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

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Friday, November 11, 2022

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin
VayeraNovember 12, 202218 Cheshvan 5783
send your submission to
bulletin@cas-stamford.org
Friday
Candle Lighting4:20 PM
Mincha4:25 PM
Shabbat
Shacharit7:00 AM/8:00 AM/9:00 AM
Latest Shema8:26 AM
Sephardic Minyan9:00 AM
Shmuel Class9:00 AM
Latest Shacharit9:30 AM
Bob's Basics10:00 AM
Shiur10:30 AM
Daf Yomi3:20 PM
Mincha4:10 PM
Havdalah5:20 PM
Shabbat Shalom

We are honored to welcome Raizi Chechik as our Scholar in Residence this Shabbat in partnership with the Center for Community Education Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy.

We are looking forward to celebrating Tamar's forthcoming marriage to Feivel Segelov this Sunday. Please join us on the livestream at 10:45 AM EST (5:45 PM Israel time).

One of the strengths of our community is our warmth. As we grow larger in numbers, it is even more important to insure bridges across generations and a welcoming environment. We are excited to announce our next Rookies and Vets Shabbat on December 10th and hope you will consider joining as a host or guest. See the events section below for more information.

The prime mitzvah at the beginning of this week's Parsha of welcoming guests into our homes highlights the fact that the essence of this mitzvah is not inviting only our friends, but about reaching out to new people.

Of all the parshiot in the Torah, this week's parsha of Veyera serves as a reminder of the extent of this mitzvah. The first role models for Hachnasat Orchim in the Torah are Avraham and Sara. Although Avraham is in pain after his circumcision at 99, he and Sara hurry to take care of travelers he sees in the distance. He does not wait to be asked to host, but he anticipates the needs of others. His raison d'tre is chesed, reaching out to others and feels a void in his life if he cannot host people.

In fact, welcoming the stranger is so important that it takes priority over a conversation with God. Avraham is in deep contemplation with God when he sees three men at a distance. He interrupts his conversation with God, the master of the Universe, to extend hospitality. In truth, his actions are not contradictory, but a manifestation of his belief in God. His actions are recorded for posterity so that we and future generations will learn this lesson in prioritizing. It is part of our spiritual DNA.

Our warm gesture is not only about the food, but about connection. I am sure we are all familiar with stories about people whose lives were impacted forever due to the kindness of a Shabbat meal. We have all likely been the beneficiaries of such chesed as well.

The Talmud teaches that welcoming guests is a higher mitzvah than prayer; that it stands on the same level as welcoming the Shechinah, God's presence, into our homes.

May we all emulate the model of Avraham and Sara and embrace the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim each and every day.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem,

Rabbi Daniel Cohen


Shabbat Information 
  • Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Vayera with the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l - click here
  • The Haftarah for Vayera is read from I Kings II: 4:1-37
  • Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here
  • Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here
  • Would you like to read the Torah or Haftara for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking here.

This week, we are launching our Greeter and Usher Program on Shabbat mornings. Thank you to Gail Loonin who will serve as usher in the Sanctuary. Pease be mindful to not enter or exit the Sanctuary during the Kedushah or the Rabbi's Sermon.

Thank You We express our profound gratitude to everyone who has contributed thus far to our Yom Kippur appeal. Your investment as a believer in Agudath Sholom speaks to the depth of our commitment to each other to insure the long term growth of our shul. If you have not done so already, please join them.

