Shabbat Candle Lighting – 4:41 pm Shabbat Ends – 5:44 pm According to myzmanim.com
Shabbat - Parshat Vayechi Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat - 4:30 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Kiddush – 9:00 am Mincha, Seudah Shelishit, and Maariv - 4:26 pm
Friday, January 10 is the Fast of Asarah beTevet. It begins at 5:54 am, and ends at 5:43 pm. Please see below for a message from Rabbi Finkelstein.
Services on the First Floor and A Special Celebration will take place NEXT Shabbat, January 18th.
Bais Abe Community News
A Message from Rabbi Finkelstein about Shabbat and Asarah BeTevet A few important updates about services before and during this Shabbat.
1. As you may be aware, St. Louis has been covered in snow all week, and the attempts to remove snow from the road have been not completely successful. As of the writing of this letter on Thursday morning, most of the sidewalk from both directions is still covered with snow, as is the part of Delmar Blvd that congregants can park on.
As an Orthodox synagogue, we place prime importance on Tefillah BeTzibur, on davening together on a community. However, getting to shul should not be a dangerous activity. So if you are someone to whom traversing in the snow will provide much added danger, please consider staying home for Shabbat. However, if you feel it is safe to come to shul on Shabbat, please make an added effort to come, so that we can daven with as many people as possible. The choice of how safe it is to come is a decision everyone must make for themselves.
Understanding that many people will be unable to come this Shabbat, we have decided to add Shabbat services on the first floor next Shabbat, which is also the new date for the Lunch-ish sponsored by Rebecca Swartz and David Scherba in honor of their 20th anniversary and the January birthdays.
The Meeting ID is: 410 653 7000. And the Passcode is: 433900.
2. Regardless of the snow, I was planning on sending out an email regarding tomorrow's fast, Asarah BeTevet, which commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian seige of Jerusalem, which led to the destruction of the First Beit HaMikdash. It is the only fast day that can occur on Friday, which it does this year. The fast begins at 5:54AM, and ends at 5:43PM, which is after Shabbat starts, even though we usually do not fast on Shabbat. If you are coming to Tefillah on Friday night, we will finish, God willing, with enough time so that you can get home and begin Kiddush at 5:43PM or shortly after. If you are not coming Friday night, please be aware that the lighting of Shabbat candles does not mean that the fast is over.
Also, since Friday is a Fast Day, we will have a longer Mincha to include the Torah reading and Haftarah for a Fast Day. Therefore, we will begin at 4:30PM, as opposed to at Candle Lighting, as we usually do. Please make an effort to come on time so that we can finish Minchah before Sunset.
I hope everyone is able to stay warm and comfortably this Shabbat, and I hope to see everyone soon.
Sincerely, Eliezer Finkelstein
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 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
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
We are starting a new figure, the Baal Shem Tov, this Sunday!
Every Sunday morning, join Rabbi Finkelstein as we journey through the great 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 morehere.
Asara B’Tevet (The Tenth of Tevet) This Friday, January 10, is the fast of Asara B’Tevet which is inremembrance of the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nevuchadnetzar in 587 BCE, followed by the destruction of the first Temple a few years later. It is called a minor fast in the sense that unlike Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av, it first begins in the morning. This is one of the 4 fasts listed in Zecharia: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months” (Zecharia 8:19), Tevet being the tenth month. You may feel that it’s odd that we keep a minor fast on a Friday, and you would be right. Asara B’Tevet is different than the other minor fasts, in that it is the only one that we keep on a Friday, something we try to avoid, since a fast that is on a Friday continues until nightfall, which includes part of Shabbat. A minor fast that falls out on a Friday is normally moved back to Thursday. The exception is Asara B’Tevet. To explain this, we can look at the statement by Rabbi David Abudriham (Spain - 14th Century) in his book “Commentary on Blessings and Prayer,” that for both Yom Kippur and Asara B’Tevet, we must fast even if they fall on Shabbat. His reasoning also applies to Friday. It is based on the fact that a certain key phrase appears in Tanach for both Yom Kippur and Asara B’Tevet: “B’etzem hayom hazeh (on this very day). It appears for Asara B’Tevet in Ezekiel 24:2, and for Yom Kippur, in Vayikra 23:28. Under our current calendar, Asara B’Tevet never falls on Shabbat, nor does Yom Kippur fall on Friday, but this is the reason why we keep Yom Kippur even on Shabbat, and Asara B’Tevet even on Friday. Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
Assisting Those Impacted by Fires in California As you have probably seen on the news, Los Angeles has been greatly impacted by a series of devastating wildfires. Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center was completely destroyed, and many individuals lost their homes and belongings. To assist those affected by the wildfires, please consider donating here: https://www.pjtc.net/payment.php .
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
