| Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin |
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| | Miketz | Chanukah Day 6
Rosh Chodesh Tevet | December 20, 2025 | 30 Kislev |
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| The Sanctuary minyan will begin at 8:45 AM this Shabbat
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| Friday | | | Candle Lighting | 4:10 PM | | Mincha | 4:15 PM | | Shabbat | | | Shacharit | 7:00/8:00/8:45 AM | | Coffee & Commentary | 8:30 AM | | Sephardic Minyan | 8:45 AM | | Latest Shema | 8:49 AM | | Melachim Class | 9:00 AM | | Latest Shacharit | 9:50 AM | | Bob's Basics | 10:00 AM | | Teen Minyan | 10:00 AM | | Shiur | 10:30 AM | | Code Of Jewish Law | 3:15 PM | | Mincha | 4:05 PM | | Havdalah | 5:10 PM |
The Real Lights of Chanukah: Moving Forward This past week has been a tragic one. We stand together with the community in Sydney in the face of the horrors at the Chanukah celebration. We pray for strength, comfort and healing. Not only in Sydney, but tragic events seem to be unfolding at a more rapid pace. There were and always are glimmers of heroism and resilience. In the midst of the sadness, we needed Chanukah more than ever. We are living in two worlds of death, hope and despair and light and darkness. Yet, Chanukah reminds us that just when we may think all is lost, the discovery of the jug of oil in the midst of the impurity of the Beit Hamikdash stands as a timeless and timely reminder that despite the efforts of our enemies to defile and destroy, our purity and possibility for renewal always remains. Our task is not to single handedly win a war and change the destiny of the Jewish people. Our task is to light a candle, add one light, even if it seems it may only last one day. God will take that commitment, that act of faith and fuel miracles that we could never have imagined to be possible. God willing, we will witness that day soon. Chanukah offers another important takeaway for all of us. The Halacha teaches that the wicks and oil on Chanukah is allowed to be qualitatively different to the wicks and oil used for Shabbat. (See Bameh Madlikin) Rabbi Avraham Schorr explains the reason for the distinction. The prime mitzvah of Chanukah is lighting the Chanukiah modeled on the Menorah in the Temple. The one who lit the Menorah was Aharon whose raison d'etre in life was to love every Jew. He never lost faith in the Divine spark in each person and the "hidden jar of oil" inside all of us. Aharon was so beloved since he helped people believe in themselves. For this reason, the lighting of the Chanukiah may be done with inferior wicks and oil to affirm the latent light in every Jew. A number of years ago, I heard a story about Rabbi Aryeh Levine, The Tzaddik of Jerusalem, who encountered a young man whom he knew as a child and was now no longer observant. He did not wear a kippah anymore and when he spotted Rabbi Levine he sought to avoid him as he was embarrassed. To the man's dismay, he met Rabbi Levine and confessed his attempt to hide. Rabbi Levine responded with words that embody the message of Chanukah. "Besides being too short to see what is on your head, it is not as important to me as what is in your heart." With those loving words, he not only removed the young man's embarrassment but restored his faith in the Divine within him. The 8 days of Chanukah offer unparalleled opportunities to reignite the sparks in every Jew. The way we can overwhelm the forces of evil and darkness is through an appreciation of our united mission to spread the light and value the light that each person brings to the world. We must nurture the shared vision of the Jewish people as a never ending beacon to herald a world of ethical monotheism and righteousness and a time when God's face is seen in every human being. We will only merit blessing and redemption when we are unified as one people with one heart. May we witness the lights burning in the restored Beit Hamikdash and a time when the light of Zion will shine forth over the entire earth speedily and in our days. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom and God willing good news in the days and weeks ahead, Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Sydney We wish words of comfort and strength to the Sydney Jewish community and the families of Boris and Sofia Gurman; Rabbi Eli Schlanger; Marika Pogany; Alex Kleytma; Matilda; Peter Meagher; Dan Elkayam; Reuven Morrison; Tibor Weitzen; Edith Brutman; Adam Smyth; Boris Tetleroyd; and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan
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Please keep those injured in the attacks in your prayers. God willing, they will have a full and speedy recovery.
Yaakov Dov ben Pnina; Yehuda Leib ben Manya; Chaya bas Shterna Sara; Yonatan ben Tziporah; Yaakov ben Ethel; Yechezkel ben Zoya; Dovber ben Talya; Moshe ben Benyamin; Moshe Yonatan ben Tzipporah; Toba bas Feige; Elon ben Ira; Elon ben Shimshon; Shoshana bas Mina; Levi Zev ben Elisheva Rochel; Yaakov Yisroel ben Sara Geffen; David ben Meir Yosef; Yitzchak ben Shterna Sarah
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Shabbat Topics & Participants |
| Kabbalat Shabbat | Brent Weinberg | | Coffee & Commentary | Rabbi Daniel Cohen | | Melachim Class | Mark Wagshul | | Bob's Basics | Rabbi Bob Abrams | | Shiur | Rabbi Aryeh Roberts: Electric Chanukkah Lighting and the Varieties of Nostalgia | | Shacharit | Simeon Wohlberg | | Code of Jewish Law | Rabbi Yossi Kamman | | Seudah Shlishit | Rabbi Aryeh Roberts: "God Has Made Me Forget" - Memory in the Shadow of the Sydney Attack |
- to Ariel & Evan Gorsky on the birth of a baby boy! Mazal Tov to big sisters Sophie and Kira!
