Please note: there will be childcare provided for youths ages 0-5 during all Yom Kippur services. Registration is preferred here, however drop-ins will be permitted. Snacks and lunch will be available for all children.
Upcoming Events
Bais Abe Community News
This Sunday!Join usfor Sukkah building on Sunday, October 13!
The Women's Tefillah Group will meet on Simchat Torah. If you are interested in reading Torah or helping organize in some way, please be in touch with Ruth in the office.
Rabbi Finkelstein's Office Hours Rabbi Finkelstein will have open office hours on Mondays from 1-3pm, Wednesdays, from 9am-12pm, and Thursdays from 12-3pm. Come say hi and chat! If you have any questions, or would like to speak further, feel free to reach out, rabbifinkelstein@baisabe.com.
Shabbat Services on the First Floor To make Bais Abe's services more accessible to all, Shabbat services will be held downstairs on the second Shabbat of the month. The schedule for the remainder of 2024 is:
October 19 (third week due to Chagim) NEXT WEEK! November 9 December 14
Bais Abe Minyanim We need your help to strengthen Bais Abe's minyanim. For information on Friday night services, please be in touch with Greg Storch. For Monday and Thursday Shacharit minyanim (and to be added to a minyan WhatsApp group), please be in touch with Alan Nemes.
Update Your Info in the Bais Abe Directory Did you know that Bais Abe members have access to an online shul directory? View and edit your listing by singing in to your Bais Abe account; directions can be found here. After you log in, you can click on "My Account" and view and/or edit your directory entry. You can also upload a photo so that everyone can put faces with names. This will also help Rabbi Finkelstein as he gets to know everyone! Please be in touch with Ruth if you have any questions about logging in to your account and making updates.
Sign Up for Psalm of the Day WhatsApp Group In the aftermath of the attacks on October 7th, Rabbi Finkelstein started a Psalm of the Day WhatsApp group for his shul in Baltimore, so that people could find a time during the day to focus our minds and hearts into meaningful prayer through the Book of Psalms. The Whatsapp Group just began its third cycle of Psalms, so if you would like to join this group and learn more about the Book of Psalms, please joinhere.
Bais Abe Stands With Israel We are brokenhearted and devastated over current events in Israel. We stand with our brothers and sisters during these unprecedented times. We have created a page of some resources on our website. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis also has a comprehensive resource page here.
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. Thank you.
Please be sure to close any windows you open before you leave the building.
Join Connect Bais Abe to get the most up-to-date news from Bais Abe and your fellow Bais Abers. To join the conversation, just send an email to connectBaisAbe+subscribe@groups.io.
Bais Abe Upcoming Events Click on the images below to learn more and register!
NEW CLASSES - It's not too late to join!
Jewish History Through Its Great Religious Leaders Sundays at 9:15AM - in person and on Zoom
Every Sunday morning, join Rabbi Finkelstein as we journey through the great Done religious leaders of Jewish History, and look at how history shaped them, and was shaped by them. We will be learning in installments of four weeks for each figure. Find out more here.
Halachah with Chacham Ovadya Yosef Thursdays at 7:00PM - in person and on Zoom Will meet on the following October dates: October 10 and October 31
Every Thursday night, join Rabbi Finkelstein as we learn halacha, Jewish law, by following the framework as set up by Rav Ovadya Yosef in his work of responsa, Yabia Omer. Find out more here.
DECORATING A SUKKAH
The holiday of Sukkot begins next Wednesday night, October 15. The rules of how to build a sukkah are complicated. There are also rules about decorating the sukkah. One initial question is, is there an obligation to decorate the sukkah or is the mitzva just to build it? Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (1920-2013) in his book Hazon Ovadia (Sukkot, p. 74), discusses the halachik obligation to decorate the sukkah. He claims this is related to the Talmud’s comment in Tractate Shabbat (133b) that the verse, “This is my God, and I shall glorify Him” (Shemot 15:2) means that we should perform all commandments in the nicest way we can. The Rashba, Rabbi Shlomo Ben Aderet of Barcelona, Spain (1235-1310), gives another reason for the obligation to decorate a sukkah: One must treat the sukkah like a home. Just as one would not leave walls blank in his/her home, one must similarly adorn and decorate the sukkah so that it is pleasant to stay in. One rule that relates to decorations is that decorations hanging from the top of the sukkah, the sechach, should not hang more than one foot down from the sechach. This problem often arises with hanging paper chains – take care they don’t hang too low.
Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
Opportunity to Help University City Family Ashleigh Selmon was recently tragically killed by a stray bullet in University City. She leaves behind a 7-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. The University City Police Department is requesting donations of clothes (new or good quality used), toiletries, toys, and gift cards to help support the family during this challenging time. Collection boxes are available at Bais Abe, Chabad WashU, Chabad of Greater St. Louis, and other locations throughout the community, or, you may deliver the items directly to the police station. It is a Kiddush Hashem to participate. Q's? Contact Rabbi H. Novack, rabbi@chabadwashu.org.
TOMCHEI SHABBOS Please remember our families in the community who are depending on your help during the upcoming chagim. A monetary donation can be made to tomcheistl.org or sent to Jackie Oppenheimer, 914 Albey Lane, 63132.
MIKVAH CAMPAIGN The mikvah is in significant need of funds and must raise at least $75,000 to cover urgent repair expenses. We are currently a third of the way to our goal. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help sustain our mikvaot. Online at STLMikvah.org/donate or send a check payable to Taharath Israel of St. Louis, 4 Millstone Campus Drive, 63146.
The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry Needs Our Help Please help the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry by donating money or donating food. Below are some suggestions for food items the pantry needs: chili, beef stew, and protein-rich foods; healthy soups; kosher non-perishable foods; tomato products (e.g. diced tomatoes, Manwich); boxed side dishes (rice, potatoes, and noodles); canned vegetables (e.g. corn, green beans, peas, carrots); peanut butter and jelly; and personal care items such as paper towels, toilet paper, and hand soap.
Currently, the need is great so please help in any way you can. Thank you. For further information, please contact Louise Levine, 314 368 5902.
Bais Abraham Congregation Office Hours: 6910 Delmar Blvd. Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm University City, MO 63130 Friday: Closed Phone: 314.721.3030 Email: office@baisabe.com
