THE SHMOOZE A Weekly Newsletter for Members and Friends of Bais Abraham Congregation Hyim Shafner, Rabbi Rori Picker Neiss, Maharat Parshat Chayei Sara 15 November 2014 Candle Lighting 4:30 p.m. Shabbat Ends 5:30 p.m. (according to www.myzmanim.com) This Shabbat and Bais Abe Events Contacts Shul Office (314) 721-3030 office@baisabe.com Rabbi Hyim Shafner rabbi@baisabe.com Maharat Rori Picker Neiss maharat@baisabe.com Greg Storch, President president@baisabe.com Kiddush Sponsorship kiddush@baisabe.com Shmooze Submissions shmooze@baisabe.com Davening Schedule Shabbat 4:30 p.m. – Fri. Mincha/Maariv 9:00 a.m. – Sat. Shacharit 4:10 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. Shabbat Cholent Kiddush All are invited to a cholent kiddush following services sponsored by Rick Sandler and Beth Solowey to commemorate the yahrzeit of Rick’s father, Solomon Sandler z’l. Cake is provided by Jeff and Robin Haspel in honor of Zvi Haspel’s birthday. YABA Shabbat Dinner This Week YABA is hosting its last Shabbat dinner of 2014 in collaboration with SLIC (St. Louis Israel Connection)! Services will begin at 4:30pm, followed by some quality shmoozing, and then dinner featuring an Israeli inspired menu at 6pm. All are welcome! Scholar in Residence Weekend – November 21st-22nd Spend next Shabbat with renowned professors of Jewish thought and of Psychology at Bais Abraham November 21-22. RSVP required for Friday night by Monday, November 17. Dinner and Lunch will be at Shul followed by talks and discussion. Lunch is free, no reservations required. Saturday night will be a talk by Mona Fishbane co-sponsored by Nishmah. Call or email the shul or reserve on the web at http://baisabe.com/donate.php. See flyer for more info. 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 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 rori@baisabe.com. 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 rabbi@baisabe.com 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 hospitality@baisabe.com. Bais Abraham Board of Directors Greg Storch President Gabe Douek Exec. Vice President Lilly Canel-Katz Gemara class with Jack Shapiro – Wednesdays at 7:30 pm Understand the basis of Jewish law. All are welcome -whether you’re a beginner or already familiar with the Talmud. Come study with us! 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 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 and lecture given by Dr. Michael Fishbane. 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, bdanin@sbcglobal.net 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. Shalhevet Women’s Kollel Shalhevet Women’s Kollel will meet on the following dates: November 18, December 2, and December 16. The learning will begin at 7:30 pm at Bais Abe. Women of all backgrounds are invited to participate. Movie Outing – November 20th All are invited to attend the FREE screening of "I'm Not Racist...Am I?" at the Tivoli on Thursday, November 20th at 7pm. Those who are interested in attending should be in touch with Alice, alicebt@alicebt.com or aliceburnst@gmail.com. She will go by 6:30pm to save seats which will allow everyone to sit together. There will be a discussion about the film afterwards. "Conversion, Rabbinic Authority, and Power Imbalance in Orthodoxy" JOIN US FOR LIVE STREAMING of a Major Discussion in Modern Orthodoxy: In the light of the recent very tragic news from Washington, D.C., involving mikvah and conversions, three prominent national communal leaders will participate in a panel discussion in New York City entitled, "Conversion, Rabbinic Authority, and Power Imbalance in Orthodoxy" Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive VP of the RCA (Rabbinical Council of America Dr. Elana Stein Hain, Director of Leadership Education for the Shalom Hartman Institute Rabbi Asher Lopatin, President of Yeshivat Chovivei Torah You can attend a community-wide live streaming of this program Sunday, November 23, 2014 9:50-10:50 a.m. at the home of Ruth Raskas and Nigel Orenstein 7920 Teasdale University City Following the broadcast, there will be an open discussion with facilitators to be announced. 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. Bais Abraham Annual Meeting – December 14th Bais Abraham's Annual meeting will be December 14th at 7pm at the Shul. The meeting will feature desert and the official election of Bais Abraham's 2015 board. 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 begriming to end. Everybody will take home a beautiful T shirt to use during Chanukah. The price per project is $12.00. 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 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 will have her work available on Sundays, 12:00-1:30, at the Shul for viewing and purchase. Find out more about her work at www.judaicafabricart.com. 15% of Sunday morning purchases will go to the program of the buyer’s choice. 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 fawn.chapel@gmail.com and Roberta can be reached at robertagutwein@gmail.com . 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 office@baisabe.com. 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 (jshoffman@swbell.net). 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 15 Cholent Kiddush in memory of Solomon Sandler’s Yahrzeit, and cake in honor of Zvi Haspel’s Birthday Sponsored by Rick Sandler and Beth Solowey with cake sponsored by Jeff and Robin Haspel November 22 Lunch and Learn with Scholars in Residence Sponsors TBD November 29 Cholent Kiddush Sponsors Invited To RSVP for an event email office@baisabe.com or call 721-3030. Bais Abraham Learning-at-a-Glance Class Instructor Time & Place 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 Wednesday, November 12th at 7:30 p.m. and Mondays, 7:30 p.m. (starting December 1st) 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 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: rystahl@wustl.edu. Thanks! Tomchei Shabbos Cookbook Event - December 14th Join us for tea, coffee, and sample dessert recipes from our upcoming cookbook! Sunday, Dec. 14, 1:30-3:00, at the Hirschhorn home, 835 Swarthmore. EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO BRING RECIPES!!!! Admission is $18 or 6 recipes. Sponsors of $180 or more are also admitted free of charge. 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 STLJCL-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Posting is easy! Just email your post to STLJCL@yahoogroups.com. “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, benshafner@gmail.com. $25. ‫שלום שבת‬ Submit articles and announcements for publication by Thursday morning to shmooze@baisabe.com. 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.