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

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Friday, November 1, 2019

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin
NoachNovember 2, 20194 Cheshvan 5780
send your submission to
bulletin@cas-stamford.org
Friday
Candle Lighting5:32 PM
Mincha5:37 PM
Shabbat
Shacharit7:00 AM/8:00 AM/9:00 AM
Torah Before Tefillah7:40 AM
Coffee And Commentary8:45 AM
Teen Minyan9:30 AM
Latest Shema10:02 AM
Shiur10:30 AM
Tot Shabbat/Mini Minyan/Jr. Cong/BMC10:30 AM
Latest Shacharit10:54 AM
Daf Yomi3:50 PM
Pre Mincha Shiur4:30 PM
Mincha5:25 PM
Maariv6:26 PM
Shabbat Ends6:31 PM
Shabbat Shalom
The Tightrope Walker and Our Faith

God characterizes Noach as a righteous man. We should not underestimate the value of such an appellation. He also walked with God, another great compliment. Yet, Rashi alludes to his lack of full faith in God.

The Torah states: Noach went into the ark from the waters of the flood. Rashi notes the odd comment that Noach went into the ark seemingly not on his own volition but due to the pressure of the rising waters of the flood. Rashi explains:

Noach possessed little faith. He believed' but did not believe (i.e., he believed that the flood would come, but was not convinced of this entirely), and therefore he did not go into the ark until the waters actually pushed him in.

Noach had "little faith?" How can Rashi say that? We know that for the past 120 years, he had been building an ark so that people would inquire and he would tell them of the flood that would come if people did not do teshuva (Rashi Bereishis 6:14). If Noach was busy warning others about the flood, then he surely believed that it would happen!

Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein explains that this anomaly teaches us the challenges of maintaining our faith and emuna. Just as Noach, at his very high spiritual level, lacked sufficient faith to make the flood real to him, so too must we always work to strengthen our level of emuna.

The following story illustrates both the challenge but also a path forward.

Rabbi Moshe Futeras was once asked how he had the ability to stay stong while incarcerated in Siberia. How could he maintain his faith in such difficult circumstances?

He answered by sharing a story. There were two large mountains and a valley between them. A fellow hammered a metal post on top of both of the mountains and connected the posts with a rope. He asked the inmates if they would like to watch him walk across. He was a skilled tightrope walker. They all said no. He was skilled and walked across safely.

He then asked if they believed he would walk across a second time. They said yes and he did. He then asked if they believed he could walk across with a wagon. They said yes and he did. He then asked them if anyone was prepared to sit in the wagon and, of course, nobody offered to do so.

Rabbi Futeras shared that there was one little girl who climbed into the wagon and the man walked across the tightrope with the girl inside. Everyone wanted to know why the girl was not afraid? How could she not be afraid?

She explained that she was not afraid since the tightrope walker was her father.

"When I heard this," Rav Mendel explained, "I realized that when you know your father is pushing the wagon you have nothing to fear. The narrow tightrope is not scary because your Father is pushing the wagon."

Faith is hard. Like Noach, we believe and we struggle at times to believe. Yet, let us never forget that our Father in Heaven is always pushing our wagon across the narrow bridge and tightrope of life.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Sholom,

Rabbi Daniel Cohen


Youth Group Reminders 
  • No outside food is allowed in groups
  • For security, the doors are locked. Please arrive by 10:30am

Welcome to our Scholar in Residence Rabbi Menachem Penner, Max and Marion Grill Dean of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and Dean of the Men's Undergraduate Torah Studies Program. He will speak four times over Shabbat. His topics :
  • Friday Night: Hashem Sefatai Tiftach: Praying to Pray?
  • Shabbat Derasha: Finding Meaning in Shabbat Musaf
  • Followed by Musaf - led by Rabbi Penner
  • Shiur: What the Avot - and the Yankees - Can Teach us about Tefillah
  • Seudah Shlishit: Forget Me Not - Putting G-d back into Tefillah

Classes Start this week Rabbi Cohen's Monday evening Kabbalah class and Tuesday classes begin this week. The Crash Course in Reading Hebrew starts this Monday evening.

