Congregation Agudat Achim
Weekly Announcements
17 June 2021 - 7 Tammuz 5781
Parashat Hukkat
Rabbi Rafi Spitzer -- President Jackie Rowen
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Rachael, Ellie, Jonah, and I would like to thank everybody who came to our open house this past Shabbat afternoon. It was lovely to be together, to see people we had not seen in a while, to enjoy the beautiful weather. If you missed the opportunity this time, don’t worry, you will have another chance: we are inviting the whole community back from 3-5pm on Shabbat 24 July. Same deal-- light refreshments, masks optional, limited seating, and the congregational family.
Rabbi Jan Katzew writes of chutzpah in Parashat Hukkat, “Common wisdom may be that Moses’ decision to strike the rock twice led to his ultimate demise. However, in this case, common wisdom is not Rabbinic wisdom. The Sages argue that rather than Moses’s act of physical anger, his word of chutzpah, of impudence, of arrogating human authority to divine action, does him in. His fateful word is “we”-- “Shall we get water for you out of this rock? (Num. 20:10)... Humility and Chutzpah, which on their surface appear to be on opposite ends of the moral scale, reside within the same person. Indeed they reside within every person.”
Leo Rosten, in The Joys of Yiddish, humorously describes chutzpah this way: “Chutzpah is that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”
Yet, on this Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in our country, I also think about chutzpah as being something akin to John Lewis’ idea of good trouble. Standing on Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 1, 2020, honoring the memory of Bloody Sunday, Congressmember John Lewis told us to “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.” We are also celebrating Pride Shabbat this week, welcoming wholeheartedly the members of our Queer community, and Chutzpah is also deeply connected to Pride, to confidence, to audacity, to a sense of being out and loud and proud-- as well as having been used at times to silence voices speaking out for the marginalized in our Jewish communities. How are we supposed to know when chutzpah is a vice and when chutzpah is a virtue? We must have the vision to recognize when chutzpah is serving us well. Then we must work to make the world a better, more just, more welcoming place.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Spitzer
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Words from our President
Last night I attended the Rosh Hodesh program "Jews and Tattoos," presented by KB Goodkin, who is the Director of Community Engagement and Advancement at Federation. I have seen KB's presentation multiple times and I'm very familiar with the content, so why do I keep coming back? I'm interested in the dialog that is sparked by her presentations. Tattoos are what KB calls a "hot topic" and it's very important to make space within our community to have these hard conversations. It's not about condoning or condemning or changing people's minds, it's about understanding other people's perspectives and respecting them.
Jackie Rowen
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Join Us for Pride Shabbat |
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Third Life Cycle Class with Rabbi Spitzer Meets Tonight
Includes LGBTQ Marriage
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Keshet Community Learning Discussion
Program sponsored by Cong. Gates of Heaven and Cong. Agudat Achim
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Final L'KHU N'RAN'NAH This Shabbat |
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More Adult Education Offerings |
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Click the buttons below to read information on each
upcoming event!
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Birthdays: Eric Woods, Molly Gavens, Yaffa Lown, Karen Hausler, Logan Shapiro, Robert Schleifstein, Vicki Gold
Anniversaries: Bas Korevaar & Kati Illouz, Mark & Barrie Handelman, Howard & Harriet Goldstein
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Yahrzeits: : Lois Abramson, Gerald Garber, Dorothy Kaplan, Henry Berkov, Chana Naparstek, James Weil, Kira Khirge, Edith Berry, Jonah Katz |
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Mazel tov to Howie Mittleman and Cathy Winter on the arrival of their grandson, Weyland Reeves Anderson, on May 21, 2021!
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Thank you to the individuals who participated in this past week's Shabbat services: Yashar koach!
Torah and Haftara Readers: Howie Mittleman, Alexandra Schmidt
Daveners/Service Leaders: Orit Shiang, Kaitlin Spektor
Service Coordinator/Gabbai: Alexandra Schmidt
COVID-19 Compliance Guarantor/Shamash: Susan Sharfstein
Other Participants: Karen Pearlman, Roberta Steiner, Ron Scharf, Anita Merims, Aryeh Korevaar, Esta Skoburn, Edith Kliman, 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 - 7
We plan to be in person if all goes well this summer.
