| Congregation Agudath Sholom
Shabbat Bulletin |
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| | Vaera | Mevarchim Chodesh Sh"vat | January 17, 2026 | 28 Tevet |
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| | Friday | | | Candle Lighting | 4:33 PM | | Mincha | 4:38 PM | | Shabbat | | | Shacharit | 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM | | Coffee & Commentary | 8:40 AM | | Sephardic Minyan | 8:45 AM | | Latest Shema | 8:57 AM | | Melachim Class | 9:00 AM | | Latest Shacharit | 10:00 AM | | Family Minyan | 10:00 AM | | Shiur | 10:30 AM | | Code Of Jewish Law | 3:40 PM | | Mincha | 4:30 PM | | Havdalah | 5:35 PM |
Never Forgetting a Kindness At the very beginning of this week's Torah portion, Va'era, we encounter a striking and easily overlooked detail. As God prepares to bring the first plagues upon Egypt—blood, frogs, and lice—He instructs Moshe that he is not to be the one to initiate them. Instead, Moshe is told to ask his brother Aharon to act in his place. Why does Moshe, the central figure of redemption, step aside at this moment? Rashi offers a profound explanation. The Nile River, Rashi notes, was the instrument of Moshe's salvation as an infant, carrying him safely in a basket when his mother could no longer hide him. Because of that, Moshe could not strike the water to turn it into blood, nor could he strike it to bring forth frogs. Later, when lice are brought from the earth, Moshe again steps back. The ground had once protected him, concealing the Egyptian taskmaster he killed when defending a Hebrew slave. Having benefited from the earth's protection, Moshe could not strike it either. At first glance, this explanation raises an obvious question. Gratitude toward people makes sense as human beings feel appreciation, warmth, and recognition. But water and earth are inanimate. They do not register kindness or insult. What, then, is achieved by Moshe refraining from striking them? Several commentators point out that this moment teaches a foundational distinction. Saying "thank you" is an action. Being grateful is a way of living. Gratitude in the Torah is not measured by whether the recipient feels acknowledged, but by whether the person expressing gratitude has cultivated an inner orientation of humility, memory, and appreciation. Moshe is being trained and we are being taught to live as grateful people, constantly mindful of the kindnesses that made our lives possible. Consider the time span involved. The water saved Moshe eighty years earlier. The earth protected him forty years earlier. And yet, those acts are not forgotten. Holiness, the Torah suggests, is not about dramatic gestures alone. It is about refusing to forget a kindness, no matter how much time has passed or how far one has traveled since. This posture of gratitude is one of the most essential divine traits. God remembers. God acknowledges. God honors what has come before. To live a sacred life is to walk through the world without entitlement and to recognize that none of us arrives where we are alone. Each of us can think of people or moments without whom our lives might have unfolded very differently. A teacher who believed in us early on. A mentor who opened a door. A friend who made a connection that changed everything. In my own life, I think often of my sister, Rachel, who felt a stirring of the soul and took action, setting me up with my wife, Diane. From that single act flowed a lifetime of blessings. Gratitude does not diminish with time; if anything, it deepens. Recently, I asked someone who is a lawyer: "Who was the most impactful teacher you had in law school?" He named him immediately. I then asked, "When was the last time you spoke to him?" The answer was years. Why not reach out, I suggested, and say: I have never forgotten your wisdom. I am still living from what you gave me. This, too, is part of the Torah of Va'era. Redemption begins with power, but it is sustained by humility. Freedom is not only about breaking chains; it is about remembering the hands that helped us stand. May this Torah portion awaken within us an attitude of gratitude not only expressed, but embodied. May we become people who never forget kindnesses, no matter how long ago it was given. And may that awareness guide us toward lives of holiness, dignity, and blessing. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom, prayers for the Jewish community in Iran and God willing the full redemption speedily and in our days, Rabbi Daniel Cohen |
Agudath Sholom Annual Dinner
Sunday evening, March 15th, 2026
Lives That Uplift. Impact That Endures.
שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם כִּי בְרֹב הַיָּמִים תִּמְצָאֶנּוּ
Cast your bread upon the waters; trust that its impact will endure.
Ecclesiastes 11:1
In the words of King Solomon, we are called to cast our kindness into the world without expectation of return—a way of living that most fully reflects the divine image within us, sending ripples of blessing far beyond the moment. This evening celebrates faithful presence and steady commitment, through which mitzvot are lived and community is sustained. We honor individuals whose devotion is transformative and whose impact endures.
Guests of Honor
Irwin Niedober and Howard Weiss
Community Service Award
Gayle and Mitchell Bell
Chai Award
Audrey Waldstreicher
Young Leadership Award
Alex and Brett Olsson
Honorary Dinner Chairs
Stephanie and Josh Bilenker
Helene and Harvey Kaminski
Gayle and Howard Rothman
Dinner Chairs
Lorraine and James Marcus
Journal Chairs
Hannah Pitell, Nava Ulmer and Shushannah Yasgur
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Shabbat Topics & Participants |
| Friday Night Dvar Torah | Caleb Gitlitz | | Coffee & Commentary | Rabbi Daniel Cohen | | Melachim Class | Mark Wagshul | | Bob's Basics | Rabbi Bob Abrams | | Shiur | Rabbi Aryeh Roberts: Moshe's Failed Appointment? | | Musaf | Natan Warmflash | | Code of Jewish Law | Rabbi Yossi Kamman | | Seudah Shlishit | Zach Mainzer |
- to Zach Mainzer and Caleb Gitlitz, who are first year Semicha Students at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University and visiting this Shabbat. Mazal Tov to Zach on his marriage this summer to Levana!
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- to Natan Warmflash on his Bar Mitzvah, his parents Belana & Michael and the entire Warmflash Family!
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- to Madeleine & David Bavelsky on the birth of a baby boy! Mazal Tov to big sister Layla!
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- to Yolly & Yaakov Faratci and Rachel & Rabbi Mark Dratch on the birth of a new daughter and granddaughter!
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- to Howard Wolfe and Michelle Zelin and Sandy Ehrenkranz on the marriage this Sunday of their daughter and granddaughter Danielle to Noam Slomovic!
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- Happy Birthday to Dovi Zucker!
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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- We extend our heartfelt comfort to Dina Berger and her family as they conclude the eleven months of Kaddish for their beloved husband and father, Paul Berger, this Shabbat afternoon. Paul was a pillar of our community and a devoted leader, serving as President of the Board of Trustees of BCHA. His legacy will endure for generations.
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- Senior Challah Deliveries: Harold & Rachel Terk in commemoration of the yahrzeits of Rachel's brothers, George Paru z"l & Sheldon Paru z"l and her father, Rabbi Isaac Paru z"l
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- 7AM Kiddush: Navah & David Zizmor in memory of Navah's grandmother, Sylvia Wilkof's yahrzeit
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- Chapel Kiddush: Lynn & Harvey Berman - "A special Thanks to Hashem, the shul and my family who all show me so much kindness. Special Shout out to Granddaughters birthdays: Chana (7) Chaya (5)."
