THE SHMOOZE
A Weekly Newsletter
for Members and Friends of
Bais Abraham Congregation
Hyim Shafner, Rabbi
Rori Picker Neiss, Maharat
Parshat Shemot
10 January 2015
Candle Lighting 4:39 p.m.
Shabbat Ends 5:42 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
4:33 p.m. – Fri. Mincha/Maariv
9:00 a.m. – Sat. Shacharit
4:00 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.
Cholent Kiddush & Seudah Shlishit
All are invited to a cholent Kiddush immediately following Shabbat morning
services. Kiddush is sponsored by Stuart Shilcrat and Paula Lemerman in honor
of the anniversary of Stuart’s Bar Mitzvah.
Stu Klamen and Nathan Waldman are sponsoring Seudah Shlishit to celebrate
finishing their study of Taanit. All are welcome at the siyum.
Bais Abe Junior Book Club – January 17th
Join the Bais Abe Junior Book Club on Saturday morning, January 17, when
children 7-12 will discuss the book Mrs. Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball
Emporium by Rona Arato, with additional programing and stories for children 46. Join us at 10:30 am for Tefillat Yeladim (children's service). The book club will
follow at 11:15 am. Parents are also welcome. For more information (or to get a
copy of the book) contact Maharat Rori or Renee Shpall Wasserman.
Programming Update from Ella our Shelicha
Would you like to help with planning either of these new exciting events at Bais
Abraham? Email Ella Bakobza <[email protected]> for more info or to
volunteer:
 First ever Bais Abraham Community Passover Seder with
Sephardi and Ashkenazi customs. Great Passover food and community
 First annual Bais Abraham Yom Haatzmaut event- looking for ideas,
people and Israel inspiration. Contact Ella for more info.
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
Vice President
Beit Midrash Chevruta (Partner) Study
Engage in Jewish learning with a partner on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm in
the Bais Abe auditorium. For more information, contact Rabbi Shafner.
Daniel Picker
Treasurer
Dan Weisz
Secretary
Phyllis Shapiro
Immediate Past President
Directors:
Barbra Danin
Larry Friedman
Morey Gardner
Tessa Gardner
Barry Ginsburg
Alexander Griffel
Judy Hoffman
Harvey Iken
Judith Medoff
Alan Nemes
Roz Neuman
Michael Novack
Dan Scharff
Alice Thomas
Rob Wasserman
Richard Wise
Bais Abraham Book Club – January 18th
The next book club series will begin Sunday, January 18th 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. You can purchase it for under $5 on Amazon.
For more information or with questions, contact Rabbi Shafner.
Women's Torah Learning Group
The Women's Torah Learning group meets at Bais Abe at 5:00 pm on Wednesdays.
Facilitated by Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, the group explores in-depth 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].
Mashgichim Needed
Bais Abraham is looking for several people to be mashgichim, kashrut supervisors,
for its new kitchen. If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Shafner.
Bais Abraham Job Opportunity
Bais Abraham is looking for someone to maintain our website. No technical skills
are required. Only general computer skills and web familiarity are needed. Payment
will be hourly. Contact Rabbi Shafner for more information.
Mother2Mother Program – January 26th
In the wake of the upheaval in Ferguson, NCJW, The Ethics Project and the YWCA Metro St. Louis,
are hosting Mother 2 Mother: A conversation with black mothers to white mothers about "the talk"
with their black sons. Bais Abraham, along with other area congregations, is co-sponsoring the
event. It will be held on January 26th from 7:00-9:00 pm at Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Road.
The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Lisa at [email protected] or call
NCJW at 314-993-5181. Light refreshments will be served. See the flyer in the Shmooze for more
information.
Save the Date – YABA Shabbat Dinner – January 30th
YABA will have a Shabbat dinner and oneg with visiting rabbinic intern, Ben Shefter on Friday,
January 30th. Ben will lead a discussion titled, “Tu Bishvat and the Super Bowl: We Are What We
Eat." More information coming soon.
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.
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
Artwork Exhibition
Artist Berta Goldgaber’s work has been accepted for an exhibition at the Old Orchard Gallery, 39
South Old Orchard Avenue in historic Webster Groves from January 16 th to February 2nd. Go see her
beautiful quilts on display! She also has 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.
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
January 17
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi
Yaakov Green
Larry Friedman & Randi
Mozenter in commemoration of
the yahrzeit of Larry’s father
January 24
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
January 31
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
To RSVP for an event email [email protected] or call 721-3030.
