Reminder: Parshat Noach Petting Zoo and Mesiba is THIS Sunday! Register via the image below. Walk-ins also welcome!
NEW! - Hebrew Reading Crash Course Have you always wanted to learn Hebrew? Now is your opportunity! Lilly Canel-Katz will be teaching a class on Thursday evenings at 7pm at Bais Abe, starting next week, November 7th. This class is geared towards those with little-to-no background in Hebrew reading. Please be in touch with the Bais Abe office for more info.
Learning Opportunities with Rabbi Finkelstein
Shemonah Perakim Shabbat afternoons at Seudah Shelishit
Join Rabbi Finkelstein for a study of Shemonah Perakim, Rambam’s introduction to Pirkei Avot, where he describes the important values through which we should live our lives.
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
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.
Bais Abe Community News
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) 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.
The Prayer for Rain The special attention given to rain in our tefillot can be understood when we realize that in the Land of Israel, where most of our prayers originated, the presence or absence of rain is critical. Israel is a land largely devoid of water sources like streams and lakes and is mostly dependent on rain to make the land fertile (see Dvarim 11:10–11). Also, rain in Israel is seasonal, falling only in the winter months, usually not starting before the time of Sukkot or continuing beyond Pesach. This coming week in Israel we will add a 4-word verse in the 9th bracha of the Amida (silent prayer), the prayer which begins with “Bareich aleinu.” The added verse is, “v’tain tal u’matar l’vracha” (and give us dew and rain for a blessing). The Mishna in Talmud Taanit (10a) explains that asking God for rain should have started even earlier, at the beginning of Sukkot, but it was thought to be inappropriate to ask for rain on Sukkot when we must eat in the sukkah or during the time those who went to the Temple in Jerusalem for the holiday would be travelling home. The date was set as 7th day of the Jewish month of Marcheshvan, 15 days after Sukkot, which will be next Friday, November 8. The Talmud on this Mishna states that outside of Israel, we begin saying the prayer for rain in Ma’ariv (the evening service) on the evening preceding the 60th day from the autumn equinox, which is usually the 4th of 5th of December. It is odd for a Jewish practice to be linked to the secular calendar, but this one is. 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.
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.
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
