Congregation Agudat Achim
Weekly Announcements
3 December 2020 - 17 Kislev 5781
Parashat Vayishlah
Rabbi Rafi Spitzer -- President Jackie Rowen
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The Shulchan Aruch codifies a Talmudic dictum that a person should read the Torah portion twice in Hebrew and once in translation during the week. My personal favorite way to do this Mitzvah is to each day read one aliya of the seven we read on Shabbat through twice, and read some commentary. Since this weekly newsletter comes out on Thursday (the fifth day of the week), I am going to try, each week this year, to comment on something in the fifth aliya.
The fifth aliya of Parashat Vayishlah is the story of the rape of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, by a man named Shechem. We know her rapist name, and to this day there remains a town in Israel with that name-- likely, the character was named after the place, rather than the other way around. We know the reactions of her father and her brothers. We know about the violence enacted in the name of justice. But the Torah is silent about Dinah and her reaction. As Rabbi Laura Geller wrote in The Torah: A Women's Commentary: "Dinah gets an ultimate act of silencing: The commentaries understand Dinah’s rape as Jacob’s punishment for withholding her from Esau. Dinah’s rape is Jacob’s punishment? What about Dinah? What has she done? How does she feel? Out text is silent. We only know what her brothers and father think: that she has been defiled (34:5-7), that she must not be treated as a whore (34:31). No one in the Torah or the midrashic accounts asks her what she wants, what she needs, or how she can be comforted... What happens to Dinah in the aftermath of ordeal? We do not know. We never hear from her, as we may never hear from the women and our generation who are victims of violence and whose voices are not heard. But the legacy of Jacob as the one who wrestles, demands that we confront the shadowy parts of ourselves and our world — and not passively ignore these facts. The feminist educator Nelle Morton urged women to hear each other’s speech. Dinah’s story challenges us to go even further and be also the voices for all of our sisters."
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Spitzer
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A Message from the President
Thanksgiving 2020 is in the books. Different than what we're used to, but there is still a lot to be thankful for. Our Agudat Achim community is definitely one of them. Throughout the last eight months, our professional staff, lay leaders and volunteers have worked incredibly hard to ensure that all of our community has stayed connected. We have checked in on each other, shopped for each other and cooked for each other. We have learned together, prayed together and socialized together online, ensuring everyone's safety.
Last week Rabbi and I sent out a Thanksgiving message asking for volunteers to help us to continue to connect with and look after each other during what will surely be a difficult winter. Please consider joining in and helping out in whatever way you can. And as we head into winter, let's not forget how lucky we are to be part of this incredible community.
Jackie Rowen
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Birthdays: : Judah Woods, Rimonah Woods, Alan Goldman, Susan Sharfstein, Lawrence Kahn, Ross Garmil, Jerrold Schapiro, Roger Keen, Sharon Wohl |
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Yahrzeits: Julius Goldstein, Max Fox, Arnold Klein, Mildred Pearlman, Eve Scharf, Khina Gampel, Sara Handelman, Alan Reich, Charlotte Goldberger, Aaron J. Wollman, Cyril Woods, Syd Amster, Selman Kahn, Anatole Dolan, Stephen Marlowe |
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We have learned with great sorrow of the passing of Deanne Palatsky, beloved mother of CAA member Mark (Denise) Palatsky, David Palatsky, and the late Richard Palatsky. |
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Misheberach List
On Shabbat, and on weekdays by request, we offer a healing prayer for those in our family, community, and world that need our attention and prayers. The rabbi reads a list of communal names, which can be easily added to by filling out this google form: Click here Misheberach List / Prayers for Healing Oct 2020 to add a name to our new list. Four times a year everyone will be removed, and we will only continue to pray for those who are resubmitted, if they continue to need our prayers. Rabbi Spitzer and Chris both check the form every week to prepare a list that includes all the names submitted.
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Thank you to the individuals who participated in this week's Shabbat services. Yashar koach!
Torah and Haftara Readers: Howard Mittleman, Jeff Shapiro
Daveners/Service Leaders: Art Friedson, Steve Schmidt
Other Service Participants: Orit Shiang, Mishka Luft
Service Coordinator/Gabbai: Dan Mayer
COVID-19 Compliance Guarantor/Shamash: Sharon Wohl
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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Hanukkah Starts
10 DECEMBER
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We will be providing programing for every night of Hanukkah featuring our giant Menorah.
