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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 Yitro
7 February 2015
Candle Lighting 5:10 p.m.
Shabbat Ends 6:11 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
5:10 p.m. – Fri. Mincha/Maariv
9:00 a.m. – Sat. Shacharit
4:51 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
All are invited to a Cholent Kiddush following Shabbat morning services.
Kiddush is sponsored by Alice Thomas to celebrate the Thomas family
birthdays of Michel, Micheline, and Alice. A cake is being provided by
Berta and Alberto Goldgaber in honor of all of the birthdays, including
Berta’s. Happy Birthday to all!
Discussion at New Jewish Theatre – February 7th
Join Rabbi Shafner and financial advisor Robert Medow for a talk
back discussion after the February 7th performance of "Imagining Madoff"
at the New Jewish Theatre at the JCC. For more information on the show,
visit the website:
http://www.newjewishtheatre.org/productions/imagining_madoff
Bais Abraham Shabbat Retreat – Registration Open!
Bais Abe will be going on a community retreat in beautiful rural Missouri
on March 6-7, 2015. Visit the website: http://baisaberetreat.weebly.com/
for details on the itinerary, special guests, and registration information.
Register now while there is still room: $80 for adults and $40 for kids 312. Please note that after filling out the registration form, you will need to
go back to the website to make the registration payment. There is
financial assistance available; please contact Rabbi Shafner for more
information.
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
Daniel Picker
Deepen Your Davening
Join Rabbi Shafner every Shabbat morning at approximately 10:15 am in the
Gardner Beit Midrash for an explanatory prayer class and discussion. All are
welcome!
Treasurer
Dan Weisz
Secretary
Phyllis Shapiro
Immediate Past President
Directors:
Aviva Buck-Yael
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
Stuart Shilcrat
Alice Thomas
Rob Wasserman
Richard Wise
Bais Abraham Book Club – February 22nd
The next gathering of the Bais Abraham Book club will be on Sunday evening,
February 22nd, at 7:30 pm at the Nemes-Chapel home, 6940 Waterman Ave. We
will be talking about the second section of the book "Myths, Illusions, and Peace:
Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East" by Dennis Ross and
David Makovsky. Open to all.
Community Trip to Jewish India Survey
We are exploring a community trip to Jewish India. Learn the history, experience the
sights, and meet the people. Please fill out the short survey to let us know your
thoughts. You can access the survey via the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FT3XBXL
Book Recommendation from Rabbi Shafner
Reb Dovid Sears, a Breslov friend of mine and a prolific writer, has just released a
revised edition of his book on Vegetarianism and Judaism. Here is a link to more
information on this book and others: http://visionofeden.blogspot.com/
- Hyim
Purim Festivities at Bais Abe
Purim begins the evening of March 4th. See the flyer in this week’s Shmooze for
Bais Abe and community events!
Time to Order Matza
Bais Abraham has hand-baked round Shmurah Matza for Passover available to its members at the
low subsidized price of $14 a pound for regular or whole wheat. Call or email the Shul office
by March 4th to place your order. The price for non-members is $20 a pound.
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.
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.
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!
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
Maharat Rori’s classes (with the exception of the Shalhevet Women’s Kollel) are on temporary
hiatus.
Auditorium and Playroom Clean-up
Thank you to Martha Ginsburg and Phyllis Shapiro for bringing order to our auditorium and
playroom, all made possible by progress on the new kitchen which is nearing completion. Everyone
is asked to do his/her share to help keep the auditorium neat and clean.
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.
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
February 14
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
February 21
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
February 28
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
To RSVP for an event email [email protected] or call 721-3030.
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
Women’s Torah Learning
Group
Beit Midrash Chevruta
(Partner) Study
Deepen Your
Davening/Explanatory
Prayer Class
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 Adinah Raskas
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. at Bais Abe
You and your chevruta (partner)
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
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 pm
at Bais Abe
Hinenu Shabbat Study
Group
Stuart Klamen
Each Shabbat, 1 hour before the printed mincha time
St. Louis Jewish Community News
Jewish Disability Awareness Month
February is Jewish Disability Awareness month and the St. Louis Jewish Community Inclusion
Initiative, facilitated by Jewish Federation of St. Louis, is joining other communities in recognizing
and increasing the awareness of the needs, strengths, opportunities and challenges of people with
disabilities in our Jewish communities throughout North America. The following events will take place
in St. Louis in February:
 February 8, 2015 @ 4 pm – 6 pm – St. Louis Myseum
An afternoon of interactive fun (with a Jewish twist) at the St. Louis Myseum, for families with
pre-school – 5th grade children. A respite room for children with special needs will be
available. $4/person; max $16/family.
