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

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Friday, March 24, 2023

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin
VayikraMarch 25, 20233 Nisan 5783
send your submission to
bulletin@cas-stamford.org
Friday
Candle Lighting6:52 PM
Mincha6:57 PM
Shabbat
Shacharit7:00 AM/8:00 AM/9:00 AM
Sephardic Minyan8:45 AM
Latest Shema9:14 AM
Bob's Basics10:00 AM
Teen Minyan10:00 AM
Latest Shacharit10:29 AM
Shiur10:30 AM
Code of Jewish Law5:55 PM
Mincha6:45 PM
Havdalah7:53 PM
Shabbat Shalom
Vayikra 2023

I wanted to take a moment to share that Yesh Tikva's 8th annual Infertility Awareness Shabbat is this coming Shabbat. This is a special weekend dedicated to creating a supportive space for those struggling with infertility or facing family-building challenges.

The Stamford community has participated in the past, and the feedback following this special Shabbat was that it helped people feel seen and valued, and that their pain matters.

I encourage everyone to join the One Candle initiative this Friday night and always. It is a beautiful and meaningful initiative to deepen our prayers for people experiencing infertility in the hopes that God willing, God will answer the prayers of those struggling to conceive. Sign up at yeshtikva.org/onecandle/. We will also be adding the prayer for infertility on Shabbat morning.

There are so many ways our community can come together for Infertility Awareness Shabbat, as listed here, but the possibilities are endless. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me directly or Alyson Koblick at akoblick@yeshtikva.org.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Daniel Cohen


Shabbat Information 
  • Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Vayikra with the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l - click here
  • Read Rabbi Kurtz's weekly halachic essays on the parsha here.
  • The Haftorah is read from Isaiah 43:21-44:23
  • Haftarah summary by Chabad.org - click here
  • Haftarah summary by Haftarah Helper - click here
  • Halachic Note: Tachanun and prayers correlated with it e.g. , Kel Malei, Av HaRachamim and Tidkasecha are not recited throughout the entire month of Nisan.
  • Would you like to read the Torah or Haftara for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking here.

Parsha Icebreakers (Courtesy of Yaakov Moshe Shmidman)
  1. Who is a person you try to call on a regular basis (Vayikra)?
  2. What is a sacrifice you make or have made for Hashem (all the korbanot)?

Praying and Supporting Our Soldiers and Troops 
We were recently blessed to host Rabbi Irving Elson, a vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council who spoke movingly about supporting Jews in the US Armed Forces.

As a shul, we will be mobilizing to explore ways to support our Jewish troops and also the IDF. If you would like to be part of the planning of this effort and mission, please contact Rabbi Cohen. Further, we would like to include the names of family members and friends currently serving America or Israel, please fill out this form.

May God watch over them every step of the way and may He bring peace soon and speedily in our days.

Thank you to Agudath Sholom from Schoke JFS 

Dear Rabbi Cohen,
I just received the check for the Matanot L'evyonim donation from Agudath Sholom to Schoke JFS. We are truly overwhelmed by the support of the shul in helping those in need in our community. As a result of your assistance, and many others in the community, almost $12,000 was distributed on Purim day to community members in need. We were pleased and humbled to help our clients and help fulfill a Purim Mitzvah on behalf of others. Please express our gratitude to you congregants for their generous support.

Matt Greenberg

Building our Faye and Ben Manger Beit Midrash Sponsor a Sefer or Sefarim - We anticipate, God willing, opening our Beit Midrash in the coming weeks. In anticipation, we will be purchasing sefarim, Hebrew and English, for new bookshelves and adding tables for learning. God willing the sounds of Torah study will join the sounds of Tefillah heard in this sacred space. To sponsor some new Judaic books and seforim, click here.

Thank you to Rhonda Schaffer-Maron & Jeff Maron for being our first donors!
Mazal Tov
  • to Devora Weinstock & Scott Kove on the birth of a baby boy!
  • to our Youth staff member Noah Kalandar on his engagement to Aliza Hersch!
  • to Sandy & Michael Kamen on the recent Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Sam!
Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here
Welcome
  • new members Yael Shy and Ben Bernstein and their children Zusha and Moses!
  • NCSY Teen advisors Jonathan Krombach, Tani Blass, Shalhevet Cohen and Rachelli Gottesman. Jonathan will deliver a brief dvar Torah at seudah shlishit.
Shabbat Topics & Participants
Bob's BasicsBob Abrams
ShiurMichael Feldstein: "Using Grape Juice for the Four Cups at the Seder: How the Prohibition Movement Created a New Leniency" - In memory of Dr. Donald Feldstein, z"l/Dovid Levi ben Asher Anshel v'Chaya Gittel
Code of Jewish LawRabbi Yossi Kamman
Seudat ShlishitMark Wagshul: "Demystifying the Jewish Wedding"
Thanks To Our Sponsors
Challah Deliveries: Pam & Alan Shanker

