shacharit on Sunday morning.
SHABBAT WITH RABBI MOSHE KORNBLUM Chayei Sarah - November 14-15
Rabbi Moshe ("Rav Moish") Kornblum is the Assistant Dean of Yeshivat Orayta, and will be returning to CBAJ for a Shabbat of learning! Dvar Torah at Kabbalat Shabbat: "The Angst & Opportunity of Choices" Friday night Oneg: "Be a Chasid for an evening - Stories and Songs to Uplift your neshama” 8:00 PM at Rabbi Kean's house (text or email for address). Shabbat Morning Dvar Torah from Rav Moish at 11:00 AM: "Yitzchak, Rivka and what Jewish love is all about" Shiur by Rav Moish at 12:30 PM: (after New Member Luncheon & Mincha) "Mourning for Sara Imeinu - “What Shiva is all about”
On behalf of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, I would like to wish you and your family a restful and meaningful Shabbat!
Please join me in welcoming back Rabbi Moshe Kornblum this Shabbat for a Shabbat full of learning and connection!
NEW AT CBAJ: I am excited to share a piece of CBAJ news: We will be starting a new daily halacha learning of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch for 5-10 minutes after Shacharit Monday & Wednesday-Friday. See below for more!
This past Tuesday (20th of Marcheshvan) was the 5th yahrzeit of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who for decades has been, and for decades shall be, if not the voice, a major of the Orthodox world. I invite you to honor his legacy by learning his Torah this week - so much of which is online at rabbisacks.org. May his memory be a blessing.
It is with a mix of emotions - sadness at their tragic deaths, but relief - that we welcome the return of the bodies of Hadar Goldin, hy''d, 23, who was killed by Hamas in 2014, and whose body has been held captive by Hamas these last 11 years, and of Meny Godard, hy''d, 73, killed on October 7.
The Talmud (Brachot 48b) tells us that the fourth blessing of Birkat Hamazon, "HaTov V'Hameitiv," was established by Chazal following the end of the Bar Kochva revolt. The reason is that during the Bar Kochva revolt, the Roman authorities banned the burial of the slain residents and fighters of the city of Betar, which had been the center of the Bar Kochva revolt. After many years, Jews were finally allowed to bury the dead, and they found that, miraculously, the bodies had not decomposed. As we bury two more Israelis whose burial has been grotesquely delayed for years, we recall this tradition and history, and draw strength from our commitment to honoring the dead with a proper Jewish burial.
We fervently daven for and demand the return of the three remaining bodies of hostages, Ran Gvili, 24, Dror Or, 48, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43, hy''d.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
NEW MEMBERS & FAMILIES
CBAJ Welcomes Our New Members!
Flora & Miron Berenshteyn
Phil Chandler
Debbie & Henry Epstein
Eitan Fine
Rahel & Derek Fox & Family
Myles & Laura Melnicoff & Family
Staci Raul
Ephraim & Menuchah Sherman & Family
Barbara Weinstein
SIMCHA KIDDUSH SPONSORS & CELEBRANTS
Thank You & Mazal Tov to our Fall Simcha Sponsors & Celebrants!
Amy Svirsky and Mitch Abolafia
In celebration of Aliza Abolafia's birthday.
Nanette & Artie Brenner Wishing Happy 2nd birthday to Ori Brenner Peltz and Raz Brenner Peltz; and welcoming our good friends Rabbi Moshe and Sara Kornblum.
Rina & Elliot Chester
In honor of all of the new members.
Jeffrey and Debbie Fine In Honor of the CBAJ Community.
Elliott and Nancy Greene In Honor of Elliott Greene's Special Birthday!
Esther Ita Holt & Family In celebration of Tzvi's birthday. Ed Mark In celebration of the birth of his granddaughter Kumi Ori Chen, son of Dovid & Hadassah Mark of Kiryat Arba, Israel.
Paula Mosher and Paul Mosher MD (of blessed memory). In Honor of the 18th Birthday of their triplet grandchildren Madison, Chloe and Noah.