Welcome  to our guests who are visiting Stamford as part of the Bi Cultural Hebrew Academy Stamford Shabbaton

HOUSING NEEDED FOR NCSY
Dear CAS Community,
I am excited to be back planning our second annual Fall Regional Shabbaton in Stamford, coming up November 15-17, which will bring together teens from communities across Connecticut, Upstate NY, Massachusetts, and New York for an incredible Shabbat experience. Last year this Shabbaton, with the warm hospitality we received in the Stamford community, was a true highlight of the year and a great way to kick off our season of Shabbatons.
We are thrilled to be back, and I am writing to you with a request. You may receive a call from the Regional office in the next few days asking about hosting for our shabbaton. Of course, having this shabbaton in the community is dependent on us being able to find enough hosts to comfortably put up the incredible teens, advisors, and staff that will be joining. If you already know you can host, or if you didn't host last time but might like to this year, please reach out to us at northeast@ncsy.org, or leave us a message at 646-459-5196.
Either way, I hope you mark your calendars, and we hope to see you that weekend! More info about the Shabbaton schedule will be coming out closer to the event!
With warm regards,
Devora WeinstockRegional Director, Northeast NCSY
Shabbat Topics & Participants
Torah before TefillahRabbi Oran Zweiter
Coffee and CommentaryRabbi Daniel Cohen
Code of Jewish LawRabbi Yossi Kamman
Library shiurJay Jubas: Shiur
10:30 shiurRabbi Oran Zweiter: The Other White Meat-A 19th Century American Shechitah Controversy
ShacharitDr. Sam Maryles
MusafRabbi Menachem Penner
SermonRabbi Menachem Penner
Torah ReaderSam Sroka
Daf YomiDavid Bessaleli
Seudat ShlishitRabbi Menachem Penner
Thanks To Our Sponsors
Library Kiddushthe Attar and Lieberman families in honor of the dedication of Sefer Torah to the Birkat Avraham Center in Chashmonayim, Israel in commemoration of Rabbi Avraham Lieberman's 14th Yahrzeit
Chapel KiddushLiba & Steven Steinmetz in memory of Rabbi Sol Steinmetz 9th yahrzeit
Sanctuary KiddushCo-sponsored by Karen and Jonathan Malkin in honor of Abby's upcoming Bat Mitzvah and the CAS Executive Board welcoming all those visiting for the BCHA Shabbaton
Weekday Schedule
ShacharitShacharit: Sunday 6:15 AM/7:30 AM, Monday-Friday 6:30 AM/7:30 AM
MinchaMincha: Sunday-Thursday 4:35 PM, Friday 4:29 PM
Candles Friday4:24 PM
SundayDaylight Savings Ends
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Mazal Tov
  • to Joyce & Barry Chavkin on the birth of a granddaughter. Parents - David & Chana Rivka Chavkin. And Aunt & Uncle, Anat & Marc Chavkin
Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here
Sign Up For These Events
Mishna Learning
Learn an entire tractate of Mishna in Just Over a Month!
Join friends and community members in a new Torah study opportunity.
Study approximately one mishna per day and finish the entire Masechet Taanit in just a short time.
We will provide resources, such as translations and audio explanations to help.
Celebrate together for a joint siyum and kiddush on December 14th!
For more information, see Rabbi Cohen or Rabbi Zweiter.
To sign up for daily WhatsApp explanations of the mishnayot, go to https://chat.whatsapp.com/BThzSQ0H7F4DjOPnnPoJ5q or send an email to Rabbi Zweiter.
Learning Schedule:
Chapter 1- Week of Nov. 3 and Nov. 10
Chapter 2- Week of Nov. 17 and Nov. 24
Chapter 3- Week of Dec. 1
Chapter 4- Week of Nov. 8
CAS Young Families
  • MOMMY AND ME GROUP The Mom Group is a great and easy way to form meaningful connections with other moms in your neighborhood. Join us for a weekly playdate with your little one and an opportunity to share your experiences, ask questions you need help with, gather resources, or just connect with other women.
CAS Announcements
  • DOR L'DOR: This program seeks to build upon the multi generational aspect of our community by linking young families and seniors. Together, young families and seniors will build a mutual relationship, with young families offering a helping hand or caring phone call a few times a year, and with seniors in turn offering their wisdom, perspective, and encouragement to young families. To find out more about this program, please contact Alyssa Frager at alanger23@gmail.com or Shari Levine at sharikel@gmail.com.
