| Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin |
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| | Vayera | | November 16, 2024 | 15 Cheshvan |
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| | Friday | | | Candle Lighting | 4:16 PM | | Mincha | 4:21 PM | | Shabbat | | | Shacharit | 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM | | Latest Shema | 8:29 AM | | Sephardic Minyan | 8:45 AM | | Coffee & Commentary | 8:45 AM | | Shmuel Class | 9:00 AM | | Latest Shacharit | 9:32 AM | | Family Minyan | 10:00 AM | | Shiur | 10:30 AM | | Code Of Jewish Law | 3:20 PM | | Mincha | 4:10 PM | | Havdalah | 5:16 PM |
Creating a Welcoming Community: The Values and Vision of Avraham and Sara I received an email from a couple visiting our community. The note is a heartfelt reminder that each one of us is an ambassador for creating a warm environment in our second home, the Shul. "Thank you and your congregation for making my husband and I feel so welcome in your synagogue, as if we were lifelong members ourselves. The warmth you extended to us was especially felt because we were away from family and friends." Parshat 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 Abraham is in pain after his circumcision at 99, he and Sarah 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'etre is chesed, reaching out to others and feels a void in his life if he cannot host people We may not always realize it but the essence of this mitzvah is not inviting only our friends but about reaching out to people who may not have a meal. Thank God, our initiative, the Stamford Jewish Experience, is growing and there are marginally affiliated 20s and 30s who would love a place for a Shabbat dinner. Thank you to Nate Pava who will be coordinating a short list of hosts. If you would like to be on the short list of hosts, please let Nate know. npava23@gmail.com 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. Rabbi Yisrael Salanter taught that someone else's material needs are my spiritual responsibility. Avraham and Sara's actions and proactive approach to kindness with joy, haste and care are a living Code of Jewish Law for all of us. 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. Hachnasat Orchim means moving outside our comfort zones. It means welcoming the stranger, people we may not know and/or who do not share our ideology. Avraham and Sara had an "Open Tent" policy. Their tent remained open on all four sides to invite strangers in, regardless of which direction they approached. Hachnasat Orchim is a reflection of our belief that every human is created in God's image. Ponder these questions: Besides food, what else are people looking for when they come to your home? How could you provide those things for them? How can I make others feel welcomed and cared for? What are some of the needs that my guests might have, and how can I provide for them? What kind of home do I want to build? Who do I want to have as the influences in my home? How can my home be a source of holiness and kindness? 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 and may we share good news from Israel in the days ahead, Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Shabbat Information - Learn about the Shabbat Torah Reading for Parshat Vayeira with the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l - click here.
- The Haftarah is read from 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 Haftarah for your bar mitzvah parsha? Let us know by clicking click here
Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman) - What was a memorable experience you had as a guest (Avraham hosts the angels)?
- What is a joke you like to tell (Sarah laughs when she hears that she will have a child)?
- What was a time you really had to trust your parents (Yitzchak puts his trust in Avraham at Akeidat Yitzchak)?
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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"
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Bar Mitzvah Projects - 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
- FIDF Lone Soldiers in honor of Oshri Steinberg's Bar Mitzvah - For my Bar-Mitzvah, I am donating to the FIDF, Lone Soldier Program. This donation is made in honor of my grandfather, who was a lone soldier in Israel in the 1960's. https://justgiving.com/campaign/oshribarmitzvah
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 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.
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Shabbat Topics & Participants |
| Coffee & Commentary | Rabbi Daniel Cohen | | Shmuel Class | Mark Wagshul | | Shiur | Rabbi Moshe Kurtz: Mikva, Money, and Mysticism | | Shacharit | Elliott Linder | | Musaf | Aaron Berk | | Code of Jewish Law | Rabbi Yossi Kamman | | Seudat Shlishit | Rabbi Moshe Kurtz: Halacha and Kabbala - Friends or Foes? |
- to Karen & Bob Katchko on Nate's Bar Mitzvah!
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- to Michal & Yishai Zwiren and Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen on the birth of a daughter and granddaughter! Mazal Tov to big sister Ruthie!
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- to Tamar & Jason Levine and Deborah & Ira Feigenbaum on Rafi's aufruf and upcoming marriage to Elisheva Jaffe!
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- to our CAS performers and artistic crew in the BCHA performance of Stuart Little - Aiden Miller, Eliza Ostroff, Rebecca Ostroff, Abby Rubinfeld, Nili Steinberg and Eva Tipermas!
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- to Barbara & Harry Webski on their 50th wedding anniversary!