More details to follow!
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Most of our events are happening digitally. Please check the CAA website and Facebook, and look for updates and information via email.
You can find a daily schedule for the next week in a Google Doc which is being updated regularly at this link:
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New Kabbalat Shabbat Time
This week: 3:03p
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Beginning this week, our Friday afternoon Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat service will be exactly 60 minutes before candle lighting, on Zoom:
4 Dec – 3:03p; 11 Dec – 3:03p; 18 Dec – 3:05p; 25 Dec – 3:09p
1 Jan – 3:14p; 8 Jan – 3:21p; 15 Jan – 3:29p; 22 Jan – 3:38p; 29 Jan – 3:47p
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Click here to register your child.
Click here for a schedule of classes for the Elementary Grades.
Click here for a calendar for the school year.
Click here for a single page calendar of the year.
First Night, First Light
10 December
4:30 p.m.
Join the Religious School as we gather to light our Community Menorah
This promises to be a historic event for our Congregation
Sufganiyot for all
Hanukkah gift bags for all the kids
Hanukkah songs
Of course we will be masked and practicing social distancing!
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From Jediism to Judaism: Star Wars as Jewish Allegory
A look at some of the Jewish elements – coincidental or otherwise – of Star Wars
13 December at 12:30pm
A High School One Shot with Ely Wohl
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Back to the Basics: Introduction to Jewish History
with visiting scholar Jeffrey Spitzer
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Democracy and Religion
in Israel
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Note: the full recording of our first program in this series (8 Nov) is available on the adult education page of our website. If you missed it, feel free to catch up before the next session.
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Back to the Basics:
How to Drash Workshop
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Second Session 9 December |
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How to Write and Prepare to Deliver a Dvar Torah (lit: word of Torah / teaching) |
The Adult Education committee is offering two classes for congregants who would like to learn how to give a Dvar Torah, that is, a short talk in which one teaches something from the rabbinic tradition, usually related to the weekly Torah portion. The first class will focus on how to put together a Dvar Torah and how to prepare to deliver it to the audience. The second will use the Sefaria website to introduce a wide range of sources available to people who want to prepare a Dvar Torah (or just learn more about the Torah even if they don't plan to give a talk on what they've learned). You can attend both classes or just one. People who take the classes and would like to deliver a Dvar Torah during a Saturday morning service will be offered that opportunity. |
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Race and Racism in the Jewish Community
with Rabbi Sandra Lawson
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Sunday 13 Dec at 10:30 am
Pre-registration Required
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PJ Library Havdalah
Next Program:
19 Dec @ 5:15 pm on Zoom
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Our date and times to volunteer at the regional food bank in December is:
Sunday December 20 10:30 – noon.
You can sign up now if you want to make sure you have a spot.
The food bank has served record numbers of people since the pandemic began and needs volunteers to keep doing that.
Feel free to email or call 518-810-2249 with questions.
Susan
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Hanukkah 2020 is just around the corner! Need Brisket? Latkes? Food Items to serve at your Holiday Meals? ..... and don't forget Dessert!
We have it all in stock.
Consider purchasing a holiday meal to drop off to friends and family.
Please contact Rise' at syncaterer@aol.com with any inquiries about food opitions for purchase.
Arrangements can be made for pick up on an individual basis.
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Parashat Hashavua Class with Rabbi Spitzer
Next Class 8 December
Rabbi Spitzer teaches a class on the weekly Torah portion on Tuesdays from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 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. If you missed Rabbi Spitzer’s last class (1 Dec), the teaching we learned together can be found at this link: "Our Name is Israel" by Rabbi Yitz Greenberg. Rabbi Spitzer invites you to call or email with your comments or thoughts.
Hebrew Classes with Zipporah Harris
Next Class 8 December @ 6:00p
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 meets for 10 consecutive Tuesdays via Zoom and the cost is $10 per class, payable to Zipporah. The class covers reading, writing, and conversation. Please become part of this group of learners! Classes ; Dec. 8, 15, 22. If you are interested in joining, write to Zipporah at morahtova1@aol.com.