Early Minyan/Seudat Shlishit: Audrey & Mark Wagshul in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Mark's father, Mel Wagshul (Menachem Mendel ben Lipa)

Chapel Kiddush: Sherri & Allen Rosenthal in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Allen's mother, Anna Rosenthal

Sanctuary Kiddush: Co-sponsored Anonymously in honor of all our youth group leaders; by Nancy & Gadi Mimoun in memory of Sadi Mimoun and Joan Zinbarg; and Shira & Mitchell Zucker in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Mitchell's mother, Marlie Zucker/Machle Shifra Bat Ephraim
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Upcoming Events
Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig: Modern Jewish Approaches To Mental Health Challenges 
Monday, April 17 - 8:00 PM
Agudath Sholom is pleased to welcome Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig to deliver a lecture on "Modern Jewish Approaches to Mental Health Challenges." Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig is the rabbi of the Netzach Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, a Ram in Midreshet Lindenbaum, and founder of Maaglei Nefesh, an institute addressing mental health in Jewish law. He received his rabbinic ordination in Yeshivat Birkat Moshe (Maale Adumim) through the Chief Rabbinate in Israel, and also from his Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch, zt"l. He has degrees in education, history and philosophy. Books he has written include Yishrei Lev (2015), a 3-volume set of responsa, Conversations in Essence, imaginary conversations with great Jewish thinkers of the past, and the soon-to-be-published Nafshi Beshe'elati, on Halacha and mental health.

Save The Date: CAS & Busy In Brooklyns Chanie 
Sunday, April 30
Cooking Demo - $54 will include the live demo and new cookbook - Totally KosherLook for Sign up in the coming weeks.
CAS Announcements
  • 80'S PURIM PARTY PICTURES click here
  • SEDER HOSPITALITY: Planning your Seder? In need of a Seder? If you would like to join a family seder or would consider hosting members of our community who may need a place for Pesach night contact Rabbi Cohen or Rabbi Kurtz.
  • STAMFORD BOOK LAUNCH OF THE SECRET OF THE LIGHT BY RABBI DANIEL COHEN "A must-read for anyone in touch with their spirit and in search of their purpose." The Stamford JCC invites the community to a presentation and conversation with Rabbi Daniel Cohen about his latest book, The Secret of the Light. The event will be on Thursday evening, April 20th at 7:30 PM In a world filled with despair and darkness, the Secret ignites hope and light. Discover a timeless road map to deepen our faith in God, ourselves, and humanity and that no time, person, or place is devoid of God's light. Register here
  • CHAYA SIMA KOENIGSBERG TO SPEAK AT CAS SPRING SCHOLAR SERIES Chaya Sima Koenigsberg, an up and coming, highly respected Judaic Studies scholar, will be this year's featured speaker at Congregation Agudath Sholom's four-part spring scholar series. She will be giving a class on four consecutive Wednesday evenings in May - May 3, 10, 17, and 24. Each class will begin at 8PM, and will be held at Congregation Agudath Sholom. The theme will be Illuminating Medieval Ashkenaz: Studies in Text and Imagery
  • NEW INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING FERTILITY CHALLENGES Are you or someone you know experiencing fertility challenges or pregnancy loss? If you/they could use help with meals, please reach out to Chani Zweiter at chani.kovacs@gmail.com and she can arrange meals for the family. The recipient can remain anonymous and will receive dinners from strictly kosher homes. The community is here to support those experiencing difficult challenges.
Shabbat Shalom
Michael Feldstein's Latest Column  click here
Weekday Schedule
ShacharitShacharit: Sunday 7:15 AM/8:30 AM, Monday-Friday 6:30 AM/7:30 AM
MinchaMincha: Sunday-Friday 7:05 PM
Candles Friday6:59 PM
Passover
Passover at CAS As we prepare for the upcoming holiday, we are excited to launch our annual Pesach Website. Agudath Sholom is committed to helping you get ready for the holiday. This site will provide you with answers to many of the questions.To join the Pesach Q and A Whatsapp group, click here.We are offering a full array of pre-Pesach classes.To sell your chametz, click here.To give Maot Chitim, click here. We are working with Schoke Jewish Family Service to provide food and emergency assistance. Tzedakah can be donated online to our CAS Passover Fund. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Please reach out discreetly to me via rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org if you know a family in need.Here is our Passover schedule.

