1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

THE SHMOOZE
A Weekly Newsletter
for Members and Friends of
Bais Abraham Congregation
Hyim Shafner, Rabbi
Rori Picker Neiss, Maharat
Parshat Terumah
21 February 2015
Candle Lighting 5:26 p.m.
Shabbat Ends 6:26 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
5:18 p.m. – Fri. Mincha/Maariv
9:00 a.m. – Sat. Shacharit
5:06 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 and Seudah Shlishit
All are invited to a Lunch and Learn following Shabbat morning services. Adi
Salomon will speak on the topic, “The Reaffirmation of the Torah on Purim.” The
Lunch and Learn is sponsored by the Picker and Douek families. Seudah
Shlishit is sponsored by Janet Weinberg in memory of her father, Robert
Weinberg, Baruch Simcha ben Yosef v’Julia.
Eitan, Adi, Tamar, Naomi and Boaz Salomon are originally from Jerusalem,
Israel. Eitan is a Postdoc researcher in Washington University, and studies plant
sciences. Adi teaches various Judaic studies in Epstein Hebrew Academy,
Yeshivat Kadimah High School and Bais Abraham’s “Shelanu” Sunday school.
The Salomon family members are also Torah MiTzion emissaries (Shlichim) and
together with the local Torah MiTzion supporters they plan and lead Torah and
Eretz Israel related community activities. Tamar and Naomi enjoy learning in
EHA and Boaz will join them next year.
When not busy with plant research/teaching/leading activities, the Salomon’s
enjoy touring the beautiful city of St. Louis, (They especially appreciate the
Missouri Botanical Gardens). The children love to invite friends over and are
always happy to make new friends. Adi is an excellent cake and muffin baker
and Eitan makes balloon animals.
The Salomon’s house is open to all the community members, as the Torah
MiTzion house, for anyone seeking to learn more about Eretz Israel or wishing
to improve their conversational Hebrew skills.
Women’s Tefillah Group
The women’s tefillah group will meet on Shabbat following the lunch and learn.
Women are invited to gather for Mincha in the sanctuary.
Shalom and Welcome!
We at Bais Abe pride ourselvesMazal
on hospitality
and
openness
to Jews Ginsburg
of all backgrounds.
We strive
build a community
Tov to
parents
Andrea
Strasberg
andtoRabbi
Josh
rooted in mutual respect and commitment to Torah values and Halacha (Jewish law). Please feel free to contact Rabbi
Strasberg
on
the
birth
of
a
baby
boy
on
Wednesday,
February
11,
Shafner at [email protected] for any information that may be helpful to you. If you would like a place for a Shabbat
2015!would
Mazal
to grandparents
Barry
and Martha Ginsburg, sister
meal, our eager hosts
lovetov
to welcome
you. Please email
[email protected].
Maayan, and aunts Natalie Ginsburg and Hillary Ginsburg, as well as
all other family members.
Bais Abraham
Board of Directors
Greg Storch
President
Gabe Douek
Vice President
Daniel Picker
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.
Bais Abraham Shabbat Retreat – March 6-7th
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. There are still a few rooms
available. If you would like to attend, please contact the shul or Rabbi Shafner.
Bais Abe Committees
We are currently recruiting members for Bais Abe’s committees. These committees
carry out essential work for the shul. The work of the committees is done by
volunteers and your help is needed. Working on a committee is a great way to help
the shul. It is also a great way to meet and get to know other members of the
congregation. Below is a list of committees with their chairs. Please contact shul
president Greg Storch, [email protected], if you are interested in joining a
committee or if you would like more information.
Finance – Greg Storch
Development – Dan Scharff
Membership – Aviva Buck-Yael
Programming – Barbra Danin and Phyllis Shapiro
Chesed – Fawn Chapel and Roberta Gutwein
Ritual – Alan Nemes
Building/Design – Barry Ginsburg and Tessa Gardner
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!
"Why Yavneh? Archaeological Insights on the Second Jerusalem"-March 14th
All are invited to a slide show and lecture by eminent archaeologist and scholar Dr. Richard A.
Freund on Saturday, March 14th at 8:30pm at Bais Abe. There is a $5 suggested donation. Rabbi Dr.
Richard A. Freund is the Maurice Greenberg Professor of Jewish History and Director of the
Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford.
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.
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
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.
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
 Mazel Tov to Greg Storch on the birth of a grandchild.
 Mazal Tov to Mrs. Eva Ozarowski on the birth of a great granddaughter, to Rabbi
Joseph and Mrs. Ashira Ozarowski, and to their whole family on the birth of a daughter
to Bryna and Shalom Ozarowski in Alon Shvut, Israel.