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- to Dinah Miller Marlowe on receiving the Volunteers of the Year Award at UJF's Annual Meeting this past week!
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- to Rivka & Rabbi David Walk on the arrival of a grandson, born to Yishai & Shayna Liba Walk!
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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- to Shelley Sherer on the passing of her husband, Donald "Donnie" Sherer z"l
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- to Mark Svartz on the passing of his father, David Svartz z"l (Dovid Ben Menachem Zev Halevi)
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- Shabbat Bulletin: The Green Family in memory of Gloria's father, Neal Chassen z"l, on his 32nd yahrzeit - 30th of Kislev 5786
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- Senior Challah Deliveries: The Abrams Family in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Marjory's father, Martin Edelston z"l
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- 7am Kiddush: The Wolfsohn Family in loving memory of their grandparents, Florence Gold z"l and George Wolfsohn z"l on their yahrzeits
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- Chapel Kiddush: Co-sponsored by Toby Schaffer in commemoration of the yahrzeit of her mother, Julia Macy z"l, Rivkeh Hensheh Bat Tzvi Hirsch; and Howard Weiss in loving memory of his mother's yahrzeit - Necha Bas Shlomo Zalmin Hakohen z"l
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- Sanctuary Kiddush and Seudah Shlishit: Co-sponsored by Johanna & Selim Akyuz in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Selim's mother, Sultana Akyuz z"l; Tali & Rami Ben-Joseph in memory of Yosef Fosman z"l; Diane & Rabbi Daniel Cohen in solidarity with the Sydney Jewish community and in memory of the victims of Terror; and Barbara & Harry Webski in memory of Abe Webski z"l
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Sunday, December 21 - 10:00 AM |
| CAS Youth Chanukah Celebration |
Sunday, December 21 - 11:00 AM |
| Agudath Sholom New Year's Morning Yom Iyun with Rabbi Chaim Jachter |
Thursday, January 1 - 9:15 AM |
| Family Friday Night Dinner |
Friday, January 9 - 5:45 PM |
| An Evening of Learning with Atara Eis |
Sunday, January 11 - 7:30 PM |
| Agudath Sholom Kesher (ASK) |
Monday, January 12 - 4:45 PM |
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Mens Club Pacific House Meal Thursday, December 25 - 9:00 AM The CAS Men's Club will cook and prepare a meal for the residents at the Pacific House. We are looking for kosher food donations - consisting of sweet potatoes, string beans, potatoes, salad items (lettuce, peppers, tomatoes). We will prepare the meal from 9-11:15 am and deliver to the Pacific House. We also need servers beginning at 12:15 pm. If you can donate or volunteer, please contact Mitchell Bell at wizdrbel@yahoo.com or 203 722 3512. | Save the Dates in January - Shabbat, Jan 9-10: Scholar in Residence Rabbi Shaul Feldman Director of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada
- Shabbat, January 30th-31st: Rabbi Yosef Lindell |
- Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman)
- What's an interesting interview story you have (Yosef nails his interview with Pharaoh)?
- What's your favorite type of doughnut (sufganiyot)?
- What's something that lights up your life (the miracle of oil)?
- Parsha Would You Rather - pick a gift or be surprised by a gift (Chanukah)?
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- Meeting our Members Project: Monthly Member Features on the Big Screen! Thank God, our shul is growing every week! We would love to highlight families on a rotating basis on the screen in our lobby. It is a great way to connect names with faces and fuel the warmth of our shul!
Our Request: Fill out this survey with a Photo and send it back to us at your convenience. We are a shul created in God's Image where we celebrate our diversity, and warmth. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful and unique shul family! For questions, contact Brad or Rabbi Cohen.
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- Holy Habits Shabbat Shopping Join our CAS Board of Directors, who committed unanimously to purchase one extra item when they shop each week to support the Freedberg Kosher Food Pantry. When each one of us does one small act, it can truly make a difference. To learn more about the Kosher Food Pantry, visit https://www.ctjfs.org/kosher-food-pantry/.
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- New Torah Opportunity back by Popular Demand CAS Daily Learning Initiative to Ignite Your Life Consider the daily study of Chayenu - daily Parsha, Tanya and Tehillim! A generous sponsor offered to subsidize subscriptions. For more info, visit https://chayenu.org. If you would like to join, please email Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org. Testimonial - It changed my life! Agudath Sholom member Josh Goldberg
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- Making A Good Marriage Great: Shalom Bayit Young Couples Chavura with Rabbi Daniel and Diane Cohen. Starts Winter 2026 - Rabbi Daniel and Diane Cohen will lead a three month series on strengthening marriage, deepening relationships and growing in romance and love. The series will be hosted at private homes. To learn more and/or be hosts, contact Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org
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- Support our Local Kosher Establishments Thank God we have a growing number of Kosher establishments in Stamford. Navaratna is currently closed for renovations, but please make an extra effort to support 613, Ricotta, L'Chaim and Greenwich & Delancey.
