Congregation Agudat Achim
Weekly Announcements
29 July 2021 - 20 Av 5781
Parashat Ekev
Rabbi Rafi Spitzer -- President Jackie Rowen
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וְשָׁמַר֩ יי אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אֶֽת־הַבְּרִית֙ וְאֶת־הַחֶ֔סֶד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
“God your Lord will keep the covenant and love with which He made an oath to your fathers” (Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, The Living Torah). What does hessed mean in this context? Kaplan translates it as love. The JPS translates it as faithfulness. Fox translates it as loyalty.
Maimonides dedicates the penultimate chapter of The Guide for the Perplexed to the analysis of three words: hessed, tzedakah and mishpat. On hessed he says:
In our Commentary on Pirkei Avot (5:7) we have explained the expression hessed as denoting excess. It is especially used of extraordinary kindness. Loving-kindness is practiced in two ways: first, we show kindness to those who have no claim whatever upon us; secondly, we are kind to those to whom it is due, in a greater measure than is due to them … The very act of creation is an act of God’s loving-kindness: “I have said, ‘The universe is built in loving-kindness’” (Ps. 89:3)…
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Z”L, explains it this way: The difference between the three terms is that I am legally entitled to mishpat. I am morally entitled to tzedakah. But to hessed, I am not entitled at all. When someone acts toward me in hessed, that is an act of pure grace. I have done nothing to deserve it.
Why do you think Moshe adds the word Hessed to the word Brit? What does love given in grace have to do with covenant, with relationship?
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Spitzer
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A Message from Alexandra Schmidt
Random Warbling's, or Learning to Lead a Rosh Hashanah Service
As you may have heard, there will be a few new faces leading High Holiday services this year, and while mine isn’t a particularly new face, I’ll be leading Shacharit for the first time on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Learning to do this has been one of my summer projects. I have not learned to lead a new service in quite a while, and this is a lengthy and musical one. While this is definitely not something one picks up in a week, I do want to note that given time and daily practice, learning a new ritual skill is something almost anyone can do. When you think about it, this is something we more or less expect from 12-year-olds studying for b’nai mitzvah. It is not easy, but it is satisfying, meaningful, and feasible. The process has renewed my appreciation for what our tweens accomplish. I’ve also felt that so many people have had a supportive arm around my shoulders as I’ve been doing this learning. Some are near, some are far, some I’ve never met, some I know well, some no longer walk this earth. When I was in my 20s and a new member at Agudat Achim, I digitized Murry Prager's recordings and that is mostly what I am learning from. For those of you who didn’t know Murry, he was our synagogue’s lay cantor for many years. Raised in New York during the “golden era” of cantorial singing between the world wars, he possessed a professional-quality, unusually warm tenor voice. He was wonderful to listen to, and wonderful to sing with. 20 years after his passing, he is still teaching me and giving back to Agudat Achim. I have also drawn on recordings from Cantor Saul Wachs (former B’nai Sholom Rabbi Cashman's father-in-law) and recordings given to me by Cantor Sharon Bernstein, who visited Agudat Achim many years ago, stayed with us, and remains a friend to this day. In the online world, the Hadar website and Joey Weisenberg's video library are treasure troves of lovely melodies. There is so much stuff out there and there are so many skilled teachers who want to share it. If someone wants to learn something and isn't sure where to look, ask! I want to personally thank Art Friedson, who helped me walk through what the prayer leader actually does in leading the Rosh Hashanah Shacharit service. Most of all, Art expressed his confidence that I could do this. That meant a lot to me. My daughter Rachel scanned all the necessary prayer book pages in about 20 seconds with her phone and helped me transfer digital audio files to an iPad so I could take the music and words wherever I went. As a result, my family has been treated to a lot of weird warbling at odd hours, around the house, on vacation, and even (very quietly) on airplanes. They take it all in stride. Thanks, team. So come to Rosh Hashanah services and come early enough to catch Shacharit! I'm working hard to make it lovely for you.
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Friday Night Outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat
in Person and on Zoom
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You are Invited!
Come Pray with Us!
A Special Oneg Shabbat will be served after services.
Covid Information:
- Attendees are not required to wear masks or be socially distant.
- You wear a mask if you choose to.
