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THE SHMOOZE
A Weekly Newsletter
for Members and Friends of
Bais Abraham Congregation
Hyim Shafner, Rabbi
Rori Picker Neiss, Maharat
Parshat Miketz
20 December 2014
Candle Lighting 4:24 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
4:24 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
Lunch and Learn
All are invited to a Lunch and Learn following Shabbat morning services.
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss will speak on the topic, “Beware the False
Prophet: A Talmudic Study of Jesus.” The Lunch and Learn is sponsored
by Gary Benson, Zev and Mindee Fredman, Rick, Carol, and Avi Wise,
and an anonymous donor to commemorate the first Yahrtzeit of Nancy
Benson z’’l.
Women’s Tefillah Group –This Shabbat
The Women’s Tefillah Group will meet this Shabbat for Mincha services
immediately following the Lunch and Learn.
YABA Hanukkah Hangout-Sunday, December 21st
Join Young Adults at Bais Abe (YABA) on the 6th night of Hanukkah,
December 21st at 4:30 pm! We'll light the candles, eat some Hanukkah
food, and play Hanukkah games. All are welcome!
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.
Chag Urim Sameach! Happy Hanukkah!
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].
Maharat Rori Goes to Washington for the White House Chanukah Party!
A Chanukah message from Ella Bokobza, our Israeli Shlicha - ‫ברכה מהשליחה‬
What is the different between “Hanukkah” and “Chanukah” ‫?חנוכה‬
The Israeli version of Chanukah is essentially the same as the Jewish- American version… yet it
feels different. All of us, Israeli or American, eat Sufganyot (doughnuts), Levivot (latkes), and light
the Chanukiah... and yet I feel that there is a difference. The sentence: ‫ וכולנו אור‬,‫"כל אחד הוא אור קטן‬
"‫(איתן‬Each of us is a small light and together we are a mighty light.) for me symbolizes the difference
between Chanukah in Israel and Chanukah in America.
In Israel, during the 8 days of Chanukah and even a bit before- you will see a group of kindergarten
children walking down the streets of Israel with paper candles on their forehead, teenagers from all
the youth movements making sure that everyone has candles to light and they go to hospitals and
senior houses to celebrate with the people there. You will see tons of Chabadnikim (ChabadLubavitch chassidim) visiting soldiers in the loneliest bases all over Israel, no matter how far is it.
Maybe this is the real miracle of Chanukah - to remind us of the true power of being together, not just
in times of need or war.
In addition I want to send you links for two articles that I find fabulous and show another perspective
of the difference between the Hanukkah and Chanukah - ‫חנוכה‬.
http://www.jewishtreats.org/2014/12/the-chanukiyah.html
http://makomisrael.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hanukkah-Songs-and-Jewish-Peoplehood.pdf
I wish us all Happy Chanukah full of light and joy ‫חג מלא באור ואושר‬,
Ella
Bais Abraham
Board of Directors
Greg Storch
President
Gabe Douek
Exec. Vice President
Lilly Canel-Katz
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
Jewish Daily Forward Piece
Maharat Rori has a blog entry in the Jewish Daily Forward titled “How Will I Teach
My Future Son About Race in America?”. Read more via the following link
http://m.forward.com/blogs/sisterhood-blog/210935.
Kiddush/Lunch Volunteer Coordinator
Stewart Shilcrat is our new (and first!) coordinator of volunteers to help with
Shabbat kiddushes and lunches at Bais Abraham. He hopes to set up a rotating
roster of volunteers to set up, serve, and clear off each week. If you are willing to
be added to the roster (say, for set up the first Shabbat of each month, or for
serving every other week), please let Stewart know, [email protected].
And if he asks you to join the team of volunteers, please say yes!
Bais Abraham Joins AmazonSmile
Every time you shop on Amazon, you can benefit Bais Abe.
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible
AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of
your choice. It's simple to register. Just click on this link
and designate Bais Abraham Synagogue as your charity
of choice. http://smile.amazon.com/ch/43-0782212 Make your
Black Friday purchases really count! Contact Phyllis
Shapiro [email protected] with any questions.
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].
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
Congratulations to all of the children of Bais Abraham who did a great job performing for Chanukah in St.
Louis' Jewish day schools!
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.
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
December 27
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
January 3
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
January 10
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
To RSVP for an event email [email protected] or call 721-3030.
Halacha Highlight
Double Candle Lighting: Shabbat and Chanukah
This weekend we will have double candle lighting both on Friday night and on
Saturday night, one for Chanukah and the other related to Shabbat. On Friday night
we will light candles for Chanukah and for Shabbat, while on Saturday night we will light candles for
Chanukah and for Havdalah. In both instances the question arose as to which goes first. The main
debate is about Saturday night. The reason given for lighting the Havdalah candle first is the
principle, “Tadir Usheino Tadir, Tadir Kodem,” an activity that is performed more often should be
performed first (Talmud, Zevachim 89a). The view that Chanukah candle-lighting should be first is
based on the idea that we should make Havdalah on the late side to prolong our observance and
enjoyment of Shabbat. This is still an open question. The general practice is that in shul we light
Chanukah candles first and then Havdalah, but at home we recite Havdalah first and then light
Chanukah candles.
Almost everyone agrees that on Friday night, the Chanukah candles should be lit first, as we should
not do anything that looks like work after lighting Shabbat candles. But we must make sure that the
Chanukah candles we light on Friday night will continue to burn until 30 minutes after dark.
