Congregation Agudat Achim
Weekly Announcements
12 August 2021 - 4 Elul 5781
Parashat Shoftim
Rabbi Rafi Spitzer -- President Jackie Rowen
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Rabbi Spitzer sporting our Carrot Festival t-shirt and wishing you Shalom, along with Rachael, Ellie, and Jonah, from Ocean City, NJ! |
Message from the Executive Director
Your synagogue office has been busy at work with several projects for upcoming events. We understand your concerns regarding attending services for Shabbat or High Holidays and we’re working diligently to ensure your safety and comfort when attending any upcoming service in person. Please see the section below regarding registration and other High Holiday information. Please bear in mind there will be no babysitting services offered this year during High Holiday services. Please prepare other arrangements for your children, have them with you during services, or plan to participate virtually via our live stream.
You’ll find that service and lots more on our new website, which premiers today! You’re invited to peruse the new site at the same address, www.agudatachim.org. Big thanks to our Beautification Chair, Deb Friedson, for her many hours of tireless work to design and build our new website with lots of pages of new information on our many wonderful programs, groups, and activities. Our Website Committee all made valuable contributions and the new website is the proof that this community is strong and vibrant. We will most surely continue to grow and flourish for years to come.
We’re also all set for the next series of enthralling lectures led by our own brilliant Dr. Stephen Berk. Registration is now open; the link is below. Sign up today to join in person or by live stream, which you’ll find on our new website!
Our Carrot Festival Committee is also very excited to bring us a wonderful Carrot Festival to celebrate this year, our 43rd! Mark your calendar for the Carrot Festival on Sunday, October 10!
There are lots of opportunities to return to the synagogue and join a multitude of committees whose leaders are looking for your help. Reach out to me in the office for information on Men’s Club, Women’s Network, Social Action, and more, that are being reinvigorated with an influx of new volunteers like you.
Your synagogue office staff appreciates the opportunity to serve you this past year. It is our honor to work together with Rabbi Spitzer and our lay leadership to offer you meaningful spiritual opportunities and social activities throughout the year.
B’Shalom,
Josh Cooper-Ginsburg
Executive Director
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A Message from the Director of Education and Programing:
"And they’re off at Saratoga!" Yes, racing season has started and that means it’s time to think about getting back to school. I have been meeting with teachers and the school board all summer and we have a wonderful program planned for this year.
Now is the time to register your children. It is very important that you register your child now. It helps us set up our scheduling, our textbook orders, and classroom set ups.
All of us here at the school are very excited to see everyone in person again!
So please use this link to register your child now. Click on the button below to register your child.
Many thanks and we will see you all on September 12th.
Jack Mintzer
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SHABBAT AFTERNOON SOCIAL GATHERING |
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Participate in Picking Produce at the Regional Foodbank Farm
On Sunday, August 29, 10 AM to 1:00 PM, please join USYers, Kadimaniks, and their parents to pick produce at the Regional Foodbank Farm in Voorheesville. If you can only work for an hour or two, that’s fine. But wouldn’t it be grand for CAA youth and adults to work together to serve our community. While we have plenty of space for volunteers, please let Susan Sharfstein (ssharfst@earthlink.net, 518-810-2249) or Stephen Schechter (schecs93@gmail.com, 518-393-5847) know if you’re coming, so we’ll be expecting you.
Watch for future collaborations between our youth and adult members, co-sponsored with the Social Action Committee.
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Stephen Berk Lecture Series |
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Congregation Agudat Achim's Adult Education Committee announces a series of six fascinating lectures with Dr. Stephen Berk, professor of history at Union College and Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation Agudat Achim for more than 30 years.
Come join us this fall for Dr. Stephen Berk's newest lecture series,
Personality Counts: The Men and Women who Created and Shaped the State of Israel
The dates of the lecture series are:
Sept: 23, 30, Oct: 7, 14, 21, 28
All Lectures will be in person or online, your choice
Please register by September 13th.
You can register and pay online or by check by clicking on the button below.
If you prefer to use a printed format you can view, download, and print the registration form by clicking here.