ANNUAL PRE PESACH PSA  All non-processed meat and chicken is kosher for Pesach. Buy now and freeze for Pesach before prices go up.(Please note: This doesn't apply to ground meat)

Pre-Pesach Classes 
Rabbi Daniel Cohen
  • The Midrashim about the Night of Freedom - Tuesday, March 28th 8:15 AM
  • The Fifth Son and our Relationship to Israel - Tuesday, March 28th 9:00 AM Seder Insights - Tuesday, March 28th at noon
  • Wednesday Night - Pesach Ideas and Inspiration March 29th 8 PM - Virtual
  • Virtual Seder Roundtable on Zoom - Thursday, March 30th 12 PM (BYOT - Bring Your Own Torah of Just Listen in) Meeting ID: 817 7122 4829 Passcode: 197571
  • Chassidic Insights on the Seder - Thursday evening, March 30th 9:15 PM (Private Home)
  • Shabbat Hagadol Drashah - Shabbat, April 1st
Rabbi Moshe Kurtz
  • "A Seder Plate of Pesach Insights from R. Dr. Norman Lamm to R. Yeruchem Olshin; YU to Lakewood and Everything in Between!" (Zoom only) - Monday, March 27th at 7:35 pm
  • Did the Exodus Really Happen? Thurs. Morning Book Club Special Session (In-person with Zoom accommodation) - Thursday, March 30th at 9:15 am
  • Zoom Link for Classes: https://zoom.us/j/7052940733 - password: 015824
CAS Adult Education

Join one of our CAS classes.

We Wish A Speedy Recovery To
  • Carmiya Chaya Hadas bat Tziporah Miriam
  • Leib Kovit ben Blanche
  • חיי מאנ ben קרייל מרי
We Honor Our Military
Community Announcements
  • URGENT APPEAL - SWAB DRIVE IN STAMFORD! This Sunday (3/26) from 9 am - noon at Chabad @ Harbor Point - 110 Washington Blvd Unit 101 (entrance on Pacific St.) - 3 minutes can save a life! HELP SAVE MURRAY'S LIFE: Murray Foltyn, a loving husband and father of two young children, is battling Myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer. His doctors are URGENTLY seeking a matching blood stem cell donor as a transplant is his best hope of a cure. However, he does not currently have a match in his family or the worldwide marrow registry. Because tissue type factors needed for a match are inherited, Murray's best chance of finding his donor is among those of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, and specifically with a genetic heritage from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia and the United Kingdom.
    You could be Murray's lifesaving hero without even knowing it! All it takes is a swab of your cheek to find out if you are a match for him or another patient in need. Eligible donors must be between the ages of 18-35 and in general good health, meet the guidelines and be willing to donate to any patient, at any time, worldwide. giftoflife.org/murray. For more info/ questions please text Sarah - 9176484546.
  • REGISTRATION FOR FCCJBL JEWISH BASEBALL LEAGUE IS OPEN! This league is a shomer Shabbat league for children ages 4-12. All games will be played on Sundays, starting 4/16-6/18. Sign up on www.fccjbl.org. Please reach out to info@fccjbl.org with any questions.
  • FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OPPORTUNITY FOR SENIORS The adults with special needs in our community are looking for extra curricular activities to do which will enable them to forge friendships and camaraderie.We feel that the "golden-agers" in our community bring a wealth of wisdom and life experience that offers so much to others. The new program, called 'Links of Love', will create opportunities to bring golden-agers together with adults with special needs. We believe this will make a real and beneficial difference in the lives of our special friends.You are invited to join the Friendship Circle on Sunday, March 26th at Chabad of Westport (79 Newtown Turnpike, Westport ) from 12:30-2:00 pm.12:30-1:00 - Light lunch and a brief orientation. 1:00-2:00 - Hang out with our special friends and enjoy activities together. You being there will really make a difference! Rsvp at FriendshipCT.com/linksoflove.
  • BIBLE SCHOLAR EXTRAORDINAIRE RABBI MENACHEM LEIBTAG WILL BE RETURNING TO STAMFORD Sunday evening, March 26, 2023 - 6PM light dinner, followed by shiur at 6:30PM at Young Israel of Stamford. He will to give a shiur titled "The Stranger as Described in the Bible: Jew or Gentile?" Free and open to the entire community!
  • AN EVENING WITH SCHOKE JFS Sunday, May 21st, 5:30 PM. Schoke Jewish Family Service invites you to its annual gala, An Evening with Schoke JFS - Feeding the Community at the Italian Center of Stamford, 1620 Newfield Avenue, in an outdoor tented pavilion. Mimi Cohen and Rhoda & Avram Freedberg are the recipients of the 43rd Annual Mitzvah Award, United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien and Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County are recipients of the Community Service Award, and the Mitzvah Match Families including the Bradley, Fischel, Gradman, Katz, Sperber, Speter, Tobin, Yasgur, and Zizmor families are recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award. The evening's events will be hosted by the weather anchor for NBC 4 New York, David Price. The event is co-chaired by Connie Freeman and Jillian Klaff with Jeri Appel as auction chair and Meryl Japha, Liz Kitay, and Ronnie Sichel serving as advisors. General tickets include dinner and dessert for $250, purchase your ticket at www.ctjfs.org. Contact Lisa Rich at 203-921-4161 or lrich@ctjfs.org to place a journal.
  • SCHOKE JFS IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU - LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS Bereavement Support Group available at Schoke Jewish Family Service, for more information please contact, Rebekah Kanefsky, Interim Director of Clinical and Family Life Services at rkanefsky@ctjfs.org or 203-921-4161.

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