Bais Abraham Learning-at-a-Glance
Class
Instructor
Time & Place
Mondays, 7:30 p.m.
at Bais Abe
Periodic Monday nights
see Shmooze for exact dates and times
Basics of Judaism
Rabbi Shafner
“Torah on Tap”
Rabbi Shafner
Women’s Class:
Book of Shoftim (Judges)
Alternating between Rabbi
Shafner and Maharat Rori Picker
Neiss
Midrash Tehillim
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Parshat Hashavua
Maharat 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
Rabbi Shafner
Each Shabbat, approx. 10:15 a.m.
in the Gardner Beit Midrash
Shalhevet Women’s Kollel
Partnered learning + shiur with
Maharat 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
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.
Gardner Beit Midrash
Wednesdays, 9:15 a.m.
Home of Leslie Litwack
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m.
Home of Jill Mogil
Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.
in the Bais Abe Auditorium
Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.
in the Bais Abe Auditorium
St. Louis Jewish Community News
Chanukah Goes Public! Jewish Festival of Lights to Illuminate the Region
The Chabad Centers in St. Louis will be sponsoring public Menorah displays in three locations,
including the Market on the Loop, Lazaroff Chabad Center and Chesterfield Mall. Each event will
feature a Menorah Lighting ceremony and a Chanukah program.
 The
site of the first public Menorah lighting will be at Chesterfield Mall on Tuesday, December
16, at 7:15pm, at Lower Level Sears Court, and will offer a program including Chanukah
Gelt, traditional doughnuts, light-up necklaces and a musical program. One hour prior,
at 6:15 pm, a first-ever Car Menorah Parade, led by Judah the Maccabee on horeseback,
will commence at Chesterfield Central Park and conclude at the Menorah lighting at
Chesterfield Mall. The Chesterfield Menorah lighting and parade are being hosted by
Chabad of Chesterfield
 Chabad on Campus is sponsoring the kindling of a giant Menorah on
Saturday evening, December 20 at 7:30 pm, at the Market in the Loop, located at 6655
Delmar Blvd. The program will include a Menorah lighting ceremony, music, and hot
latkes and Chanukah Gelt for all. Dignitaries will offer Chanukah greetings.
 On Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 pm, Chabad of Greater St. Louis will sponsor the kindling of
the Tallest Menorah in Missouri located at the Lazaroff Chabad Center, 8124 Delmar Blvd.
In addition to plentiful doughnuts and Chanuka Gelt, there will be a dreidel crafts program
for the kids, including a presentation on the science of the dreidel presented by Mad
Science.
Special message from Rabbi Hershey Novack to the Bais Abe community: I really hope you will join
us on the Delmar Loop to celebrate the fifth night of Chanukah. The event will feature a Havdala
service led by Bais Abe’s own Rabbi Hyim Shafner, plus music, giant chocolate gelt, and of course,
a nine-foot Menorah!
Klezmer Hanukkah Brunch – December 21st
On Sunday, Dec. 21, Gokul (Kosher) Indian Restaurant (6100 Delmar) will host a Klezmer Hanukkah
Brunch with Yidn (Paul Wexler, clarinet; Iggie Tiemann, bass; Alyssa Avery, violin; Will Soll,
everything else). The brunch will be from 10:30am - 12:30 pm. Admission is free. Brunch is $12.99
and menu service will also be available. Donations to the band will be gratefully accepted.
Family Chanukah Spectacular – December 21st
Traditional Congregation (12437 Ladue Road) is hosting a Family Chanukah Spectacular on Sunday,
December 21st from 2:00-5:00 pm. There will be cookie decorating, Israeli dancing, games, puppet
and magic shows, food and more. The cost is $10 per family as well as a requested donation of
canned food for the Jewish Food Pantry. RSVP to Marian, [email protected] or 314-576-5230.
Tomchei Shabbos
Thank you to everyone who attended the cookbook event and supported our upcoming cookbook!!
We can all look forward to some delicious recipes! There were several recipes submitted without a
name. If you think you may have forgotten your name on the recipe, please contact Jackie
Oppenheimer at 997-6924. If you were not able to attend the event, recipes and sponsorships are
still being accepted.
The Jewish Food Pantry Needs Our Help
The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry is looking for these specific items in order to provide wellbalanced nourishment for the community in need: Canned Pasta with Meat, Canned Chili/Beef,
Peanut Butter, Canned Tuna Fish, Any Type of Canned Vegetables, and Kosher Foods. Currently,
the Jewish Food Pantry is feeding over 8,000 individuals in a month. The need is great so please
help in any way you can. Thank you. Items should be brought to your temple or synagogue collection
site. For further information, please contact Louise Levine, 636-227-1259.
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/
Save Your Blood: 8th Annual St. Louis Jewish Community Blood Drive – January 11th
Save Your Blood: The 8th Annual St.Louis Jewish Community Blood Drive will be held on Sunday,
January 11, 2015 at Congregation Young Israel, 8101 Delmar, from 10am-4pm. Each unit of blood
can help save three lives!!!! In conjunction with the blood drive there will be a Harvey
Kornblum Food Pantry Drive. Babysitting will be available. Please come and participate in these
wonderful mitzvot.
Sh’ma: Listen! Speaker Series – January 12th
Alon Ben David, Israeli news correspondent, will provide a first-hand account of covering news in
Israel, what it means to be a reporter in such a tumultuous region, and his experiences in Gaza last
summer. The event will be on January 12th at 7:00 pm at the JCC Arts and Education Building, 2
Millstone Campus Drive. Sh’ma is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the St. Louis
Jewish Light.
Celebrate Women Clergy – January 13th
Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation of St. Louis is hosting a landmark program bringing
together Jewish women clergy on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the JCC. There will be a
panel of seven speakers with time for questions and answers. This event is free to the public
thanks to the generosity of the Sherri Schechter Memorial Fund. More information to follow.
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].
‫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.