Shabbat Candle Lighting – 4:22 pm Shabbat Ends – 5:25 pm According to myzmanim.com
Shabbat - Parshat Vayishlach Shabbat Services on first floor this week. Kabbalat Shabbat - 4:22 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Birthday Celebration Kiddush – 9:00 am Mincha, Seudah Shelishit, and Maariv - 4:07 pm
Time to Make Year End Donations Now is the time to make your 2024 year end donations to Bais Abe. Your support and participation help our shul thrive! Click on the hourglass or make your donationonline. Please be in touch with Ruth if there are any questions about year end giving. *Also note, if you donate via a third party (such as a charitable giving account), please be sure to let us know of your donation so we can properly give attribution and thank you. If you do not receive a thank you note for your donation in a timely fashion, please let Ruth know. Thank you for your support!
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.
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.
Upcoming Events
NEXT Sunday at 10am - Bikkur Cholim Committee Meeting The Bikkur Cholim Committee will meet next Sunday, December 22nd at 10am at the shul. All are welcome to attend even if you didn't attend the previous training in the fall.
Bais Abe Trivia Night Join us for a casual night of trivia. We will have jelly donuts and other dairy treats. Bring the whole family! $5 per person. Please pay cash at the door so we have a good "pot" for the winning table. Teams up to ten people welcome. No team necessary for participation. Let us know you are coming here so we have enough donuts! Doors open at 6:30. Trivia starts at 7:00.
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.
PRAYING FROM THE HEART WITHOUT WORDS
Last week I came down with laryngitis, first time that I recall. I was advised that attempts at speaking should be minimized, and I wasn’t sure how to handle daily davening (prayers). I found that this question had been presented to a rabbi here in Israel, Rabbi Hanan Shukron, in 2019, from a person with a condition similar to mine. The question and answer appeared online under the heading “she’al et harav” (Ask the Rabbi). Here is a translation of Rabbi Shukron’s response:
It breaks into two parts: a. Kriyat Shema (the prayer of Shema Yisrael) together with the surrounding blessings must be said verbally, but may be done quietly with very little sound to the ear. b. For all the other prayers, including Shmoneh Esrei, it is only needed to move the lips, no actual sound is needed. There is no need to engage the vocal chords, just move the lips.
This was supported by citations from the Mishna Brurah (Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan,1838-1933) in his notes on the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). Part (a) above is based on Chapter 62:7, on Kriyat Shema. The Shulchan Aruch states that “One must hear what comes out of the mouth, but if one did not, they still fulfilled their obligation.” The Mishna Brurah comments that “fulfilled” means partially fulfilled, and if by chance the voice returned shortly afterward, still in the time for saying the Shema, you would have to then repeat the Shema. Part (b) is based on chapter 101:5, on the topic of Shmoneh Esrei. There the Mishna Brurah states, “If really needed, then according to all, even if no sound was heard by the ears, the obligation is fulfilled with just the moving of the lips.”
Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
Participate in MOScholars Tax Credit Reservation System The deadline to participate in the 100% tax credit program is Monday, December 16. This initiative is supporting Jewish education with millions of dollars each year. Use this link to reserve your 2024 tax credit: Reserve Your Tax Credit If you're not sure what this is, are not sure how it applies to you, or for any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Hillel Anton at 314-200-5781 or hanton@agudahmo.org. Time is of the essence – Be a part of it to strengthen education in our community.
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
