TORAH READING Genesis 37:1-40:23, p. 198 Haftarah: Amos 2:6 - 3:8, p. 1142
SPEAKER Life in Eshkol After October 7 - A Conversation with the Eshkol Delegation. Made possible by the Jewish Federation of NENY.
KIDDUSH This Shabbat Kiddush is sponsored by CBAJ. CONDOLENCES Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob regrets to inform you of the passing of Rabbi Mordechai Gewirtz, z''l, brother of Rabbi Gershon Gewirtz, past rabbi of CBAJ. The funeral in Lakewood and burial in Israel were earlier this week. Rabbi Gewirtz will sit shiva in New Jersey through Monday.
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!
Thank you to everyone who made our scholar-in-residence Shabbat with Dr. Malka Simkovich possible last Shabbat!
A special thanks goes to adult education committee members Marta Koblenz, Tom Kligerman, and Elly Bauman for coordinating many various aspects of the planning, as well as to Dr. Malka Simkovich for such an enriching Shabbat!
Please join us again THIS SHABBAT for a meaningful Shabbat. Shabbat morning, we will have a moderated panel discussion with a delegation of Israelis from the Eshkol Region in Israel, the Capital District Jewish community's sister region. They will share about life in Eshkol, one of the most drastically impacted on October 7, over the last two years. This conversation is an exercise in building Jewish unity and a testament to the importance of our partnership. After the panel, delegation members will join us for kiddush for informal conversation.
And later, Motzaei Shabbat, we will have our Family Learning Night and our Living Room Learning programs!
And then NEXT SHABBAT, SHABBAT CHANUKAH, join us AGAIN for a Shabbat Chanukah Friday night dinner!
We continue to demand and daven for the return of slain hostage Ran Gvili, the final slain hostage who remains in Gaza.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ben Kean
UPCOMING CBAJ EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Living Room Learning Saturday, December 13th - 7:00 PM | At the home of Lori & Akiva Calka Led by Josh Wildman | Sign-up requested: email Melissa to RSVP
Family Learning Night Saturday, December 13th - 6:30 PM | At CBAJ > Flyer: Family Puzzle Learning Night Fall Senior Lunch & Learn Tuesday, December 16th - 12.30 PM | At CBAJ
Friday Night Dinner for Shabbat Chanukah | December 19 | @ CBAJ Services at 4:05 PM - Dinner at 5:15 PM There is no cost to attend, but please register in advance. Sponsorships available:
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, December 21
FALL 2025 LUNCH & LEARN Fall Senior Lunch & Learn Series with Rabbi Kean Tuesday, December 16, 12:30 PM @ CBAJ Topic: Maimonides Hilchot Deot - How We Balance Different Character Traits Please register BY DECEMBER 12 by contacting Melissa Landa-Brimacomb 518.489.5819 x3 or office@cbaj.org.
READING CLASSICAL HEBREW COURSE With Mike Kupferschmid Hebrew Course Restarts in January Want to learn how to say words written in Hebrew letters? Want to learn what the words mean? Visit https://www.ashermath.com for details about the course. Send email to nancylawson10@gmail.com if you are interested.
KIDDUSH CONVERSATIONS
2025/2026 Topic: PARSHAPERSPECTIVES 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.
HALACHA YOMI **NEW** Mondays, Wednesdays - Fridays following Shacharit (approx. 7:20 on Tues/Fri, 7:30 on Mon/Thurs). 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.
*CBAJ ZOOM ROOM (weekday classes only) Go to https://zoom.us/join Enter meeting ID: 940 508 9347 | Enter passcode: 613518
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Family Learning Night For children in grades K-8 and families. On Motzei Shabbat on select weeks during winter months. Dates: December 13, January 10, February 14, March 14 All events at CBAJ. Free admission. Pizza dinner included. Please contact Shore Goldberg with any questions.
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. *Remaining Tot Shabbat Dates for the 2025 - 2026 year: 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 all children ages 0-5 every Shabbat morning from 10:00-11:30 am!
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Albany NCSY Motzei Shabbos - Dreidel Turnament December 20 | $5 entry fee | Grades 5-12 | 7:00 PM @ CBAJ For more info, please see the Flyer for the > Dreidel Turnament
Get ready for ASPIRE by JSU Dec. 24-28, 2025 | Long Branch, NJ | Sign up required For more info, please see the Flyer for > ASPIRE by JSU
DAILY SERVICES NEXT WEEK December 14 - 19, 2025
SHACHARIT Sunday 8:00 AM Monday - Friday 6:35 AM
MINCHA/MAARIV Sunday - Friday 4:05 PM
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, December 19, 2025 4:05 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.