- Attendees who wish to maintain social distance will be able to do so.
We will hold Kabbalat Shabbat in the parking lot at 5:30p, every Friday, for the remainder of the summer!
We'd love to see you there!
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Birthdays: Amy Brilliant, Aaron Gold, Leah Gold, Nathan Naparstek, Josiah Schmidt, Allan Pearlman
Anniversaries: Randy and Robert Fox, Ann and Paul Zonderman, Vicki and John Gold, Phyllis and Arnold Ritterband, Karen and Gerald Hausler, Marsha and Murray Jaros, Judith and Brad Ruthberg, Alexandra and Stephen Schmidt
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Yahrzeits: Phillip Adelman, Donald Adelson, Isidor Ferber, Joan E. Siegel Olender, Anne Gerson, Stacey Beth King, Irving Rothenberg, Gordon Sanders, Bernard Seigel, Blossom Katz, Herman Seftel, Saul Seras |
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Thank you to the individuals who participated in this past week's Shabbat services: Yashar koach!
Torah and Haftarah Readers: Rabbi Spitzer; Alexandra Schmidt
Daveners/Service Leaders: Art Friedson, Dan Mayer
Service Coordinators/Gabbaim: Anita Merims; Murray Jaros, Steve Schmidt, Alexandra Schmidt
COVID-19 Compliance Guarantor/Shamash: Barby Harris
Other Participants: Rabbi Spitzer, Barbara Wasser, Rosalie Fadem, Bob Weissberg, Alex Goldner, Grady Goldner, Kaitlin Spektor, Steve Schmidt, Alexandra Schmidt
Contributors to our Security Fund, Attendees, “…those who give funds for heat and light, wine for Kiddush and Havdalah, bread to the wayfarer and charity to the poor, and all those who devotedly involve themselves with the needs of this community… May the Holy Blessed One reward them, remove sickness from them, heal them, and forgive their sins. May God bless them by prospering all their worthy endeavors, and let us say: Amen.”
Would you like to see your name on this list?
Get in touch with Howie Mittleman or Rabbi Spitzer!
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Registration for 2021-2022 school year
is now open for Prek - 12
We plan to be in person if all goes well this summer.
We have teaching opportunities available, if interested contact Jack.
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A variety of prepared frozen food continues to be available ongoing.
Just contact Rise' Routenberg at syncaterer@aol.com to place your order and arrange pick up.
Make checks payable to Congregation Agudat Achim or call the office at 518-393-9211 to place a credit card order.
You can see the entire list of offerings by clicking on the button below
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Carrot Festival
Food Preparation
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Carrot Festival Food Preparations Are Back!
As we breathe a welcome sigh of relief these days knowing we are able to gather more safely, we now can plan for a much anticipated Carrot Festival 2021. Although the Festival may still happen in a modified way, much more sweet and savory food will be prepared than last year!
We hope you can join us to help prepare CF favorites. Even one hour of your time will make a difference. Please wear closed shoes, no sandals. No need to wear a mask when in our kitchen pod.
Below is the work schedule for now which will continue through August. More dates will be posted in the future.
The CF Committee thanks you in advance for your support!
Monday- 9-3:00
Tuesday - 1-3:00
Wednesday- 9-3:00
Thursday - 9-3:00
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SiCM Volunteers from CAA Needed for Summer Meals Program |
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The members of the Social Action Committee are asking for your help to help pack and serve Summer Meals. Dates and times are as follows:
-Packing Meals at SiCM 839 Albany Street, Schenectady on August 2- August 6th, August 9th-August 13th and August 30th-September 4th starting at 8:00 am
-Serving Meals at Trinity Reform Church, 745 Curry Road, Rotterdam on July 26 - July 30th starting at 10:45 am.
-Serving Meals at Central Park, Schenectady (outside the Pavilion) on August 9th - August 13th starting at 11:30 am.
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2021-2022 / 5782
Women's Network and Men's Club Membership
Registration now open!
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Click the buttons below to access each flyer, to download and print,
or click here to register online for Men's Club membership
and click here to register online for Women's Network membership.
Your dues and donations help support our social service organizations continue their efforts in supporting our congregation and our community.
Thank you!
