Congregation Agudath Sholom | 301 Strawberry Hill Ave | Stamford, CT 06902 (203)-358-2200 www.agudathsholom.org

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Friday, November 8, 2024

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

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Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin
Lech-LechaNovember 9, 20248 Cheshvan
send your submission to
bulletin@cas-stamford.org
Friday
Candle Lighting4:23 PM
Mincha4:28 PM
Shabbat
Shacharit7:00/8:00/9:00 AM
Latest Shema8:24 AM
Sephardic Minyan8:45 AM
Coffee & Commentary8:45 AM
Shmuel Class9:00 AM
Latest Shacharit9:29 AM
Teen Minyan10:00 AM
Bob's Basics10:00 AM
Shiur10:30 AM
Code Of Jewish Law3:25 PM
Mincha4:15 PM
Havdalah5:22 PM
Shabbat Shalom
What is your Abrahamic moment?

Years ago, when I was out early in the morning, I looked up at the sky and saw both the sun and the moon together, neither in sole dominance. It dawned on me that perhaps this may have been Abraham's moment of discovery. The midrash describes that in his time, some people worshiped the moon and others the sun. How could one be solely sovereign when the sun did not appear at night nor the moon by day. Avraham concluded that there is a God

When did you experience God's presence? It is likely not just one moment but many over a lifetime.

The Torah strangely omits any details about Abraham's road to monotheism. The Sages fill in many stories but why are the details so vague? In fact, there is vigorous debate regarding the age he discovered God ranging from 3 to 40 to 45 and more.

Perhaps the path to realizing God's presence in the world is very personal. The Torah deliberately omits Avraham's path for this reason. Do not imitate his, find your own.

For some people, God emerges in nature, a road suggested actually by the Rambam in his Mishneh Torah. Rambam maintains that contemplating the universe is a person's primary means of attaining the love of God. For others it may be through study of Torah, acts of kindness, or a life experience.

When we read the story of Avraham each year, we are tasked to make it personal. Think about your Abrahamic moment. Let me know. For me, nature powerfully awakens God's presence in my life. I recently heard the poem "Joy Comes Back" by Dana Ashworth that moved me. You can find it online.

What moves you?

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom and God willing good news form Israel in the days ahead,

Rabbi Daniel Cohen

Shabbat Information 
  • Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Lech Lecha with the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l - click here.
  • The Haftarah is read from Isaiah 40:27-41:16
  • Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here.
  • Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here
  • Behab is this Monday (11/11), Thursday (11/14) and Monday (11/18). To learn about Behab, click here.
  • Would you like to read the Torah or Haftarah for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking click here
  • We will be honoring our USAF veterans this Shabbat morning in honor of Veteran's Day.

Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman)
  • When was the first time you spent an extended time away from home (Hashem tells Avraham to leave his land and home)?
  • What is something Hashem did for you that you never thought could happen (Avraham is ecstatic when he finds out that he will have a child in his old age)?

Prayers for Hostages - We Pray for the Immediate Rescue and Release  
"Acheinu kol Bais Yisrael – Our brethren, the entire Jewish People"
"Hanesunim bitzara u'bishivya – who are delivered into confinement and captivity"
"Ha'omdim bein bayam u'vein bayabasha – whether they be on the sea or dry land"
"HaMakom yiracheim aleihem viyotzi'eim mitzara li'rvacha – May the Omnipresent have mercy on them and remove them from distress to relief"
"U'mei'afela li'ora – and from darkness to light"
"U'mishibud lig'ula – and from subjugation to redemption"
"Hashta b'agala u'viz'man kariv – now, speedily, and close at hand"

Bar Mitzvah Project  My name is Nate Katchko. My Bar Mitzvah project is to help the brave soldiers of the IDF. I learned that many of the door posts on the bases do not have enough mezuzahs - some are no longer kosher and some are damaged. Providing these mezuzahs will offer comfort and protection to the soldiers and fulfill this important commandment. It is my goal to provide as many mezuzot as possible to these bases. Each mezuzah is 75 dollars. The link below will take you directly to my fundraiser page through the Friends of the IDF. Please join me in letting the soldiers know how much we appreciate and think of them. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/natesbarmitzvah
Thank You to everyone who has supported our Yom Kippur Appeal thus far and we encourage 100% participation. Whether alot or a little, the donation from your heart is an eternal investment in our shul and makes a difference! If you have not done so already, please join them.