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Kabbalat Shabbat
in the Parking Lot
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You are Invited!
Come Pray with Us!
We will hold Kabbalat Shabbat in the parking lot at 5:30p, every Friday, for the remainder of the summer!
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'd love to see you there!
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Birthdays: Sharon Astyk, Alice Isenberg,Denise Palatsky, Stephen Brown, Rosemary Stewart, Shira Cramer, Terri Goldman, Mark Palatsky, Zinaida Borodulina, Rachel Horowitz, Ellen Wakesberg
Anniversaries: Lois and Dick Mendelson, Esta and Henry Skoburn, Sara and Andrew Gavens, Adriane and Ben Hertzendorf, Rebecca and David Stashower, Deborah and Arthur Friedson, Nancy and Peter Kudan
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Yahrzeits: Annie Rosendorn, Jenna Mariel Korn, Leon Lulov, Jena Wertlieb, Yuriy Borodulin, Rose Davidovitz, Philip Kliman, Lena Prensky, Moshe Steiner, Minnie Winer, Frances Passik, Mildred Sadow, Phyllis Weiner, Victor Rosenthal, Anna Seftel
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We have learned with great sorrow of the passing of long time congregant Barbara Rowen, mother of congregants Jackie Rowen and Mindy Sorbo and grandmother of congregants Devorah Sorbo, Samantha Sorbo and Eli Feret. May her memory be a blessing. Our condolences go to the Rowen family.
The Wohl family is thrilled to welcome its newest member - Oliver Dean Wohl. Oliver is the son of Mitchell & Allison Wohl, brother to Ezra Wohl, grandson to Sharon & Howard Wohl & nephew to Ely Wohl. Mazel tov to the Wohl families!
This week's Kiddush is sponsored by Jeff Goldstein, in memory of his mother, Sally Goldstein.
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Thank you to the individuals who participated in this past week's Shabbat services: Yashar koach!
Torah and Haftarah Readers: Howard Mittleman, Steve Schmidt, Alexandra Schmidt
Daveners/Service Leaders: Joe Shiang, Aryeh Korevaar, Grady Goldner
Service Coordinators/Gabbaim: Dan Mayer
COVID-19 Compliance Guarantor/Shamash: Barby Harris
Other Participants: Karen Pearlman, Barbara Wasser, Jill Lovenheim, Alex Goldner, 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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High Holiday Forms and Information |
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Please note: There will be no babysitting services available at the synagogue during High Holiday services. Please prepare other arrangements for child care if you choose to attend in person, without your children. You have the option to join together in person or to participate virtually via our live stream as well.
There will be no printed tickets for High Holidays this year. All members are registered for attendance and must check in at the front door for contact tracing purposes. Your name will be prepared on a printed list to be checked off by our security guard. You will be asked the following questions upon entry:
- Have you travelled outside the country in the past 14 days?
- Have you had any direct or close contact with anyone who tested positive or may have been positive for COVID-19, including the Delta variant?
- Have you had any symptoms of illness in the last 48 hours, including sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, smelling, or tasting?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, we will ask you to participate in the service from your home, via our live stream service.
Non-members (extended family of CAA members or individuals in the community) must pre-register in order to attend any High Holiday services. No non-CAA member walk-ins will be allowed at any High Holiday service. In order to register, please fill out the form here.
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If you choose to participate from the comfort of your home for all High Holiday services and do not own a copy of the Machzor Lev Shalem, please fill out the form here to either pick up a copy for each member of your family or arrange for delivery by volunteer service.
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To submit names for our annual Yizkor Book of Remembrance, please fill out the form here.
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To purchase a lulav and etrog set for your family, please complete the form here. We are joining with our sister synagogues in Albany, Temple Israel and Ohav Shalom, to submit a combined order by Friday, August 20. You will have the option to pick up your lulav and etrog set at Congregation Agudat Achim.
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Click here to see our full schedule of services.
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Registration for 2021-2022 school year
is now open for Prek - 12
High School Electives are Now Available.
Email Jack with your choices.
We plan to be in person if all goes well this summer.