Mariya Feldman & Alexander Abramov
Johanna & Selim Akyuz
Myrna & Herman Alswanger
Melvin & Ruth Aminoff
Mihal & David Ariyeh
Barbara & Ronald Ashkenas
Sary & Edward Backer
Albert Bensimon
Dina & Paul Berger
Karen & Ira Berk
Darona & Harold Bernstein
David Bessaleli
Barry Best
Stephanie & Joshua Bilenker
Bella Trubkina & Sam Blokh
Herbert Bregman
Joan & Howard Breslow
Emily & Harvey Caney
Dina Green & Gregory Celniker
Joyce & Barry Chavkin
Zoe & Harry Chiel
Abraham Cogan
Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen
Meredith & David Cohen
Rachel & Ephraim Cohen
Lloyd Contract
Lenore & Michael Cooper
Rachel & Nimrod Dayan
Rami Dennis
Emily & Zvi Dubitzky
Rita Edelston
Suzanne & Ted Elkin
Marissa & Artem Emple
Arlene Ettinger
Tamara Feurstein
Sam Fischel
Stephanie & Howard Fogel
Lindy & Len Fox
Rhoda & Avram Freedberg
Steven & Lynne Frenkel
Miriam & Joseph Gelb
Arline Gewanter
Shira & David Gilboa
Sharon & Michael Glick
Janet & Robert Gold
Sandra & Robert Goldstein
Gloria Green
Rebecca & Seth Greenberg
Tatiana Kunik & Mikhael Guy
Joyce & Lawrence Haber
Rachel & Dan Haron
Sheryl Hertzberg
Zeena Hine
Tricia & Robert Hoff
Andrea Horowitz
Nicole Boxer & Jack Jacob
Dorothy Jaiven
Monica & Eric Jankelovits
David Jelen
Sandra & Michael Kamen
Helene & Harvey Kaminski
Howard Kaplan
Sharon & Douglas Karp
Janine Bahar & Gidon Katz
Flora & Carl Kaufman
Lonnie Keene
Michael Kheyfets
Elisheva Kilner
Elissa & Philip Klapper
Tamar & Daniel Kraus
Lorraine & David Kweskin
Hannah & Ilan Lastoff
Andrea & Ari Lefkovits
Marla & Jason Lewis
Ana & Albert Lilienfeld
Jacqui & Avi Lindenbaum
Vered & Mark Links
Nina & Norman Lotstein
Rhonda & Judd Love
Nicole & Jonathan Makovsky
Aviva Maller
Roselyn Mangot
Dinah Miller & Seth Marlowe
Irene Meltzer
Janice & Jacob Meyer
Kori & William Meyers
Leah & Gregory Miller
Nancy & Gadi Mimoun
Joe Mittel
Jane & Philip Molstre
Bella & Gavriel Mullokandov
Marguerite & Kenneth Neuhaus
Bruce Newman
Shimrat & Joseph Notik
Alexandra & Brett Olsson
Jonathan Osser
Barbara & Norman Ostroff
Anne Peskin
Marina Sapir & Alexander Podelko
Judith & Robert Raymond
Hilary & Alan Rifkin
Jeannie & Irwin Rifkin
Laurie Rogoff
Sherri & Allen Rosenthal
Gayle & Howard Rothman
Shira Marder & Jason Saibel
Tali & Jesse Salver
Edward Schachter
Aviva & Paul Schieber
Rena Gelb & Chaim Schwartz
Richard Schwartz
Rochelle & Harold Schwartz
Rochelle & Edward Senker
Helen & Sheldron Seplowitz
Pam & Alan Shanker
Phyllis & Martin Shapiro
Rosalyn Sherman
Claudia & Keith Silver
Lisa & Abraham Slen
Louise & Amiram Soifer
Devora & Ben-Zion Soifer
Amy & Samuel Sroka
Fannie Stevens
Sheila & Bernard Teig
Rachel & Harold Terk
Ailene & Steven Tisser
Audrey Waldstreicher
Sandi & Stuart Waldstreicher
Shira & Jon Waldstreicher
Sarah Bierman & Daniel Wallis
Linda Gornitsky & Harvey Weber
Barbara & Harry Webski
Nurit & Mark Wexler
Miriam & Rabbi Jeremiah Wohlberg
Sharon & Simeon Wohlberg
Elise & David Wolfsohn
Deborah Wolfsohn
Neda Khaghan & Robert Yaghoubian
Shushannah & Ari Yasgur
Helene Zimmerman
Hillary & Robert Zitter
Navah & David Zizmor

Thank You

Dr. Anne Peskin for teaching the latest Women's Club Scholar Series lecture on "Winter Sky and Sunset." Click here to view a recording!
Mazal Tov
  • to Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen on Tamar's marriage to Feivel Segelov this Sunday!
  • to Janice & Jake Meyer on the marriage of their daughter Julie to Daniel Temkin!
  • to Belana & Michael Warmflash on the birth of a baby girl! Mazal Tov to siblings Natan, Yoni and Esti, grandparents Ron & Doris Warmflash, great-grandmother Camille Warmflash and the entire family!
Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here
Shabbat Topics & Participants
Bob's BasicsBob Abrams
Shmuel ClassMark Wagshul
ShiurDavid Held
Sanctuary SermonMs. Raizi Chechik: "Reaching Towards the Infinite: A Conversation on Cultivating Spirituality"
Pre-Mincha LectureMs. Raizi Chechik: "Hakhel - What a 3,500 Year-Old Commandment Teaches Us about Education Today"
Seudat ShlishitMs. Raizi Chechik: "Educating for Faith, Educating for Joy"
Thanks To Our Sponsors
Senior Challah Deliveries: Marjory & Bob Abrams in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Marjory's father, Martin Edelston

Seudah Shlishit: Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen in appreciation of Raizi Chechik and BCHA

Chapel Kiddush: In celebration of Remi (Baruch Lev) Redleaf

Sanctuary Kiddush: David Levine and Pamela Howard in honor of their families
Sign Up For These Events
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Fall Adult Education Events At Agudath Sholom 

Shabbat with Ms. Raizi Chechik on November 11th-12th. She will deliver a sermon entitled, "Reaching Towards the Infinite: Cultivating Spirituality in Our Children and Grandchildren (and Ourselves!)" as well as additional lectures to be announced. In partnership with BCHA.