Shabbat Topics & Participants
Coffee & CommentaryRabbi Daniel Cohen
Shmuel ClassMark Wagshul
Bob's BasicsBob Abrams
ShiurDavid Held
ShacharitNate Pava
MusafBradley Baskir
Code of Jewish LawRabbi Yossi Kamman
Seudat ShlishitRabbi Daniel Cohen
Welcome
  • New members:
    • Rebecca & Shai Sober and their children Matan and Aviv
    • Abbas Abbaspour
Mazal Tov
  • to Jessica & Adam Batkin on Shifra's Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat!
  • to Dr. Gavriel Shechter on his engagement to Aderet Liss of Sharon, Mass!
  • to Ayelet & David Rand on the birth of a baby boy, Boaz Yosef/Boaz Leo! Mazal Tov to big sister Liat!
  • to Suri & Jason Fischman on the birth of a baby girl! Mazal Tov to Aunt and Uncle Rachel & Moshe Cohen and cousins Yehuda and Tal!
Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here
Condolences
  • to Todd Sharinn on the passing of his father, Harvey Sharinn
  • to Laura Tobin on the passing of her grandmother, Esther Blumenthal
Thanks To Our Sponsors
  • Senior Challah Deliveries: The Abrams Family in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Marjory's father, Martin Edelston
  • 7AM Kiddush: Pam & Alan Shanker
  • Chapel Kiddush: Co-sponsored by Dina & Paul Berger in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Dina's mother, Florence Sternbach; and Jodi & Richard Boxer in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Jodi's father, Leo Zuckerberg
  • Teen Kiddush: Rachel & Dan Haron - "Happy Birthday Gabriel and Hannah!"
  • Sephardic Kiddush: Moshe Azoulay in honor of his parents Salomon and Zohara Azoulay and his grandparents, zichronam l'vracha
  • Sanctuary Kiddush: Sara Fay & Shmuli Goldis, Alex & Brett Olsson, Alison & Nate Pava, Kaili & Dan Scherban and Eve & Phil Steinmetz in honor of our growing young community
  • Seudat Shlishit/Chapel Flowers: Jessica & Adam Batkin in celebration of Shifra's Bat Mitzvah
Sign Up for these Events
Donate Now
CAS Yom Kippur Appeal
sign up
Parent Child Learning
Shabbat, November 9 - 6:30 PM
sign up
Scholar Series with Leora Orenshein
Wednesday, November 13 - 8:00 PM
Learn more
Davening & Doughnuts
Sunday, November 17 - 8:30 AM
sign up
Mitzvah Day at Grade A
Sunday, November 17 - 10:15 AM
Learn more
Agudath Sholom Cafe at Humbled Coffee House
Tuesday, November 26 - 7:30 PM
Learn more
Thank Our First Responders This Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 28 - 11:00 AM
sign up
New and Prospective Member Bagel Brunch
Sunday, December 1 - 10:00 AM
sign up
CAS Movie Club
Sunday, December 8 - 8:00 PM
Learn more
Senior Challah Delivery Sponsorships
CAS Youth News
Friday Night Teen Oneg  8:00-9:30PM at the home of Julie Daniel. RSVP not required; for address, please reach out to Rabbi Josh at jmunk@cas-stamford.org.
High Holidays
Rabbi Cohen's High Holiday Sermons   
From Darkness to Light - Rosh Hashanah 5785
Rosh Hashanah Sermon

We are Sandy and we are Art. Like Sandy, faced with darkness, we need to renew our strength and resolve. Like Art, we must fuel small gestures of friendship to fortify each other's faith and infuse the world with light.

Ari faced his own darkness. What would he choose? He had every excuse to give up. To Ari's eternal credit, he chose life. So must we.

Click here to print

Changing Ourselves - Yom Kippur 5785
Yom Kippur Sermon

Yom Kippur is not about changing God but about changing ourselves. How do we see each other? Do we mine for gold or dig for the dirt?

Whether in our country, Israel, within our families, let us remember what unites us. We are one nation under God and one family as a Jewish people with one heart. If we are united, no power on earth can prevail over us.

Click here to print
CAS Announcements
  • Join the CAS Men's Club and Young Families in Thanksgiving for the EMS/First Responders - Donate, Cook or Deliver!   CAS Men's Club & Young Families are looking for three or four of these fine kosher birds for serving up to the Stamford EMS on Thanksgiving Day. If you don't care to talk (donate) turkey or have some access to vegetables or fruit or cake we could use those as well. Sign up and help us cook a huge meal for those EMS folks working on that day. We will be in the meat kitchen from 9-11:30am preparing. Deliver to the EMS main station at 684 Long Ridge Rd. at noon. Anyone aged 8 and up are welcome to help cook--it is a lot of fun. For more info, contact Mitchell Bell at wizdrbel@yahoo.com
  • Filling the Freedberg Food Pantry  As we approach Thanksgiving, join our campaign to replenish the Freedberg Kosher Food Pantry. Drop off needed foods this week or make a contribution. For more info, visit www.ctjfs.org/kosher-food-pantry/.
  • Join us on Thanksgiving morning to express gratitude to our First Responders  Stamford PD at 10:00 AM, Stamford FD at 10:30 AM and Stamford EMS at 12:00 PM. Thank you in advance for your support!
  • Second Annual Stamford Kindness Project  We are thrilled to partner with the city of Stamford for the Stamford Kindness Project for a second year. We will be launching the Project at the Veterans Day Parade in Stamford on Nov 10th. To learn more about being a Kindness Ambassador, or to march in the Parade speak to Rabbi Cohen and/or visit the city website. Check out these news stories about the Kindness Project!
  • Rabbi Yiztchak EtShalom  We had a meaningful Shabbos of learning with Rabbi EtShalom. You can learn from him at YU Torah here and reach out to him directly at rebyitz@gmail.com
  • Podcast with Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Steve Labkoff - Judaism in the 21st Century  The podcast draws on Torah wisdom on today's challenges and navigates our complex world. This podcast reimagines current matters using historical perspectives. Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Dr. Steven Labkoff explore modern life, guided by Jewish insights. Listen on Spotify - Follow and share - Check out the latest episode on the role of the synagogue in the 21st century.
  • March with the Stamford Kindness Project this Sunday The Stamford Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, November 10 will be the kickoff event for this year's project. We will march behind the Stamford Kindness Project banner. Partners will distribute information about the Stamford Kindness Project and be given vibrant yellow heart pins to wear that symbolize the spirit of the initiative. Meet at the Stamford Police Station at 11:30am this Sunday. Parade step off is at noon. Wear yellow!