CAA Healthy Living Group Meets Wednesdays at 10a on Zoom
CAA Book Club Meets on the Second Wednesday at 12p
CAA Men’s Club Torah Study Meets twice monthly on Sundays at 7:40p Next: 6 December
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S: 8:30a Shacharit/Morning Minyan (joined by TI of Scranton), 7:15p Maariv/Evening Minyan
M: 7:15a Shacharit/Morning Minyan, 7:15p Maariv/Evening Minyan
T: 7:15a Shacharit/Morning Minyan, 1:30p Mincha/Afternoon Minyan, 7:15p Maariv/Evening Minyan
W: 7:30a Shacharit/Morning Minyan (joining TI of Scranton at their minyan link, password 1921), 7:15p Maariv/Evening Minyan
Th: 7:15a Shacharit/Morning Minyan, 7:15p Maariv/Evening Minyan (Note: on Thursday 29 October, minyan will be at 6:40p to accommodate the 7:00p adult ed program)
F: 7:15a Shacharit/Morning Minyan, Mincha/Afternoon Minyan and Kabbalat Shabbat will take place 60 minutes before candle lighting (this week 3:22p)
Siddur Supplement
Many congregants have noted that some of our regular prayers are not easily accessible now that we are using the big/full Siddur Sim Shalom (which has both the Shabbat and Weekday prayer services) in our own homes, rather than the “Slim Shalom” (which includes only the Shabbat/Festival prayers) in the sanctuary. Rabbi Spitzer has made the following four prayers accessible (click on the links below and feel free to print for your use at home):
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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Every few weeks, CAA joins together for Havdalah and Hanging out. While we do Havdalah every week, we are moving to a rotation of age-cohort based Havdalah programs. This week will be a Religious School Havdalah (community invited) at 5:20p.
The next few Havdalah and Hangout programs will be:
5 December @ 5:05p
2 January @ 5:15p
30 January @ 5:50p
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Tikkun Olam Volunteers of Women's Philanthropy have organized an opportunity to help inspire children to read.
The Red Bookshelf is a non-profit located in Albany. Their mission is to inspire children to read and their goal is to have every child in Albany own books, because having books in their home equips them with the tools for better literacy achievement.
Their greatest need right now is board books for babies and early readers, but they will gladly accept books for all ages including young adults.
Please donate any books that you might no longer need. This is a great time of year to help children's holiday season be that much better.
Ann Zonderman will be collecting books at CAA
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 10:30a – 12:00p
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CAA is a sponsor of the first Scholar Stream series, an initiative of the Rabbinical Assembly, the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, the Jewish Theological Seminary and Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. You can register for the whole series or for individual sessions, and because we joined as a sponsor congregation, all registrations are free with our special coupon code: CAAFall20 (case sensitive). Note that the registration may ask for credit card/billing info but with the coupon code entered and applied, registrants can click through without entering the information.
Hidden Histories and Untold Stories
Tuesdays at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
Join JTS scholars as they uncover the hidden context around biblical figures and important eras in Jewish history.
- 12/1: Dr. Sarah Wolf on how foreign the beit midrash would feel to the early Rabbis
- 12/8: Dr. Amy Kalmanofsky on what the Bible really had against Jezebel
Equity, Forgiveness and Intersectionality
Wednesdays at 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT
Join Ziegler faculty as they explore issues related to race, gender equality, intersectionality, and building a democracy of the future. Download the full descriptions for each Ziegler session here.
- 12/2: Rabbi Dr. Gail Labovitz on what Exodus has to teach us about intersectionality
- 12/9: Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Cohen on building a multiracial democracy
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A New Season of Book Talks That Will Inform and Inspire You |
What are the new books of Jewish interest that will matter most to you? What worlds and challenges are Jewish authors imagining? What new scholarship is changing the ways we understand Jewish history, identity, and life? I hope you’ll join The Library of JTS—one of the world’s premier centers of the Jewish Book—to discover new Jewish writing that will inform and inspire you, through conversations with authors sharing their passions, discoveries, and ideas. |
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