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Reyut and Hessed requests for rides
It is now permitted for our volunteers, if they feel comfortable, and are vaccinated and masked, to drive people. Please feel free once again to either call Linda Birnby at 518-608-6083 to request a ride, and we will call the volunteers for you to get you a driver. Remember, the earlier that you call one of us to request a ride, the easier it will be for us to find you a driver. We are delighted to be able to offer you this service once again!
Rabbi Spitzer teaches a class on the weekly Torah portion on Tuesdays from 12:30p – 1:30p on Zoom. The link is on the CAA Online Programming Google Doc. If you are interested in exploring the weekly Parashah, please attend. All are welcome. Rabbi Spitzer invites you to call or email with your comments or thoughts.
Every Wednesday on Zoom at 10a.
Meets on the second Wednesday of each month, at 12:00p
Next Meeting 13 October
October book: The Light of Days, by Judy Batalion
November book: Paris Children, by Gloria Goldreich
Next Meeting: 8/15: Ki Tetze
Following minyan at 7:15p, we will meet outside the home of Steve Schmidt, 1202 Godfrey Lane in Niskayuna, weather-permitting. If we go inside, please have a mask to wear. A Zoom component will also be offered for those unable to attend in person.
Adult Hebrew Classes with Zipporah Harris
Please become part of this group of learners!
Final Class Tuesdays 6-7 PM on 3 Aug; only on Zoom
$10 per class, payable directly to Zipporah
Open to New and Returning Students!
Born in Israel, Zipporah is an experienced teacher who has taught Hebrew at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels for over 30 years. The class covers reading, writing, and conversation. Please become part of this group of learners! Classes. If you are interested in joining, write to Zipporah at yourpersonalspace1@gmail.com.
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Our evening 7:15p service each night, except Tuesday night will be Mincha.
Friday Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat will be at 5:30p on Zoom
and in our parking lot, weather permitting.
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Links to Religious Services |
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Siddur Supplement
Until further notice, we are using the full Siddur Sim Shalom during weekday and Shabbat services. This version has both Shabbat and Weekday prayer services (whereas the "Slim Shalom," which only contains Shabbat services are typically used in the sanctuary). Rabbi Spitzer has made the following four prayers accessible.
We would like to make everyone’s experience of the service at home as barrier-free as possible so please get in touch with us if there are other things that we can do to increase ease of access.
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A special opportunity for select high school students in your community – AIPAC’s Family Leadership Initiative (FLI).
FLI is AIPAC’s exclusive, year-long training course for tri-state area high school students and their parents/grandparents. Families will graduate with concrete tools to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship both on campus and in the community. Throughout the school year, parents/grandparents and students will attend interactive training workshops, shadow an AIPAC-trained college activist, and hone their leadership and public speaking skills for pro-Israel political advocacy. Participants will learn the ins and outs of how AIPAC works and develop a deeper understanding of AIPAC strategy to apply on campus and in their communities. Most importantly, FLI will help families become effective pro-Israel activists together, as a unit, empowering multiple generations with the knowledge and support system to make a difference.
Applications are open! The deadline to apply is July 30, 2021. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis. FLI’s third cohort begins October 3, 2021. The program is limited to 10 families.
Congregants can find more information or apply via the FLI website.
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An Elul Intensive
A Free Four-Week Online Program from IJS and its Partner Organizations
August 8 – September 6, 2021
As we enter the high holidays this year, society around us is easing into a post-pandemic reality and beginning to re-open. Even as we yearn for normalcy, many of us sense a desire deep within us to do better than just return to things as they were. Perhaps there is a better way to live, one that builds upon the lessons learned this past year and embodies greater compassion and justice. The challenges and opportunities of this moment are many. How can we deepen our awareness and clarify our purpose as we enter this new year?
The Shofar Project 5781 is a free program open to people of all backgrounds who want to make this a year of continued transformation. IJS will provide Jewish teachings and daily practices including Torah study, Jewish mindfulness meditation, and Jewish yoga, to address the longing within our hearts to lead lives of sacred purpose, in right relationship with the land and each other. It takes place during the Hebrew month of Elul, the month preceding the Jewish High Holy Days, a traditional period for intensive spiritual reflection, introspection, and moral accounting (August 8 – September 6, 2021)
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