    Children are welcome to walk in the parade.Sign up to Ignite a Kindness Project. Take a picture of your act of kindness and hashtag #stamfordkindnessprojectTo learn more check out this article
Weekday Schedule
  • Shacharit  Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday: 6:30/8:30 AM; Tuesday-Friday: 6:30/7:30 AM
  • Mincha  Sunday-Thursday: 4:20 PM; Friday: 4:21 PM
  • Candle Lighting  Friday: 4:16 PM
  • Monday  Veterans Day
CAS Classes
Join one of our classes.

We Wish A Speedy Recovery To
  • Tzvi Zev Yosef ben Chana Shulamit
  • Sheina Feiga bat Rivka
  • Chaya Sara bat Chava
  • Hershel Wolf ben Brucha
  • Penina bat Sara
  • Rema bat Etta
  • Ahron Dovid ben Esther Bayla
  • Yetta Liba bat Freidel
  • Freidel bat Esther
  • Pesach Melech ben Basha
  • Leeba Minna bat Rivka
  • Chaya Shoshana bat Yehudit
  • Nira bat Rachel
  • Sara bat Nira
  • Chana Leah bat Esther
  • Nadav Ephraim ben Shlomit Leah
  • Adeline bat Bat Chava
  • Shlomo ben Velvel
  • Rivkah Devorah bat Channa Gittel
  • Moisha Gedalia ben DK
  • Nechemiah ben DK
  • Dorit bat Ora
  • N/A ben N/A (Mary in English)
  • Miriam Rut bat Chana
  • Abokhay Moshe ben Zoya
  • Chaya bat Liba
  • Harav Eliezer ben Chaya
  • Miriam bat Devorah
  • אסתר רחל bat רייזל ביילה
  • Chaya Rachel bat Carmi Adina
  • Penina bat Batya
  • Sarah Rochfl bat Paya Etel
  • Dov ben Pnina
  • Nehama Miriam bat Dvora
  • Moshe Gavriel ben Rachel Esther
  • Cheryl Sheva bat Gittel Leah
  • Sossie Raizel bat Sarah Fraida
  • Eliezer Meyer ben Leah
  • Calev Natanel ben Sara
  • Yitzchak Osher ben Chana Shayva Chaya

We Honor Our Military
  • Ariel Y
  • Shani Y
  • Tali Y
  • Harry B
  • Zevi M
  • Joreh M
  • Ayden M
  • Nathan H
  • Noam H
  • Yehudit
  • Sally K
  • Oren L
  • Nathan L
  • Jeremy S
  • Meni N
  • Yaniv H
  • Rachel W

Community Announcements
  • Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy Open House  Lower School Open House NOVEMBER 10, 2024, Upper School Open House NOVEMBER 17, 2024. For additional information on the event, please contact Bonnie Marcus, Director of Admissions, at bmarcus@bcha-ct.org
  • Gan Yeladim Open House and Mitzvah Day  Sunday, November 24th from 9:30-11:30am. A child journeys through the year developing skills and self-expression, from a scribble to a self-portrait from a line to a letter, from the alef to the alef bet... Do you have or know someone that has a preschool-age child? Help us spread the word so every child has the opportunity to join us and be part of the Gan journey. We invite all families, current and prospective, to come to our Gan Open House and Mitzvah Day. Free and Fun for All! Featuring entertainment from Musical IQ. Fun and Free for the whole family. For more information or to RSVP, email wendy@stamfordchabad.org.
  • JHSFC invites the community to The Norma and Milton Mann Annual Lecture: WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES  The Story Behind the Story presented by Author Georgia Hunter on November 10, 2024 at 11:30 am at Temple Beth El, 350 Roxbury Rd, Stamford, CT. For those who gave $100 or more, a brunch at 10:30am precedes the lecture. The lecture series brings experts to the community to present on topics that have wide appeal, are historically significant and impact the future. Georgia was fifteen when she discovered she came from a family of Holocaust survivors with remarkable stories. A decade-long journey of intensive research across continents led to "WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES" on New York Times best seller list and was adapted for television as an eight-part limited series now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

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