 Mazal Tov again to Barry and Martha Ginsburg on the birth of their grandson, named
this week at his Brit Milah in Buffalo, Yonah Eliezer Strosberg.
 Maharat Rori’s classes (with the exception of the Shalhevet Women’s Kollel) are on
temporary hiatus.
Baruch Dayan Emet
We wish Bais Abraham's administrative assistant Alayne Yates much condolence upon the passing
of her father. May she and her family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Bais Abe Board Meetings
Bais Abe board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesdays of each month. All Bais Abe members are
welcome. If you have any questions contact [email protected].
Bais Abe Committees
Have something to contribute? Want to make a difference here in your own community? Take
action and join one of Bais Abe's committees. To find out more about joining a committee please
contact [email protected]
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.
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 28
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
March 7
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
March 14
Cholent Kiddush
Sponsor Invited
To RSVP for an event email [email protected] or call 721-3030.
Halacha Highlight
ARBA PARSHIOT (The Four Special Torah Readings)
Friday was the beginning of the month of Adar, in which Purim falls. This is followed by
Nissan, the month in which Pesach falls. Related to this is the reading the Arba Parshiot. Usually,
the last Aliyah, called Maftir, is read from the end of the weekly Torah reading. But on two Shabbatot
before Purim and on two between Purim and Pesach, we have special readings as the Maftir. On
these four Shabbatot, two Torahs are needed, one for the weekly reading and one for the special
Maftir. The first special Maftir , called Parshat Shekalim (Exodus 30: 11-16), was read last week. It is
about an annual tax which had to be given by the first of Nissan for maintaining the Temple. The
second, called Parshat Zachor (Divarim 25: 17-19), is about remembering the evil done to us by the
nation of Amalek. The Rabbis related this to Purim, the holiday recalling the evil Haman, believed to
be from Amalek, tried to do. Therefore it is read on the Shabbat preceding Purim, which will be next
week. The last two, Parshat Parah and Parshat Hachodesh, are closely related to Pesach and are
therefore read before and after the beginning of Nissan.
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
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
Can We Talk Series: Israeli Elections – February 26th
The St. Louis Jewish Light, in collaboration with the Jewish Community Relations Council and the
Jewish Community Center, presents a panel discussion on the Israeli elections as part of its quarterly
“Can We Talk” series. The discussion is on February 26 at 7pm at the JCC. The event is free,
however reservations are requested: [email protected] or 314-442-3190.
Yeshivat Kadimah High School's 2nd Annual Gala-February 28th
Yeshivat Kadimah’s 2nd Annual Gala will be held on Saturday, February 28th at 8:30 pm at Top of the
Met, 211 North Broadway, 42nd floor. The cost is $125 per person and there is complimentary valet
parking. R.S.V.P. by February 15th, [email protected] or www.YeshivatKadimah.org.
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 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.
JSU Annual Gala-March 8th
JSU will be honoring Milton & Galia Movitz, Dan & Melanie Winograd and Sean Rochester, JSU
Faculty Advisor at Parkway Central High School, on March 8th, 5:30 pm, at Clayton High School.
Honorary Chairs are Alvin and June Wolff, Paul and Diane Gallant, Michael and Leslie Litwack,
Howard and Phyllis Loiterstein and Stanley and Rhonnie Goldfader. JSU of St. Louis connects and
engages more than 750 Jewish high school students to their heritage and Israel in fun and
meaningful ways. For more info or to RSVP, go to www.jsustl.org or call 314-498-6279.
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
Support Your Local Jewish Newspaper
Since 1947, the St. Louis Jewish Light has provided us with an award-winning Jewish community
newspaper in "hard-copy" form, and now with a lively website (www.stljewishlight.com). The Light
includes up-to-date news, features, and commentaries on local, national, and world events of interest
to the Jewish community. We encourage all our members and friends to subscribe and help support
this important institution. Rates are very reasonable, with special rates for seniors and
students. http://www.stljewishlight.com/article_8ea22950-aef1-11e0-be6b-001cc4c03286.html
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
Wise & Scott, LLC
Certified Public Accountants
2333 Grissom Drive, Suite 106
St. Louis, MO 63146-3322
Phone: (314)569.0301 Fax: (314)569.0878
We are a full service CPA firm providing traditional
financial reporting, taxation and management advisory
services, including estate planning and real estate, tax
controversy and litigation services.
Richard M. Wise, CPA, JD
Kenneth Scott, CPA
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.