  • SING ALONG!! All together now! Join your friends and seniors at the Atria for an hour of classic standards, showtunes, and Sinatra, done in a sing-along style with music back track accompaniment. Lyrics provided. No prior singing experience necessary-just a willingness to sing and desire to bring a smile to seniors' faces. Kids of all ages welcome too! The Atria (77 3rd St., Stamford), 3rd floor lounge - Sunday, November 10, 4 pm. RSVP: Jennie Woltz Folkinshteyn at jenniewoltz@gmail.com or 914-523-2073
  • CAS MENS CLUB Once again the CAS Men's Club is spear-heading a feast for the EMS responders on Thanksgiving.We are looking for food (Turkey, sprouts, salad items, cranberries, etc.) to prepare during the morning 9am-11:00 pm to drop off for the 4-5 crews on duty that day. If you can donate or help prepare contact Mitchell Bell, wizdrbel@yahoo.com or 203 722 3512. Thank you.
  • PAY IT FORWARD! As our community grows it takes even more effort to insure the warmth of our shul. You may not realize but we have a Hospitality Team who are informed of new families who moved into community. Team members are expected to invite new families to any of the following: shabbat meal, BBQ, brunch, even coffee, a get-together in the park, or a community-wide function. It means so much to new families. To join our Hospitality Team, contact membership committee chair, Jon Makovsky at jonathanmakovsky@gmail.com.
  • ANNOUNCING A SOUL JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM with Rabbi Daniel and Diane Cohen in partnership with Yeshivat Orayta. Spend a week of study and spirit in the Old City with luminaries such as Rabbi David Aaron, Rav Binny Freidman and many more. Open to Men and Women. Dates are Sunday, May 3rd until Sunday, May 10th, 2020. For more info, contact Rabbi Cohen. Visit www.israeltour.com/dcohen for information and to sign up
  • HEALING VISITS UPDATE: Every week, we include a note about our healing visits group. As a reminder, the group consists of volunteers who give of their time to call, email or visit people in our community who are in the hospital or in recuperation. If you like to join this Mitzvah mission, please contact Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-STAMFORD.org.
  • CAS FREE MEZUZAH CAMPAIGN IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT Bringing Blessings to Jewish Homes. Do you know a neighbor or a friend who lacks a mezuzah? CAS offers a free mezuzah and home visit to post this sacred scroll at the entrance to all Jewish homes in the area. For more info, contact Rabbi Cohen: rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org
  • JOIN THE CHEVRA KADISHA We need new volunteers for the Chevra - those willing to perform a tahara. Info: Please contact Rochel Attar at fiveximah@gmail.com
  • IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING We need you to help secure our Synagogue. As you come to the building, please be aware of your surroundings. If you see something out of the ordinary, please let someone know about it. This will keep everyone safe.
  • WELCOME TO OUR SYNAGOGUE PROGRAM Every Shabbat we station ushers at the doors in the sanctuary to welcome people, assist them and enhance the service. We are expanding the usher roles to include a greeter in the lobby from 9-10:30 am. Please join the usher team. We need you and your smile. Info: Mitchell Bell.
  • COMMUNITY CHESED HELPERS An important role of the Chesed committee is outreach to the Shul's elderly and homebound, who are often isolated and lack a lifeline to our synagogue. Volunteer to reach out and identify needs, visit, or give a ride. Even small gestures mean a great deal Interested? Vivian Weiss at 203-323-0909 or vivianweiss@gmail.com. If you are aware of elderly or homebound members in need of outreach, please notify Rabbi Cohen.
Rabbi Office Hours