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Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here- Senior Challah Deliveries: The Abrams Family in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Marjory's father, Martin Edelston
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- Chapel Kiddush: Deborah & Ira Feigenbaum in honor of their son Rafi Feigenbaum's marriage to Elisheva Jaffe
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- Sanctuary Kiddush: Karen & Bob Katchko in celebration of Nate's Bar Mitzvah!
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- Seudat Shlishit: Monica & Eric Jankelovits in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Eric's father, Arye Jankelovits/Dovid Aryeh Ben Yitzchak Isaac z"l
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| Shabbat, November 16 - 6:30 PM |
| Sunday, November 17 - 8:30 AM |
| Sunday, November 17 - 10:15 AM |
| Professor Jonathan Rynhold: Looking Ahead - Israel, the US and the Middle East |
Thursday, November 21 - 7:30 PM |
| Agudath Sholom Cafe at Humbled Coffee House |
Tuesday, November 26 - 7:30 PM |
| Thanksgiving Morning Book Talk on Kashrut with Rabbi Chaim Jachter |
Thursday, November 28 - 9:30 AM |
| Thank Our First Responders This Thanksgiving! |
Thursday, November 28 - 11:00 AM |
| New and Prospective Member Bagel Brunch |
Sunday, December 1 - 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, December 8 - 8:00 PM |
| Middle Feastern Sephardic Food Event |
Shabbat, December 14 - 8:30 PM |
| Senior Challah Delivery Sponsorships |
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Literature at Lunch Roundtable led by Dr. Richard Schwartz Wednesday, November 20 - 12:00 PM The community is invited to join us as we parse Shakespeare's Sonnet 30, When to the Sessions of Sweet Silent Thought. It is suggested that you read it in advance and consider its connections to other poems we have read such as Milton's Sonnet 19 'On his Blindness' and Psalm 30.Lunch catered by restaurant 613. Please contact me if you are planning to attend in person or you have any questions at rj@richardjschwartz.com. Zoom meeting ID 8784487429 Passcode 868450 |
CAS Youth Group Update This month in groups we're focusing with the kids on our monthly CAS theme, Acts of Kindness. This week, as we make our themed snack, "Avraham tents" out of fruit leather, we'll learn about the acts of kindness that Avraham and Sarah did. Just like Avraham and Sarah kept their tent open to everyone, our youth act of kindness this week will be to hold doors open for others. We ask that all of the adults please give the kids opportunities to hold doors open for you around the building.
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Teen Tisch at the Munks' for grades 9-12 this Friday night, 8:15-9:30pm with ruach, singing, hot cholent, & more! Reach out to Rabbi Josh for address jmunk@cas-stamford.org.
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- CAS Code of Conduct Our board of trustees recently approved a code of conduct for the Shul. Similar codes have been adopted by many growing synagogues with similar demographics. To be very clear, we are not asking our members to change their current conduct, but rather to maintain the high standards we have become accustomed to in our synagogue. The actual text of the code can be found on our website under "members". If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Rabbi Cohen or me. Thank you for your continued support.
Harvey Kaminski, CAS President
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- 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
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- 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/.
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- 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!
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- Shacharit Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday-Friday: 6:30/7:30 AM
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- Mincha Sunday-Thursday: 4:15 PM; Friday: 4:16 PM
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- Candle Lighting Friday: 4:11 PM
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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
- Leah bat Rivka
- Ariella Maor bat Liba Chaya
- Adeline bat Bat Chava
- Shlomo ben Velvel
- Rivkah Devorah bat Channa Gittel
- Moisha Gedalia
- Nechemiah
- Dorit bat Ora
- Mary
- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- Don't miss seeing some of the younger members of our congregation in their upcoming performance of Stuart Little at BCHA Thursday, 11/21 at 7:00pm & Sunday, 11/24 at 11:00am & 5:00pm. Come and cheer on Nili Steinberg, Abby Rubinfeld, Aiden Miller, Eva Tipermas and Rebecca and Eliza Ostroff as they join their cast and crewmates to tell the endearing story of a mouse named Stuart who was born into a normal family. $10/Ticket - BUYTICKETS.AT/BCHA
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- 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.
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- Join the Friendship Circle Bar/Bat Mitzvah program for 6th and 7th graders! Dec 8, Dec 15, Jan 5, Jan 12 from 6-7:30 PM at 48 Union St., Stamford. Discover how to support individuals with various disabilities, learn respectful ways to interact, and understand the impact of giving back to the community. Through a three-part series featuring fun games, interactive videos, insightful discussions led by specialists and therapists, and hands-on volunteer opportunities, you'll gain valuable skills while making a meaningful difference.
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