THE SHMOOZE A Weekly Newsletter for Members and Friends of Bais Abraham Congregation Hyim Shafner, Rabbi Rori Picker Neiss, Maharat Parshat Toldot 22 November 2014 Candle Lighting 4:26 p.m. Shabbat Ends 5:27 p.m. (according to www.myzmanim.com) This Shabbat and Bais Abe Events Contacts Shul Office (314) 721-3030 [email protected] Rabbi Hyim Shafner [email protected] Maharat Rori Picker Neiss [email protected] Greg Storch, President [email protected] Kiddush Sponsorship [email protected] Shmooze Submissions [email protected] Davening Schedule Shabbat 4:26 p.m. – Fri. Mincha/Maariv 9:00 a.m. – Sat. Shacharit 4:07 p.m. – Sat. Mincha, Maariv Sunday 8:30 a.m. – Shacharit Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. – Shacharit Office Hours Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch and Learn All are invited to a free lunch and learn following Saturday morning services. The lunch and learn is sponsored by Roz and Sandy Neuman in memory of Harry Neuman. Despite our great disappointment that Drs Michael and Mona Fishbane had to cancel their travel plans to come to St Louis this weekend, we have found a very exciting replacement: Modern Day Midrash Biblical texts are “deliciously” terse. While it can be frustrating not to know what a character’s intentions are “supposed to be,” it can be tremendously liberating, as well. As readers, we are charged with visualizing how a character speaks, what s/he looks like, and ultimately, what is going on. Join us for a short text study, discussion, and some interpretive voice acting as we explore Elkanah's response to Hannah's barrenness in the book of Shmuel. Equally fluent in Yiddish and Javascript, Russel Neiss is a Jewish educator, technologist and activist. Russel began his career as an itinerant Jewish educator traveling across the deep south and has worked in a variety of Jewish educational settings including day schools, supplemental schools, museums and archives. He holds a BA in Religious Studies and Jewish Studies from CUNY's Macaulay Honors College, an MLS with coursework focusing on digitization and instructional technology from Queens College and an MSEd in Educational Leadership from Brooklyn College. He currently serves as the Director of Educational Technology at G-dcast where he develops mobile and other interactive applications to raise Jewish literacy and help educators integrate technology in a pedagogically sound way. Women’s Tefillah Group The Women's Tefillah Group will hold a Mincha service on Shabbat, November 22 at approximately 1:30 pm, immediately following the Lunch & Learn. Shalom and Welcome! We at Bais Abe pride ourselves on hospitality and openness to Jews of all backgrounds. We strive to build a community rooted in mutual respect and commitment to Torah values and Halacha (Jewish law). Please feel free to contact Rabbi Shafner at [email protected] for any information that may be helpful to you. If you would like a place for a Shabbat meal, our eager hosts would love to welcome you. Please email [email protected]. Bais Abraham Board of Directors Greg Storch President Gabe Douek Exec. Vice President Lilly Canel-Katz Women’s Class with Rabbi Shafner Women are invited to learn the Book of Samuel with Rabbi Hyim Shafner every Tuesday at 9:30 am at Bais Abraham. Hear about Israel's ancient kings, concubines, prophets, and military leaders. No previous knowledge required. Vice President Daniel Picker Treasurer Dan Weisz Secretary Phyllis Shapiro Immediate Past President Directors: Barbra Danin Larry Friedman Morey Gardner Tessa Gardner Barry Ginsburg Judy Hoffman Daniel Iken Alan Nemes Roz Neuman Michael Novack Michael Richter Oscar Schlafman Dan Scharff Dan Vianello Rob Wasserman Richard Wise Grand Jury Verdict Preparations In the wake of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s declaration of a state of emergency in preparation of the Michael Brown/Darren Wilson grand jury verdict, many of us may be wondering what we can do in the coming days. Bais Abraham Congregation is partnering with University United Methodist Church (located around the corner from Bais Abe, on Trinity) and other faith-based organizations in the University City community to provide a safe haven at UUMC in the days following the grand jury verdict. The fellowship hall will be open 24 hours a day for the first two days after the verdict to provide a warming station with places to charge phones, get news, pray or meditate, sleep, get a bite to eat, and more. This will be especially important if roads are blocked, transit lines are disrupted, schools are closed, etc. Please be in touch with the Bais Abe office for more information. Women's Torah Learning Group at Bais Abe A new Women's Torah Learning group will be meeting at Bais Abe at 5PM on Wednesdays. Facilitated by Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, the group will explore indepth topics related to Judaism and women, including women and gemara, women