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Catering's Meals to Go
Freezers are Filled
Prepared and packaged frozen food perfect for small gatherings, your Shabbat table, or everyday meals!
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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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 me, Linda Birnby, at 518-608-6083 or Josh Cooper-Ginsburg at 518-393-9211 to request a ride, and one of us 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!
Parashat Hashavua Class with Rabbi Spitzer Next Class 22 June
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.
Back to the Basics: Life Cycle Spring
Thursdays, 17 June 7:30p
Rabbi Spitzer Teaches a 3-part class on Jewish Life Cycle events
Following up on the "Back to the Basics: Living a Jewish Life" class from this past November, which covered Shabbat, Kashrut, and Tzedakah, and the "Back to the Basics: Holy Times" class from this past March, which was survey of the Jewish calendar and holiday cycle (both series can be viewed on the CAA website), Rabbi Spitzer will continue with an overview of lifecycle events. The first session (3 June) will be called: Jewish Death and Mourning 101, and will cover all the questions you may have about the process of dying, preparing a body for burial, and all the mourning practices. The second session (10 June) will be on "Entering the Covenant" and will be about rituals for welcoming babies, Bnai Mitzvah, and Conversion. And the final session (17 June) will cover Jewish views of sex, love, and marriage, including a portion devoted to LGBTQ approaches in honor of Pride Month.
Tot Shabbat Next Date 25 June at 4:30p
Mark your calendars for all of the upcoming Tot Shabbat Programs, 25 Jun. Time: 4:30p - 5:05p
L'khu N'ran'nah Shabbat morning spiritual seeking 9-9:45a
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Iyyun Tefilah/ Learner's Service: 19 Jun
Adult Hebrew Classes with Zipporah Harris
Please become part of this group of learners!
New series starts: Tuesdays at 6pm on 15, 22, 29 June; 15, 20, 27 July, and 3 Aug
6:00-7:00 PM 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 morahtova1@aol.com.
Back to the Basics: Introduction to Prayer Book Hebrew for Adults, taught by Rabbi Spitzer
Sundays 9:30-10:30am
Join Rabbi Spitzer and the Adult Education Committee as we present an introductory course for Prayerbook (liturgical) Hebrew. Registration for this course is now closed. Class dates for registered students 9, 23, 30 May; 6, 13 June (all Sundays, 9:30 am – 10:30 am)
CAA Healthy Living Group
Every Wednesday on Zoom at 10a.
CAA Book Club
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
CAA Men’s Club Torah Study
Meets Monthly on Sundays at 7:30p Next Meeting ; 7/25: Ekev; 8/15: Ki Tetze
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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.
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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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Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings, will offer affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Congregation Agudat Achim on Thursday, June 24, 2021.
A package of five screenings to identify risk for stroke, heart disease and other chronic conditions will be offered:
- Carotid artery ultrasound to identify plaque buildup in the carotid arteries, a major risk factor for stroke
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound to identify presence of an enlargement in the largest blood vessel in the body
- An EKG to identify the presence of atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk for stroke
- Ultrasound of the lower legs to look for plaque buildup known as peripheral artery disease
- Ultrasound of the shin bone to identify risk for osteoporosis
These 5 vital screenings are offered for only $149 and take 60-90 minutes to complete. If you register today, you will receive a $10 discount.
Register by calling toll free 1-888-653-6441 or text the word "circle" to 797979.
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A Wandering People: Jewish Journeys, Real and Imagined
A new weekly learning series with JTS scholars. Mondays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET, June 7 to August 23.
As the pandemic surged and forced us into our homes, many of us dreamed with new intensity of being elsewhere. For Jews throughout the ages, the promises and perils of travel have been central to shaping the individual and collective experience. Notions of home and homeland have been redefined by Jewish wandering.
Drawing on literary, spiritual, and historical sources and responses, JTS scholars will explore what happens when Jews—whether by force or voluntarily, whether in reality or in the imagination—travel from one place to another
You can view all of the sessions here
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