Rabbi Paul & Faye Silton The Silton family are celebrating two events this week - 1.Shira Aliza Silton Wildman received her PhD in Social Welfare and Policy from Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work. 2. Their grandson Erez Epstein son of Tamar Fruma Esq. & Jeremy Epstein is receiving his beret.
UPCOMING CBAJ EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Albany NCSY Fall Shabbaton - Ft. Motzei-Shabbos Limo Scavenger Hunt November 14 - 15 | $30 | For grades 5 - 12 New Member Luncheon & Simcha Kiddush Saturday, November 15 | Approx. 11:30 AM | @ CBAJ
Fall Senior Lunch & Learn Series with Rabbi Kean Tuesdays: November 18 & December 16 | 12:30 PM | @ CBAJ Maimonides Hilchot Deot - How We Balance Different Character Traits This week's meal is dairy/pareve.
Fall Lecture Series: "Foundations of Faith" with Rabbi Kean Tues., December 2 | 7:00 PM | @ CBAJ & on Zoom
Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat: Dr. Malka Simkovich Save the date of December 5-6 for an unbeatable Shabbat with renowned scholar, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society & Yeshiva University professor, Dr. Malka Simkovich!
COMMUNITY BEIT MIDRASH NIGHT Alternating Sundays, 8-9 pm Presented by CBAJ & Shomray Torah Guided learning Chaburah with Rabbi Kean studying Ein Yaakov. Next meeting: Sunday, November 16 at Shomray Torah (the Shteeble)
LIVING ROOM LEARNING Torah by CBAJ members, in your homes. Next date: Saturday, November 22, 7:00 PM Topic: For Those Who Dare to Think - Approaching Tefilah, a Philosophical Method Presenter: Rabbi Dr. David Bauman Location: Bauman home
2025/2026 Topic: PARSHA PERSPECTIVES Got an insight? Lead a session! Develop and share your insights and understanding of a Parashah. Speak to Rabbi Kean or Simma K if you are interested in learning more. Begins November 8.
FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH - CBAJ FALL LECTURE SERIES With Rabbi Kean What does it mean to be a believing Jew? How do we respond to questions in faith? Tuesday, December 2 | 7:00 PM At CBAJ in person and on Zoom (Zoom link to be shared ahead of event).
HALACHA YOMI **NEW** Mondays, Wednesdays - Fridays, 7:20 am. Join us in studying halacha every morning Kitzur Shulchan Aruch for 5-10 minutes following weekday Shacharit.
MORNING TANYA: BREAKFAST & LEARNING Tuesdays, 7:30-8:15 am. Join us in studying Tanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi's classic work on Chassidut, and enjoy breakfast, discussion, and camaraderie.
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*. Join Rabbi Kean in studying the Book of Daniel. * 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 Shabbat Mincha. We are studying Masechet Taanit. Talmud shiur will not meet this week.
*CBAJ ZOOM ROOM (weekday classes only) Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 | Enter passcode: 613518
Torah High The 2025-2026 school year for Torah High, CBAJ's teen learning program, is underway! This year, we are opening up a fun middle school program aimed at supplementing your middle schooler's current Jewish education! Open to students 6th-12th grade. Classes will be taught by Rabbi Kean and Rav Tzvi Holt. Please contact Rabbi Kean if you are interested in enrolling your child in Torah High! Tot Shabbat For children ages 0-5 and their parents at 10:30 am in classroom 2. Please contact Joshua Schulman-Marcus if you would like to be added to the Young Families WhatsApp group. *Upcoming Tot Shabbat Dates for the 2025 - 2026 year: 11/15, 12/6, 1/3, 1/10, 2/7, 2/28 & 3/14. 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.
DAILY SERVICES NEXT WEEK November 15 - November 21, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 AM Monday - Thursday 6:40 AM
**Friday** Rosh Chodesh 6:30 AM
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Friday 4:15 PM
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, November 21, 2025 4:09 PM
MESSAGE FROM LIFE & LEGACY
“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.
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.