Update on Rabbi Cohen's & Rabbi Zweiter's Open Office HoursOpen Office Hours are an opportunity to drop by to see our Rabbis without an appointment. They will be available in their office for guidance or a chat. Rabbis will not schedule meetings during these hours, which will be held around the same time each week. Call the office to confirm Rabbi Cohen or Rabbi Zweiter are not attending to an urgent matter outside the synagogue. Open Office Hour Times for this Week
Rabbi Daniel Cohen
  • Monday, November 4, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM at CAS
  • Tuesday, November 5, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM at CAS
  • Friday, November 8, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Starbucks, 2139 Summer St, Stamford, CT 06905, USA
Rabbi Oran Zweiter
  • Tuesday, November 5, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at CAS
  • Wednesday, November 6, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at CAS
  • Thursday, November 7, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at CAS
CAS Classes
Week of November 3
MondayBob Abrams: The Tanach Club - Mishlei, The Book of Proverbs - 10:15 AM
Mark Wagshul: Crash Course in Reading Hebrew - 7:30 PM
Rabbi Daniel Cohen: Monday Evening Kabbalah Series: Mystical Principles for Inspired and Meaningful Living - 8:15 PM
TuesdayRabbi Daniel Cohen: The Depth of Genesis and the Rudiments of Rashi - 8:15 AM
Rabbi Daniel Cohen: The Power of the Prophets - 9:00 AM
Rabbi Daniel Cohen: Parsha Perspectives - 12:00 PM
WednesdayRabbi Oran Zweiter: 12 Minor Prophets - 9:30 AM
Diane Cohen - Explorations in the Book with Esther - 10:30 AM
ThursdayRabbi Oran Zweiter: Rabbi Soloveitchik's work, Halakhic Man - 9:15 AM
Rabbi Daniel Cohen: Tractate Taanit - 8:15 PM
FridayRabbi Daniel Cohen: The Pre-Shabbos Torah Taste - 8:15 AM
Review our full list of classes learn.cas-stamford.org
Sponsor A Kiddush
ShabbatSanctuaryChapelLibraryTeen
Nov 9Sanctuary: openChapel: sponsoredLibrary: sponsoredTeen:
Nov 16Sanctuary: openChapel: openLibrary: sponsoredTeen:
Nov 23Sanctuary: sponsoredChapel: openLibrary: sponsoredTeen:
Nov 30Sanctuary: openChapel: sponsoredLibrary: sponsoredTeen:
Dec 7Sanctuary: openChapel: sponsoredLibrary: sponsoredTeen:
Sponsor a kiddush! click here to see the menus
Email Matt and he will contact you mfeinberg@cas-stamford.org or see Hecky or Irwin to arrange a Kiddush.
We Wish A Speedy Recovery To
  • Ariyah Leib ben Esther Malkah
  • Chana bat Fayga
  • Chana bat Gitel
  • Chana bat Shualmit
  • Davida bat Rachel
  • Dov ben Pnina
  • Liba bat Peschke
  • Refael Ephraim ben Sima
  • Rivka Devorah bat Chanula
  • Shmuel ben Zlata Fayena
  • Tzedakah Bracha bat Yehudit
  • Zev Mordechai ben Chaya Gittel
Community Announcements
  • NEW JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES HOSPICE VOLUNTEER TRAINING DATES Chaifetz Family Hospice will be holding a 2-Day Hospice Training for people interested in giving their time and compassion to JSS clients in Fairfield County. Training will be held at Jewish Senior Services, 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT on Sunday, October 27th and Sunday, November 3rd from 9 am - 5 pm. Training materials and meals will be provided free of charge. If you would like to sign up or to learn more about hospice training, please contact Ellen Ashkins at (203) 365-6417 or by email at eashkins@jseniors.org.
  • BI-CULTURAL HEBREW ACADEMY OF CONNECTICUT OPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 3. Lower School (Pre-K-8th grade) - 10 a.m.-12 noon. Upper School (Grades 9-12) - 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. For Lower School, RSVP to Miriam Sperber - (203) 329-2186 or msperber@bcha-ct.org. For Upper School, RSVP to Sarah Rich (203) 883-8970 or srich@bcha-ct.org. 2186 High Ridge Road, Stamford.
  • JOIN UJF'S PJ LIBRARY On November 3rd for a community mitzvah project & science fun with Mad Science of Fairfield. starting at 10am at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy, 2186 High Ridge Road. A light lunch will be served at 11:30am in BCHA's cafeteria. To sign up go to www.ujf.org/pjscience. This program is in collaboration with BCHA and Prisma:CJDS. Contact Sharon Franklin for more information at sharon@ujf.org..