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- Sephardic Kiddush: Claudine & Stuart Feurstein in memory of Claudine's father, Edwin Cohen z"l, David HaKohen bat Ruchama - Yartzeit 9 Shevat
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- Sanctuary Kiddush: Belana & Michael Warmflash in celebration of Natan's Bar Mitzvah
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- Seudat Shlishit: The Mainzer Family in memory of Sylvia Mainzer z"l on her yahrzeit and in celebration of Sylvia & Stephen z"l Mainzer's life-long commitment to Agudath Sholom and the continuity of the Stamford Jewish Community
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Shabbat, January 17 - 6:30 PM |
| Sunday, January 18 - 8:00 PM |
| Monday, January 19 - 10:00 AM |
| Tuesday, January 20 - 8:15 AM |
| Conversational Hebrew with Moshe Shapiro |
Tuesday, January 20 - 10:00 AM |
| Wednesday, January 21 - 8:00 PM |
| Stamford Jewish Experience Friday Night Dinner |
Friday, January 23 - 6:00 PM |
| Friday Night Dinner with Yosef Lindell |
Friday, January 30 - 6:00 PM |
| Making a Good Marriage Great - Shalom Bayit Young Couples Chavura |
Sunday, February 1 - 8:00 PM |
| | Tuesday, February 3 - 4:30 PM |
| NJOP Crash Course in Basic Judaism |
Thursday, February 5 - 7:45 PM |
| First Annual Adult Bracha Bee |
Shabbat, February 7 - 11:00 AM |
| Yom Iyun with Rabbi Chaim Jachter |
Sunday, February 8 - 9:15 AM |
| CAS Youth Tu B'Shvat Event |
Sunday, February 8 - 11:30 AM |
| Middle Feastern Sephardic Food Event |
Saturday Night, February 21 - 8:30 PM |
| Senior Challah Delivery Sponsorships |
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Purim Women's Megillah Reading We're currently looking for women to lein in our Women's Megillah Reading on Purim night. If you are interested in leining, fill out out this form. Questions? Email Zionadoft@yahoo.com
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Donate a book to help strengthen our Family Minyan experience! Help build an engaging space where our children can connect to the parsha and tefillah, and where parents and children can learn and grow together during davening. Dedications available! Click here to view the shop. Also: if you have a used book at home that you think would enhance the Family Minyan bookshelf, please contact Rabbi Roberts.
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Mentorship Opportunity with Sarah Walsh, Director of Greater NY & CT "Upon graduating from McGill University in Montreal, I started out in the Jewish world at the Birthright Israel Foundation, which sent me on a trajectory to Friends of the IDF, Federation, and AIPAC. If I can help set someone else into the right path, I would be honored to pay forward the opportunities granted to me as a young adult." If there are any high school, college, or recent graduates who are interested in AIPAC, advocacy, Jewish non-profit work, etc, Sarah is available to shadow for a morning. If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Cohen at rabbicohen@cas-stamford.org
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- Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman)
- What's a drink that you really don't like (plague or blood)?
- What's a scary bug story you have (plague of lice)
- What's a message from G-d you couldn't ignore (Pharaoh keeps ignoring the plagues)?
- Would You Rather - Have to go to sleep with loud frog noises or with the knowledge that there were bugs creeping around (plague of frogs vs. plague of lice)?
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- Hospitality Opportunity - Hosting the BCHA Banot, Eden and Herut, for Shabbat We have been blessed for many years to host BCHA Banot in our community. From personal experience, the presence of the Banot in our home, deeply impacted our daughters love of Israel and forged life time friendships. Take a few moments, today, to sign up for a Shabbat meal to host our wonderful Banot Eden and Herut. It would be great if we could fill up all of their meals between now and the end of Feb to start. Thank you!! https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/2693
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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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- Shacharit Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday: 6:20/7:30/8:30 AM, Tuesday-Friday: 6:30/7:30/8:30 AM
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- Mincha Sunday-Thursday: 4:45 PM; Friday: 4:47 PM
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- Candle Lighting Friday: 4:42 PM
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- Monday Rosh Chodesh Sh"vat, MLK Day
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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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- Save the date... Second Annual Tova Feldstein Memorial Lecture Monday evening, Jan. 26, 2026,7:30pm at the Stamford JCC. Speaker: Dena Cooperman, Executive Director of Jewish Union Foundation at Yachad. Topic: "Inclusion That Works: Creating Opportunity in Community and Employment". No RSVP required.
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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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bulletin@cas-stamford.org