and minyan, etc. We will begin with an exploration of positive, time-bound mitzvot. Please join us! For more information, email Rori at [email protected]. Community Service Opportunity – November 23rd Save the date for a community service opportunity with Project SHED on November 23rd. We will have davening at 8:30, followed by breakfast at the shul at 9:15, and we will start the different jobs at about 10:00. We will be working to help elderly and disabled individuals with home projects. RSVPs are necessary so that we can coordinate the appropriate number of projects. Email Barbra Danin, [email protected] and include if you have any particular skills that would be helpful for matching us up with appropriate projects. SHED, Safe Homes for the Elderly and Disabled, collects requests from individuals who are not capable of caring for their own homes on their own and invites members of the community to help them with projects. Volunteers from SHED perform minor building repairs, painting, yard work and other jobs that do not require special tools or skills. They work with various churches to match up people and projects. Torah on Tap The last YABA Torah on Tap of 2014 will be Monday, November 24th from 8-9:30pm at Blueberry Hill. We will discuss the topic, “Our Responsibility in Race.” Join us for beer, pizza, and Torah! Torah on Tap will take a break for the month of December and start back up again January 26th. Have a topic you'd like to discuss? Let us know! We're always looking for new, stimulating ideas. Shalhevet Women’s Kollel Shalhevet Women’s Kollel will meet on the following dates: December 2, and December 16. The learning will begin at 7:30 pm at Bais Abe. Women of all backgrounds are invited to participate. Bais Abraham Book Club The next book club series will begin Wednesday evening December 3 rd at 7:30 pm at the home of the Kweskins, 7300 Princeton Avenue, in University City. We will be reading Myths, Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East” by Dennis Ross and David Makovsky. If you would like a book the Shul has a limited number for the first 10 people. You can also buy it for under $5 on Amazon. For more information or with questions, contact Rabbi Shafner. Bais Abraham Annual Meeting – December 14th Bais Abraham's Annual meeting will be December 14th at 7pm at the Shul. The meeting will feature dessert and the official election of Bais Abraham's 2015 board. The slate for the 2015 board and officers will be announced in next week’s Shmooze. All are invited to attend. Chanukah Fabric Art Workshop Join us on Sunday, December 14th at 1:00 PM at Bais Abraham Congregation for a special Chanukah Fabric Art Workshop. Fabric Art workshop is a fun activity for all ages. Please bring a solid color T-shirt; everything else will be provided for you: fabrics for the applique's, iron, iron board, scissors, etc. everything is from beginning to end. Everybody will take home a beautiful T shirt to use during Chanukah. The price per project is $12.00. Please RSVP to 314-721-3030, [email protected] or online. Hanukkah Hoopla – Save the Date! Bais Abe and Epstein Hebrew Academy will be co-hosting a Hanukkah Hoopla on Thursday, December 18th. There will be fun for people of all ages. More details coming soon! Our Weekly Shabbat "Tefilat Yeladim" (Children's Service) Our weekly Tefilat Yeladim is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your children (or grandchildren!) to the beauty of praying with a community on Shabbat morning. We use a special colorful children's siddur with illustrations (by Koren publishers) that familiarizes the children with the prayers they will hear in shul as they grow up. Spearheaded by Caley Chill and supported by the Benot Sheirut, services will be at 10:30 every Shabbat in the Bais Abe auditorium. Tefilat Yeladim is sponsored by the Feen family and an anonymous donor. Shul Announcements Mazel Tov to Simone & Daniel Picker, and the entire Picker family, on the birth of a baby boy! Mazel Tov to Leslie Fogel on the successful defense of her PhD thesis! New Front Door By now, you will have noticed the beautiful, secure, energy-efficient new front door to our shul. This marks the completion of security-related capital improvements to the building and grounds made possible by a federal Homeland Security Grant. Many thanks to Barry Ginsburg and the Board for overseeing implementation of the grant (In the spring, the panels on the sides of the door will be stripped and stained to match the door). Lost Tallit Bag A member has reported that someone accidentally picked up the wrong tallit bag sometime during Rosh Hashana services. If you have a royal blue tallit bag would you please check to make sure you have the right one. Also, look inside to see if there is a business card with the owner's name. If you have the wrong one please contact the office at Bais Abe to make the exchange. Artwork Available for Purchase Artist Berta