  • UJF SUPER SUNDAY Join United Jewish Federation on November 10th from 9:30-1:30pm for Super Sunday. Volunteer opportunities for the whole family. Kids activities include a carnival room, bouncy house, face painting, crafts, PJ Library room and the tzedakah coin challenge drop off station. Besides being a great destination for your family, it is also UJF's biggest fundraiser of the year- so stop by to make you pledge or answer the call and help support Jews in need locally and around the world! To sign up to volunteer or for more information got to www.ujf.org/ss2019 or contact Sharon Franklin at sharon@ujf.org. Location: 1035 Newfield Ave, Stamford.
  • THE ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND CT CHAPTER'S annual Heroes for Hope gala November 17, Sunday 6:00 pm. honoring humanitarian Stuart Berni at Stamford Hilton. Featured speaker: Dr. Tali Lando Aronoff, ENT surgeon, mother, wife, and cancer dragon slayer. Mayor David Martin will share his experiences. Chapter Chairman, Leslie Freedman, Ph.D. David Kweskin, Chapter Director. For reservations, donations, information ICRFctGala.org or David.Kweskin@icrfonline.org
  • FAMILY FUN DAY AND PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE AT GAN YELADIM OF STAMFORD Sunday, December 8 - 9:30am-11:30amCome learn about our program by taking a tour, meet our amazing Gan teachers and enjoy a morning filled with children's activities. Fun and Free for the whole family. For adults an opportunity to get certified in CPR / First Aid for $60 a person. RSVP appreciated to wendy@stamfordchabad.org.
  • JOIN YESHIVA UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS (MTA) at our Open House on Sunday, November 10th, 9:30 am to learn more about our warm, personalized, and inspiring approach to Torah, academic, and extra-curricular programs. To RSVP, please visit yuhsb.org/openhouse. Questions? Contact Rabbi Yoni Stone at ystone@yuhsb.org or 646-994-0441.
  • THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY 2019 HERITAGE AWARD CELEBRATION HONORING JUDITH ALTMANN AND AGNES VERTES Sunday, November 17th at noon. Temple Beth El, 350 Roxbury Road in Stamford. It Starts with Us; a Human Dignity Exhibit Share your family story...Holocaust Survivor Wall of Names. Dairy Luncheon. For information, www.jhsfc-ct.org
  • DO A MITZVAH! CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE SCHOKE JFS KOSHER FOOD PANTRY by purchasing Mitzvah Baskets and/or Mitzvah Centerpieces instead of flowers for your next simcha at CAS. Distributions from the Schoke JFS Kosher Food Pantry have increased by more than 1000 since the recession. With this tremendous upsurge in use, Schoke JFS is constantly challenged to keep the food pantry full. Your generosity enables Schoke JFS to help those in our community in their greatest moments of need.
  • ADL PRESENTS: VOICES A SHOW OF UNITY. Join ADL for an evening of music and storytelling, featuring Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave hosted by Paul Shaffer. The show will be held on Saturday, November 9th, 8:00 p.m. at The Klein Memorial Auditorium, Bridgeport CT. Tickets on sale now at ADLVoices.org. Tickets start at $75.00 For more information email Voices@adl.org or call 203-530-7456.
CAS Israel Advocacy Update
Take a Minute to Support Israel  Supporting Israel isn't hard -- there are many things that you can do that take literally one minute. The Israel Committee now has a website built on this idea. Go to www.IsraelMinute.com for simple things that you can do, from calling your Congressional representatives to social media posts, that take only a minute or two. Check back frequently for updates and ideas for things you can do!

LIPS product of the week  Check out our new Love Israel Products Blog (LIPS) for the latest ways to support Israel! Thank you to Lola Halperin and Aaron Goldenberg for organizing. www.loveisraelproducts.com
Kosher Advisories
  • KOSHER ALERTS The OU reminds you to always check the label before purchasing any item that needs kosher certification! And for the latest corrective actions, stay up with the latest OU KOSHER CONSUMER ALERTS & ADVISORIES...just click here
  • KOSHER ADVISORY Breaking news from the OU - newly certified items! to check out the list click here
Congregation Agudath Sholom, 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902
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