Shabbat Candle Lighting – 4:34 pm Shabbat Ends – 5:38 pm According to myzmanim.com
Shabbat - Parshat Vayigash Kabbalat Shabbat - 4:34 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Kiddush – 9:00 am Mincha, Seudah Shelishit, and Maariv - 4:19 pm
This Shabbat we are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Hody Nemes back to Bais Abe as our special guest speaker. He will deliver the Dvar Torah on Shabbat morning.
Next Shabbat: Services on the first floor
Bais Abe Community News
Baruch Dayan Emet We again extend heartfelt condolences to Ariane May and Michael Rauchman on the passing of their father and father-in-law, Mortimer May. The shiva is in New York.
May his memory be a blessing and may the family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Rabbi Finkelstein out of Town Rabbi Finkelstein will be out of town January 1-5. His classes and office hours are on hiatus during this time.
Email Issue Please be advised that we have a temporary fix for Rabbi Finkelstein's email problem. If you email rabbifinkelstein@baisabe.com, you will get a notice that it did not go through, however it is forwarded to a different address and he will see it. We hope to have issues fixed completely soon. Please contact the shul office, office@baisabe.com, if there are any questions.
Rabbi Finkelstein's Office Hours Will not occur January 1-5 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. 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 (click on images to go to event pages)
Learning Opportunities with Rabbi Finkelstein
Shemonah Perakim Shabbat afternoons at Seudah Shelishit Will not meet this week
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 Will not meet this week
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 On hiatus until January 9
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 morehere.
TREATING STAINS ON CLOTHING ON SHABBAT Last Shabbat we were at friends for Friday night dinner, and during the meal, while the hostess was dishing out meat, some gravy accidentally fell onto my pants. Others at the table offered me salt to rub on the oily stain. The question was, could this be done on Shabbat. The short answer is, no.
There are 39 av melachot (primary actions) that are prohibited on Shabbat and one of them is Melaben (bleaching). Attached to each av melacha are some toladot (subcategories) and laundering clothing is considered as a toladah of melaben.
What exactly is laundering? An article on this issue by the OU (Orthodox Union) says: “On Shabbat it is strictly prohibited to remove a stain which is absorbed into the fabric and can only be removed with a cleaning agent. If no cleaning agent is used, then it is permitted to remove the stain but only if it can be done by gently wiping it off with a dry cloth or brushing it off by hand.”
The book Or Le’tzion, by Rabbi Ben Zion Abba Shaul (1924 - 1998), one of the leading Sephardic Rabbis in Israel at that time, specifically states: “On Shabbat, it is forbidden to pour salt in order to absorb an oily stain.”
Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
Important Eruv Update Dear Community Members, This coming Shabbos marks exactly 30 years since the establishment of the St. Louis Community Eruv on Parshas Va'Yigash, 1994.
For three decades, the Eruv has enhanced the lives of countless individuals and families in our community, enabling us to experience Shabbos with greater ease and connection. As we celebrate this milestone, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the dedicated individuals who laid the foundation for this incredible endeavor. The Eruv was initiated and managed for many years by Stuart Zimbalist, Joel Garbow, Mickey Ariel, and Alan Haber, whose vision and commitment made this essential resource a reality.
Additionally, we recognize the tireless work of our inspectors, Mr. Lewis Notowich, Rabbi Chona Muser, and Rabbi Daniel Kamins, as well as the years of unwavering dedication of "Lineman Emeritus", Pat Lorenson, and our current linemen, Brandon Duree and Matt Hackett, who really go above and beyond to ensure the Eruv remains operational every week. Our Eruv has profoundly impacted our lives, fostering a stronger sense of community and enhancing our observance of Shabbos. This would not have been possible without your ongoing support, and we thank you for your partnership in maintaining this vital part of our communal infrastructure.
May our community continue to flourish and may we continue to share many more milestones together. Best regards,
THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY ERUV COMMITTEE Daniel Z. Lefton, President Dr. Stan Biel Robyn Weiss Ephriam Abrams
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: canned tuna fish and protein-rich foods; hot and cold healthy cereal; kosher non-perishable foods; any kind of canned vegetables (corn, green beans, peas, carrots); macaroni and cheese; boxed side dishes - rice, noodles, and potatoes; peanut butter and jelly; and personal care items such as kleenex, diapers, and hand lotion.
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.
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