 February 5 and February 12, 2015 @ 7 pm – 8:30 pm – Teacher Workshops on
“Introduction to Creating an Inclusive Classroom” and “Strategies for Creating an Inclusive
Classroom. The workshops are held at CAJE classes and are open to Jewish educators.
 February 22, 2015 @ 2 pm – 4 pm – Let’s Celebrate Inclusion! JCC Staenberg Family
Complex
A fun, educational and free event for kids with disabilities and their parents. A financial advisor
will present information for parents on how to adequately plan for their and their child’s future,
while the kids will enjoy a special Zumba class and a fun balloon activity.
Brodsky Library to screen David: One Boy, Two Faiths
The Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library’s “Monday Movie Night Series” will continue with a
screening of David: One Boy, Two Faiths, on Monday, February 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm.The film will be
shown at the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive. Movie snacks and
drinks will be served. Admission is $5.00 per person; free to Friends of the Library.
Reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, call 314-442-3720 or
email [email protected]
The Rabbi Noah Weinberg Memorial Lecture – February 11th
Rabbi Shaul Rosenblatt will speak on "Finding Light in the Darkness" on Wednesday, February 11 at
7:30 pm. Rabbi Rosenblatt will show us how to grow from life's toughest challenges. Inspired by his
personal experiences with his first wife's struggle with a terminal illness, he gives a powerful lesson
in coping with painful challenges & developing pure faith. Suggested donation is $10. RSVP by
calling 314-862-2474 or emailing [email protected]. The talk will be at the Aish Firehouse, 457 N.
Woods Mill Rd., Chesterfield, MO 63017
Nishmah Pre-Passover Journey – March 10th
Nishmah is privileged to be able to honor Karen Sher, the co-founder and past President of Nishmah
as well as celebrating Nishmah’s 10th Anniversary during Nishmah’s Journey, our signature prePassover event, to be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the JCC Staenberg Family Complex. We
are thrilled to welcome musical artist, Michelle Citrin. Registration for the event is open till March
2nd (earlybird deadline is this Friday February 9th). Deadline for tributes is February 25. Register
Online with Tribute payments can be sent with copy of form from the attached invitation to Nishmah,
2 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis MO 63146 or you can email tributes to [email protected].
and pay online at www.nishmah.org
Kosher Pre-packed Meals at Wash. U.
The Bon Appétit Management Company, which provides most of the food on WU's campus, has
expanded the locations where Kosher sandwiches and similar may be purchased. On the Danforth
campus they can be found at the following locations: Law School, Whispers Café, Etta’s Café,
Stanley’s Café, Holmes Lounge, Bergson Café (in DUC), Paws n Go Market (S40 House) and
Village Market. In addition they are now also available on WU's Medical Campus in the
Shell Café, located in the McDonnell Sciences Building, 4565 McKinley Ave. Always look for the
Vaad Hoeir sticker. The challah bread currently produced by Bon Appétit is not certified Kosher. This
may change in the future.
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: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Canned Chili/Beef/Pasta
with Meat, Kosher Foods, Canned Tuna Fish, Canned Vegetables, and Healthy Cereal (Hot or Cold).
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].
Shmooze Classified
Israel Tour Guide
This is to recommend as your tour guide in Israel my cousin Phil Field. Phil, who made aliya seven
years ago, just passed the tour guide certification exam! He is engaging, personable, and of course
knowable about every part of Israel. Explore his website to learn more: www.philfieldtours.com
Phyllis Shapiro
Kosher Beef and Turkey Jerky
Hungry for kosher beef or turkey jerky? Contact Yonah Shafner or Eitan
Oberlander at SO JERKY, 314-915-1990. 10% of profits go to Bais Abraham.
Advertising in Shmooze Classified
You can advertise in Shmooze Classified for two weeks for $18. We have a readership of about
200. Please send text to [email protected] and a check to the shul office.
‫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.