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As You Like It still has the Meals-to-Go freezers stuffed with plenty of favorites! Perfect for your Shabbat table or anytime! Available now! The entire list of offerings can be found on our website or by calling the mail office. New items added weekly, so keep checking regularly. To order and arrange your pick-up, contact Rise' Routenberg at syncaterer@aol.com. Thank you for shopping with us!
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.
Below is the work schedule for now which will continue through August. More dates will be posted in the future.
Reminder: We are using masks in the kitchen, please bring yours.
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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Food Drive: SiCM + CAA Social Action |
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The Social Action Committee is continuing plans for a New Year of Tikkun Olam with projects that serve the needs of the greater community. To that end, a High Holiday-Sukkot food drive is planned. Beginning 1 September and continuing through Carrot Festival on 10 October, we will be collecting much needed nonperishable food items to be distributed to SICM (Schenectady Community Ministries).
Food items should be placed in baskets located in the synagogue foyer.
SICM has suggested the following items ONLY:
Coconut Milk - Canned Fruits and Vegetables - Breadcrumbs - Quinoa - Couscous - Stuffing - Dried Herbs.
Thank you in advance for participating in this critical community act of tzedakah.
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Women's League Calendar Diaries Now Available |
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Women’s League Diaries – Order Now
We’re ready to send in an order for the 2021-2022 calendar diary, from the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. The diaries contain a listing of all Jewish holidays for the new year. Each page contains the secular date on the left side and the Jewish date on the right side.
Every Masorti congregation in the US, Canada, and Israel are identified by location. Toward the end of each diary are candle lighting brachot for all festivals. There is also an abbreviated birkat hamazon, a traveler’s tefillah, and a mourner’s kaddish in Aramaic and English. These wonderful books have lots of places to record upcoming appointments as well.
The cost of these diaries is just $10. Please let Jessica Many know by Thursday 26 August if you’d like to purchase one or more. You may reach Jessica at 518-355-8286.
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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.
Beginner and Intermediate Hebrew Classes at CAA Next Class 10 August
Interested in learning Hebrew? Zipporah Harris, a Hebrew teacher with more than 30 years of experience, continues to share her knowledge and skills at CAA. A group of learners who joined Ms. Harris’s class several sessions ago is now at a solid intermediate level, ready to start its next session of 10 classes on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. If you are a beginner, interested in joining a beginners’ Hebrew class, please contact Zipporah Harris at yourpersonalspace1@gmail.com Cost: $100 per session, payable to Zipporah Harris at the beginning of a session ($10 per class)
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.
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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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Bags That Give Back: Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) Selected to Benefit in Hannaford Reusable Bag Program Designed to Give Back in Local Communities
(Schenectady, NY) – Reduce single-use plastic in the environment and give back to those in need in the local community, all while running routine weekly errands at the local Hannaford stores located at 5239 Western Turnpike, Guilderland NY and 1400 Altamont Avenue, Schenectady NY. Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) has been selected by local Hannaford store leadership as the benefiting non-profit in the Fight Hunger Bag for the month of August and October!
The Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag is an easy way for shoppers to give back to the local community and the environment as part of the regular shopping routine. Every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sends a $1 donation to a non-profit local to the Hannaford in which it was purchased.
As part of this ongoing program, every month at every Hannaford location a different local non-profit is selected to benefit from the sale of the reusable Fight Hunger Bag. Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) was selected as the August and October beneficiary by local store leadership at the store located at 5239 Western Turnpike, Guilderland NY and 1400 Altamont Avenue, Schenectady NY. SiCM will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag purchased at this location in August and October.
“It’s more important than ever to help reduce single-use plastic in the environment,” said Amaury Tañón-Santos, Executive Director of SiCM. “Non-profits at the local level, like us, are in need of community support. This program offers the perfect solution to multiple issues of the world today. We hope you’ll support us in August and October by purchasing one – or two! - Fight Hunger Bag at our local Hannaford!”
Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) is a non-profit based in Schenectady, NY. Founded in 1967, SiCM works to address food insecurity in Schenectady County by hosting the largest food pantry in Schenectady County. Learn more about SiCM by visiting https://www.sicm.us/donate.
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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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