Sunday evening with Rabbi Menachem Liebtag on Dec. 4th at 8:30 PM. Rabbi Menchaem Leibtag will teach a class on Jewish Bible. Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, an internationally acclaimed bible scholar and pioneer of Jewish Education on the internet, is well known in the Jewish community for his essays on the weekly Bible portion.

Shabbat with Rabbi Chaim Jachter on December 9th and 10th. Rabbi Jachter who will deliver a number of lectures such as An Ashkenazic Rabbi of a Sephardic Congregation?! An Ongoing Journey" and "The Most Exciting Stories from Thirty Years of Supervising Countless Eruvin Throughout North America."

Sunday morning Chanukah Yom Iyun with Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Weider on December 18th, 2022.
CAS Announcements
  • STUDENTS IN ISRAEL Rabbi Cohen and Diane will be hosting a dinner for CAS students in Israel in November. Please forward your child's information to Rabbi Cohen who will extend an invitation to them.
  • THANKSGIVING MEN'S CLUB LUNCHEON FOR THE EMS STAFFSERVED AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS 684 LONG RIDGE ROAD ON THANKSGIVING. SEMS IS A 100 non profit 911 organization that relies on the community for their support and we'd be happy to once again make this happen. Typically they have 4-5 crews (or teams) running that day stopping by for lunch as they can from 11:30-1:30pm. We cook up as many Turkeys as we get donated (usually 2--3) in the shul's meat kitchen along with various dishes, starting around 9am till roughly 11:15am. This is a fun event for the whole family as we usually have our youngsters cutting, cooking and preparing along with us.

    We are looking for 1) Food donations, 2) Time and effort donations and 3) Delivery effort.

    If you can donate a turkey, yams, beans, potatoes, cranberries, sugar, salad item or can assist in any way, please contact Mitchel Bell wizdrbel@yahoo.com.
  • NEW AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBER BRUNCH - SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 4TH If you are new to the community and would like to join, please email membership chair, Hilary Goldstein at goldenberg.hilary@gmail.com
  • CAS MEN'S CLUB MEETING We are planning on holding our first in-person meeting in quite some time on Sunday Dec 4 at 10 am.At this time we are looking to start election proceeding for the officer positions of the CAS Men's Club. A bagel & lox breakfast will be served. For more information please email wilzdrbel@yahoo.com or text 203 722 3512
  • JOIN THE SENIOR AMBASSADORS Ambassadors to ensure that as a community we elevate our commitment to the older members of our shul. Responsibilities of Senior Ambassadors are the following: Active Member of Healing Visits, Kiddush Assistance and Partner with Youth Kiddush Ambassadors, Support Senior Events (Holiday, Educational, Social), Eyes and Ears for Our Clergy, Erev Shabbat Shalom Calls. For more info, contact Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org
CAS Youth News
The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) Teen Israel Summer Trip Info Session We are thrilled to announce that for the very first time, NCSY Stamford will be partaking in the premier Israel summer program, TJJ. The most affordable (by far) of any Israel trip, TJJ is an opportunity of a lifetime for you and your family. Join our info session next Thursday, November 17th @ 7pm, at the Segal's home, to learn more and earn additional discounts. To receive the address, please contact Dovi at sidersond@ncsy.org or 475-685-8206

Save the Date! Glow in the Dark Havdalah   Saturday, November 19 - 5:45 PM. More details and registration link coming soon
Weekday Schedule
ShacharitShacharit: Sunday 7:15 AM/8:30 AM, Monday-Friday 6:30 AM/7:30 AM
MinchaMincha: Sunday-Thursday 4:25 PM, Friday 4:19 PM
Candles Friday4:14 PM
Rabbi Office Hours
Update on Rabbi Cohen's & Rabbi Kurtz'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 Kurtz are not attending to an urgent matter outside the synagogue. Open Office Hour Times for this Week
Rabbi Moshe Kurtz
  • Monday, November 14, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at CAS
  • Wednesday, November 16, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at CAS
CAS Adult Education

Join one of our CAS classes.