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- Israel Advocacy - Sign up for Pens and Swords This group shares links to petitions and information about how everyone can contact political figures and businesses to advocate on behalf of Israel. Most of these actions take under a minute to complete and they keep pressure on policymakers to support Israel and/or drop actions that are detrimental. Please share the link for this group with as many supporters of Israel and the Jewish people as possible. click here
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- Shacharit Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday-Friday: 6:30/7:30/8:30 AM; Thursday: 7:00/8:30 AM
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- Mincha Sunday-Thursday: 4:15 PM; Friday: 4:18 PM
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- Candle Lighting Friday: 4:13 PM
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- Sunday Chanukah: 8 Candles; Rosh Chodesh Tevet
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New Learning Initiative WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 at 8 PM | BBQ MEN'S BEIT MIDRASH Every other Wednesday night! Wings and Poppers will be served. Choose between chavrusa learning on in-depth halacha from the parsha OR chassidus on the parsha, followed by a late maariv. This week: Rabbi Cohen will be teaching "Growing in Spiritual Greatness: The Insights of the Tosher Rebbe on the Finale of Bereishit," followed by a halacha shiur from Rabbi Roberts on the topic of "Fashion, Identity, and the Complexities of Shehechiyanu." Reach out to Rabbi Roberts to be added to the Whatsapp group.
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We Wish A Speedy Recovery To |
- Tzvi Zev Yosef ben Chana Shulamit
- Yaffa bat Hanna
- Anat bat Rachel
- Moshe Yosef ben Sarah
- Raanan Noach ben Slova
- Chaim ben Leah
- Yosef Ishai ben Miriam
- Yocheved Rochel bat Chava Kayla
- Sheina Feiga bat Rivka
- Hershel Wolf ben Brucha
- Rema bat Etta
- Yitzchak ben Shmuel v. Chaya
- Freidel bat Esther
- Leeba Minna bat Rivka
- Pesach Melech ben Basha
- Chaya Shoshana bat Yehudit
- Nira bat Rachel
- Sara bat Nira
| - יוֹסֵף ben בתיה
- Chana Leah bat Esther
- Nadav Ephraim ben Shlomit Leah
- Rafael Zvi ben Chana Pearl
- Evgeny ben Perl
- Ariella Maor bat Liba Chaya
- Leah bat Rivka
- חיים זאב ben לאה
- Adeline bat Chava
- Moisha Gedalia
- Nechemiah
- Dorit bat Ora
- Yospa bat Shana Menucha
- Michal bat Chana
- Rachel Leah bat Sara
- Mary
- Yosef Noach ben Dina
- Uriel ben Vered
| - Tanya bat Malka
- Chaya bat Liba
- Moshe Yitzak ben Raisel Crendel
- Miriam bat Devorah
- אסתר רחל bat רייזל ביילה
- Chaya Rachel bat Carmi Adina
- Penina bat Batya
- Dov ben Pnina
- Nehama Miriam bat Dvora
- Yehouda ben Aghdas
- Hersh Zalman ben Sorah Rochel
- Moshe Gavriel ben Rachel Esther
- Cheryl Sheva bat Gittel Leah
- Sossie Raizel bat Sarah Fraida
- Calev Natanel ben Sara
- Yitzchak Osher ben Chana Shayva Chaya
- Inna bat Tanya
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- Ariel Y
- Shani Y
- Tali Y
- Yoad A
- Harry B
- CZM
- JEM
| - AMM
- Nathan H
- Noam H
- Yehudit
- Sally K
- Oren L
- Nathan L
| - Rachel M
- Jeremy S
- Yehudit S
- Meni N
- Yaniv H
- Rachel W
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- TBE Tzedek Committee invites you to Censorship, Book Banning, and First Amendment Rights Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 9:30 AM at Temple Beth El. Featuring Dr. Tamu Lucero, Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools; Regan Allan, Director of Education & Engagement at Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF); and Alice Knapp, CEO of Ferguson Library. Doors open at 9:00 am for a light breakfast. $10 for adults over age 20 by 1 pm on Friday, Jan. 9th. $15 at the door. Middle school and high school students are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP to www.tinyurl/com/censor1-11-26
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- Aaron's Place - A Kosher Comfort Room Aaron's Place, on the ground floor of Stamford Hospital, provides kosher snacks, drinks and meals, in a comfortable environment. If you are caring for a hospitalized loved one or waiting for tests, this comfort room is a place to relax and refresh. Information is available at the hospital front desk, The code, in Hebrew letters, is on the door of the room. Volunteers Needed! To volunteer, please email ronsichel@aol.com
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