Goldgaber has beautiful art available for purchase. Find out more about her work at www.judaicafabricart.com and be in touch with Berta to see her work. A percentage of the sales will be donated to the Shul. Support the Shul While Shopping Every time you shop at Schnucks, you can earn money for Bais Abraham. Our shul participates in Schnucks’ "Scrip" program. It's easy. Just show your Bais Abe scrip card when you check out and your purchases create automatic contributions to the shul of up to 3% of your purchase price. Our mathematical consultant ran the numbers and estimates that if we have full participation, the shul can make approximately $6,000 a year. Email or call the office for a scrip wallet or key-chain card and begin earning money for the shul on your next trip to Schnucks. Chesed Committee Opportunity STL Food Rescue’s mission is to alleviate hunger in our community by collecting perishables that would have been discarded from local food retailers and immediately delivering them to the organizations most in need. Volunteers pick up food on Mondays and/or Wednesdays from the Whole Foods in Town & Country, when they close at 10:00 p.m., and deliver the food to either Tomchei Shabbat or the Kollel. To sign up, please use https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ah2z9GUSGE0mdFVUUjJseUF1OGhSZmRVOFdG ZVlMOHc&usp=sharing_eil#gid=16 or contact the shul for more information. Chesed Committee at Bais Abe If you like to help with Bais Abraham's new chesed committee please contact Fawn Chapel or Roberta Gutwein. The chesed committee will help to coordinate meals and assistance for people in the Shul who are ill or need help. Fawn can be reached at [email protected] and Roberta can be reached at [email protected] . Bais Abe Mailing List and Directory We are in the process of updating our mailing lists and our directory. Please send all updates and corrections to [email protected]. We list addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses in the directory. Please let us know if you would prefer not to have us include your email address. Shabbat Retreat – Save the Date Bais Abe will be going on a community retreat in beautiful rural Missouri on March 6-7, 2015. Details to follow. Do you “Like” Bais Abe on Facebook? Find Bais Abe on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/BaisAbeFacebook. Sponsoring a Kiddush at Bais Abe Sponsoring a Kiddush or "Lunchish" is a wonderful way to mark a simcha or yahrzeit. Or you can honor a loved one by sponsoring one of our monthly Lunch & Learns. Now, you can also sponsor seudah shlishit for just $54! If you would like to sponsor (or co-sponsor) any of the above, please contact Alayne in the office or Kiddush Chair, Judy Hoffman ([email protected]). They will go over costs and help you plan the Kiddush or lunch you want. Please help shul members plan ahead by letting us know about your wish to sponsor at least 10 days in advance. Thank you! Reminder: No perfume/cologne in the synagogue Please refrain from wearing perfume/cologne in the synagogue because some of our members are highly allergic. If you inadvertently arrive at the shul wearing any scents, please wash them off. Attention: people with nut allergies If you have a nut allergy, for your safety please assume that any foods or beverages served at Bais Abe may contain nuts or have been prepared on equipment that processes nuts. Please feel comfortable asking those in charge of food or beverages about their nut content and they will try to provide it if possible. Upcoming Kiddush and Shabbat Calendar November 22 Lunch and Learn with Russel Neiss Roz and Sandy Neuman in memory of Harry Neuman. November 29 Cholent Kiddush Sponsors Invited December 6 Cholent Kiddush Sponsors Invited To RSVP for an event email [email protected] or call 721-3030. Halacha Highlight Birkat HaChodesh (Blessing the New Month) Before Musaf this Shabbat morning, we will recite Birkat HaChodesh, a blessing for the month of Kislev which begins the next day, Sunday, November 23rd. Rosh Chodesh Kislev is sometimes two days and sometimes one day – this year it is just one day. It is generally believed that Birkat HaChodesh is related to Kiddush HaChodesh, the declaring of the day of Rosh Chodesh by the High Court of Jerusalem in the days before the Jewish calendar was formed. The declaration was based upon witnesses who viewed the new moon and who testified to that before the High Court. In the 4th century, Hillel II formed the Jewish calendar that we still use today. This calendar set all the days for Rosh Chodesh. The relation of Birkat HaChodesh to Kiddush HaChodesh is brought out in the announcement by the Rabbi during Birkat HaChodesh of the exact time the new moon will appear in Jerusalem. The custom is always to announce the upcoming Rosh Chodesh on the Shabbat before, rather than on a closer day, since more people are in shul on Shabbat, but for this Rosh Chodesh it couldn’t be any closer. Chodesh Tov! -Jack Shapiro Bais Abraham Learning-at-a-Glance Class Instructor Time & Place th Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Mondays, st 7:30 p.m. (starting December 1 ) Periodic Monday at Bais Abenights see Shmooze for exact dates and times Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. Gardner Beit Midrash Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. Location: rotating. Contact Rori for location. Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. in the Bais Abe Auditorium Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. in the Bais Abe Auditorium Basics of Judaism Rabbi Shafner “Torah on Tap” Rabbi Shafner Women’s Class: Book of Shoftim (Judges) Rabbi Shafner Parshat Hashavua Rori Picker Neiss Beit Midrash Chevruta (Partner) Study You and your chevruta (partner) Beginner’s Gemara Class Jack Shapiro Deepen Your Davening/Explanatory Prayer Class Alternating between Rabbi Shafner and Rori Picker Neiss Each Shabbat, approx. 10:30 a.m. in the Gardner Beit Midrash Shalhevet Women’s Kollel Partnered learning + shiur with Rori Picker Neiss Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 pm (every other Tuesday) at Bais Abe Hinenu Shabbat Study Group Stuart Klamen Each Shabbat, 1 hour before the printed mincha time St. Louis Jewish Community News Karen Solomon Intern Initiative The St Louis Jewish Community Inclusion Initiative is excited to announce the launch of the Karen Solomon Intern Initiative. This initiative is a program designed to help young individuals with disabilities find paid internship opportunities in the Jewish community. Please see the flyer in the Shmooze for more information. Challah in the Home The Jewish Federation of St. Louis is launching a new program, Challah in the Home. This program pairs young adults with a host family in St. Louis to share home-cooked meals while celebrating Jewish experiences. For more information, visit the website: http://jewishinstlouis.org/challah-home/ Dog Walker/Dog Sitter Needed I'm looking for an occasional weekday afternoon dog walker for my 12 year-old, 85-pound lab/malamute/shepherd mix in U-City. Ideally, I'm looking for someone who could also care for him (feed and walk him) when I go out of town. This would be a great job for a high schooler or college student who wants to make some extra money or anyone who loves dogs but doesn't have one. Please contact Ronit: [email protected]. Thanks! Tomchei Shabbos Cookbook Event - December 14th Join us for coffee, tea, and sample desserts from our upcoming cookbook! EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO BRING RECIPES!!!! Men and women are invited on Sunday, Dec 14, 1:30-3:00 to the Hirschhorn home, 835 Swarthmore. Admission is $18 or 6 recipes. Sponsors of $180 or more are admitted free of charge. RSVP to Jackie Oppenheimer, 997-6924 ([email protected]), or Roz Hirschhorn, 725-1719 ([email protected]). Jewish Social Action Network Outerwear Drive The Jewish Social Action Network, a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council, will hold an outerwear drive October 26-December 5 to benefit immigrants and refugees served by the International Institute. For more information, please see the flyer in the Shmooze. Jewish and Muslim Day of Service Registration and Toiletry Collection Drive The annual Jewish and Muslim Day of Service will be held on Christmas Day 2014. For more information and to register, visit the website: http://www.jewishmuslimdayofservicestl.org. In preparation for the day of social action, there will be a toiletry collection drive. See the flyer in the Shmooze for more information and for a list of drop off locations. Community ListServe The St. Louis Jewish Community has an active ListServe where members can offer items for sale, ask for items or services, read about community events, and more. The ListServ is a perfect place to offer items that you no longer need that someone else may enjoy. Many people benefit from such posts. To become a member of the community ListServe just email [email protected] Posting is easy! Just email your post to [email protected]. “On the Fringe” – Do a mitzvah and express yourself too! Comfortable, stylish, affordable tzitzit. Colorful, 100% cotton cloth, plaid, polka dot, many solid colors. Reinforced seams, hand-tied for the mitzvah. Small, medium, large, and custom sizes available. Handspun or machine-spun tzitzit available. To order, contact Ben Shafner, 314-308-8324, [email protected]. $25. ‫שלום שבת‬ Submit articles and announcements for publication by Thursday morning to [email protected]. Advertise in the Shmooze Classified section and on Bais Abraham’s website for two weeks for $18. For further news and general information about our shul please check out our website at www.baisabe.com. The Shmooze© is a community publication of Bais Abraham Congregation, 6910 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63130. Hyim Shafner, Rabbi.