We Wish A Speedy Recovery To
  • Avraham Tzvi ben Teibel
  • Carmiya Chaya Hadas bat Tziporah Miriam
  • Chasa Paya bat Alka
  • Chava bat Mirirm
  • Dov ben Pnina
  • Eitan Micha ben Tova
  • Eliezer ben Chana
  • Evan ben Brayna
  • Friedel bat Esther
  • Lieba Chaya bat Rivka
  • Meita Leah bat Leiba Rachel
  • Rafuel ben Chava
  • Sara bat Barbara
  • Sheva Pearel bat Devorah
  • Shimshon ben Breva
  • Yakov ben Nona
  • Yehudit bat Chaya Rochel
  • Yisrael ben Frayda
  • Yizka bat Havah
  • Zelda Chaya bat Chana Masha
Community Announcements
  • SCHOKE JFS SUNDAY SOCIAL - A SOCIALIZATION GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS November 13 at Silverman's Farm in Easton (451 Sport Hill Road) from 11am-1pm. We will be enjoying food, the weather, and the views while sitting and talking. Attendance to this event is free and transportation can be provided for anyone who needs. Anyone interested should RSVP via google form (https://forms.gle/aCwzZR6qQ6C6A8wq5) or reach out to Brooke Davidson, Director of Clinical Services, at bdavidson@ctjfs.org or 203-921-4161.
  • SAVE THE DATE FOR UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION'S SUPER SUNDAY COMMUNITY DAY 2022 Sunday, November 13th. This important day offers three chances to learn, have fun, and give. The co-chairs are Bob Abrams, Nan Gordon, and Allison and Jonathan Ostroff. 1) At the Global Day of Jewish Learning (formerly Tapestry) guests will hear from keynote Dr. Dale Atkins on the topic of Rebuilding our Jewish Community: A Focus on Individual Resilience. $18 per person including a light breakfast (until Nov 2nd), $25 per person (beginning Nov 3rd), and $180 to be a sponsor (includes 2 tickets and a signed copy of Dr. Atkins' book).2)A Family Fun Day will be held from 12:30pm to 2:00pm, and will include mitzvah opportunities, crafts, a petting farm, snacks, and the Tzedakah Coin counting station. Co-chairs: Robin Fischel and Simone Zwany. 3)Super Sunday is a day the community is asked to "answer the call" and provide financial support to UJF. These funds are used for community organization programs and for aid to those in Israel and over 72 countries around the world. Please consider donating on this important community day, or volunteering to make calls.To sign up or for more information go to www.ujf.org/nov13.
  • WOMEN'S INITIATIVE FOR JEWISH STUDIES (WIJS) AT YOUNG ISRAEL OF NEW ROCHELLE IS PROUD TO PRESENT DR. SHARI RABIN Tuesday, November 15, 2022 @ 8:00 pm (ET) on Zoom. Dr. Rabin will speak on the topic: "Dissent, Providentialism, and Slavery: A New Interpretation of Early Charleston Jewish Life." The 1669 Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina promised freedom of worship to "Jews, heathens, and other dissenters," establishing a novel new setting for Jewish life in the English colonies. Drawing on research for her new book project on Jews in the American South, Dr. Rabin will piece together the history of the Jewish community that emerged in eighteenth-century Charleston. These Jews lived within a broader Atlantic World, but also began to forge religious and social lives fundamentally shaped by this distinctive Lowcountry port city. All WIJS programming is open to women and men. Please visit http://www.yinr.org/wijs to view the complete WIJS 2022-23 schedule. For more information, to be added to the WIJS email list, or for Zoom information, please call 914-636-2215 or email: wijs@yinr.org.
  • JOIN THE COMMUNITY AT THE GATHERING OF UNITY, an evening celebrating the differences in our community by embracing each individual's unique abilities. Socialize and connect with friends over a dessert reception; hear the stories from Friendship Circle participants who are now on the giving end, and enjoy a musical performance by Ethan Walmark. Most importantly being there in person to support our beloved FC families. We highly encourage you and your family to register and expand your circle of friendship. For more information and to RSVP: www.friendshipct.com/UnityEvent
  • SCHOKE JFS IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU - LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS Schoke Jewish Family Service offers a wide range of support groups to meet the various needs of the community and to help families and individuals with the transitions and challenges of life. Currently, all support groups meet on Zoom. The Divorce Support Group - Mondays, 1:00 PM; Bereavement Support Group - Thursdays, 7:30 PM; Caregiver Support Groups - Every other Sunday, 11:15 AM and every other Wednesday, 7:30 PM; COVID Support - Thursdays, 4:00 PM, 1st and 3rd Thursdays; Brain Fitness Group - Mondays, 10:30 AM and Wednesdays, 10:30 AM; Healing Chair Yoga - Class schedule to be announced on the website. To join the support groups, please fill out the form at: www.ctjfs.org/counseling/groups/ or contact Brooke Davidson, Director of Clinical and Family Life Services at bdavidson@ctjfs.org or 203-921-4161.

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