Halacha Highlight
Women Carrying the Torah Through the Women’s Section
An issue raised in the past which has come up again at our Shul is whether women
may carry the Torah through the women’s section before and after Torah reading on
Shabbat. From a halachik perspective there appears to be no problem since we have
the 12th century Rambam’s (Maimonides) view cited in his Book of Laws, Mishneh Torah, Sefer
Torah 10:8, that “anyone including a woman may carry a Torah without fear of having a bad effect on
the Torah. The only thing to be careful about is to make sure your hands are clean when you touch
the Torah.” This is later backed up by the Shulchan Aruch, Code of Jewish Law of the 16th century.
One of the authors, Rabbi Moshe Issreles writes in Orech Chayim 88:1, “some believe that a woman
should not enter a synagogue or touch a Torah scroll, others say she is permitted to do all of the
above and this is the correct opinion. Still in most countries today the custom is to follow the first
opinion.” We, five centuries later, are seeing a change. For example, in the set of rules of the
Orthodox synagogue Anshe Shalom in Chicago appears the following. “Anshe Sholom has adopted
the custom of many Orthodox synagogues to have women carry the Torah through the women’s
section. A Torah is so holy that any man or woman can hold it without fear of affecting the holiness of
the Torah. We usually have one woman carry the Torah and another woman walk behind her as the
Shomeret.” This is also the practice in the Orthodox shul our son and daughter-in-law attend in
Riverdale, New York, and the Orthodox shul in Raanana, Israel, I attended several times.
Jack Shapiro
Bais Abraham Learning-at-a-Glance
Class
Instructor
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
Deepen Your
Davening/Explanatory
Prayer Class
You and your chevruta (partner)
Time & Place
Mondays, 7:30 p.m.
at Bais Abe
Periodic Monday nights
see Shmooze for exact dates and times
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
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
St. Louis Jewish Community News
Save Lives With Your Blood: 8th Annual St. Louis Jewish Community Blood Drive–January 11
Save Lives With 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.
Book of Job Discussion – January 11
Maharat Rori and Mark Etling, of St. Louis University’s theology department, will discuss the Book of
Job through Jewish and Christian perspectives from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at the National Shrine of
Our Lady of Snows, 442 S. De Mazenod Drive in Belleville. The fee is $10 and registration is
required. For more information, call 618-397-6700, ext. 6270, or 314-241-3400, ext. 6270, or
visit snows.org/programs.
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.
Winter Semester Starting at WebYeshiva: Free, Online Shiurim
Starting Sunday January 4: Free live, online, interactive Torah courses at WebYeshiva.org.
Click http://www.webyeshiva.org/shiurim.php to sign up. Contact [email protected] for more
information.
Jewish Mystic Jam – January 17th
The St. Louis Rabbinical Association and JCC are hosting a Jewish Mystic Jam on January 17 th at
7:00 pm. All are invited to an evening of music, mindfulness, storytelling, and more. See the flyer in
the Shmooze for ticket information and other details.
Wisdom of the Torah With Maharat Rori – January 21
Maharat Rori is teaching a class, “Wisdom of the Torah,” at the Crown Center for Senior Living, 8350
Delcrest Drive, on January 21st at 3:00 pm. Maharat Rori will lead a discussion on the Torah with a
lens for lessons to guide contemporary life. All are invited to attend. If you have questions, call 314991-2055 or see the flyer in the Shmooze.
Sharsheret Supports Friendship Circle – January 21
Sharsheret, a program of Nishmah, is launching a Sharsheret Supports friendship circle!
The purpose of the group is to offer support to women in the St. Louis community who have been
diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer and are anywhere along their treatment path – before,
during, and post treatment. The first program will be January 21st, 2015. Physical Therapist Shawn
Tucker, CSJA, will present how physical therapy interventions and fitness training may positively
impact cancer patients; time for questions and answers will follow. At the conclusion of his
presentation, Sharsheret Supports will host an hour of sharing and support led by facilitator Kathy
Bearman, LCSW. The program will meet the third Wednesday evening of the month at the Jewish
Community Center in Creve Coeur at 7 pm until 8:30 pm. The program is open to the Jewish
community. Light refreshments will be served. Although not required, pre-registration is appreciated,
314-442-3266 or [email protected].
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.
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.