12 July 2025 - 16 Tammuz 5785 Shabbat Candle Lighting– 8:09 pm Shabbat Ends– 9:14 pm According to myzmanim.com Shabbat - Parshat Balak Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat-7:00 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Lunch and Learn –9:00 am Mincha, Seudah Shelishit, Haftarah Study, and Maariv- 7:54 pm
This Shabbat: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Aviad Bodner and Services on the First Floor
Upcoming Events (click on the images to visit the website)
Learning Opportunities with Rabbi Finkelstein - SUMMER SCHEDULE Weekly Haftarah Class Shabbat afternoons at Seudah Shelishit
Join Rabbi Finkelstein for a weekly study of the Haftarah.
*If you would like to study a different topic, or in a smaller group, please feel free to reach out to set up an individual chevruta.*
Bais Abe Community News
17th of Tammuz and the Start of the Three Weeks This Sunday is the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz. Fast Starts: 4:35am Fast Ends: 9:00pm
For information on Halachot for the Three Weeks, see here. Please be in touch with Rabbi Finkelstein if you have any questions.
Spring Into Action: Thank You for Showing Up We're thrilled to share that thanks to your generosity, we surpassed our $36,000 goal raising $46,194 to date during our Spring Into Action campaign!
We're especially proud of the participation from our board leadership, a remarkable member participation rate, and heartfelt support from friends of the congregation. We welcomed some first-time donors, and were touched to see longtime friends return. This renewed support means the world to us.
The installation of Rabbi Finkelstein brought our community together in a powerful way. Nearly 100 people RSVP'd and joined us for a truly meaningful evening filled with joy, connection, and community spirit. A few technical glitches couldn't dampen the energy in the room—and your presence made it all the more memorable.
Special thanks to Fawn Chapel, Alan Nemes, and Husch Blackwell for generously providing the stunning venue—and so much more—that elevated the evening and helped make the celebration truly memorable.
A heartfelt thank you to our Celebration Committee, whose time, energy, and care helped bring this meaningful event to life: Larry Friedman & Randi Mozenter; Morey & Tessa Gardner; George & Darla Grossberg, Michael & Roberta Gutwein; Mark & Judy Hoffman; Jonathan Katz & Lilly Canel-Katz; Alan Nemes & Fawn Chapel; Selwyn & Linda Picker; Daniel & Simone Picker; Pazit Rabinowitz; Michael Rauchman & Ariane May; Dan Reich; David Scherba & Rebecca Swartz; Michael & Rachel Shapiro; Will Soll & Kalanit Chappell; Greg Storch & Lisa Ring; Dan Vianello & Leslie Fogel; Nathan Waldman; Janet Weinberg; and Larry Willick & Lori Goldman.
And hats off to our dedicated planning committee—Fawn Chapel, Carla Feuer, Abby Goldberg, Judy Hoffman, and Ruth Schachter-Cohen whose creativity and effort brought the event to life.
We're also grateful for the thoughtful article in the Jewish Light—and to all who shared it. Thanks to your support, our message is getting out. We connected with new people who care about us, and that's a beautiful sign of growth.
Whether you gave, attended, or both—you showed up, and that's what matters most. Thank you for being part of this meaningful moment.
If you would still like to contribute, you may do sohere!
Volunteers Needed for Bais Abe Garden Are you a master gardener? Or a novice to the gardening world who would like to learn more? Either way, we need your help! All you need is an interest in jumping in to help with weeding, trimming, and planting in the Bais Abe garden. No prior experience is necessary, and we can help everyone interested in finding a task that suits them. Please be in touch with Rebecca Swartz or the Bais Abe office if you would like to help!
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 2025 is: June 14 July 12 August 9 September 13 October 11 November 8 December 13
Security at Bais Abe We are in regular communication with Scott Biondo, Community Security Director at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, as well as with University City Police and other resources to make sure our security protocols are up to date.
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.
Sign Up for Perek 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 group has now completed Psalms and has transitioned to the Book of Yeshayahu (Isaiah). If you would like to join this group and learn more about Yeshayahu, 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.
Let Your Old Car Benefit Bais Abe! Do you have an old car that you thinking about donating? Let your donation benefit Bais Abe! Contact Ruth in the office or visit the website, https://careasy.org/bais-abraham-congregation, to find out more information.
Reminders
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.
Shivah Asar b’Tammuz (17th of Tammuz)
This Sunday (July 13) is Shivah Asar b’Tammuz, the 17th day of the month of Tammuz. The reasons for this fast is to commemorate the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans in the days of the Second Temple (3 weeks before the destruction of the Temple itself on the 9th of Av, Tishah b’Av), and the breaking of the Luchot (tablets of the Ten Commandments) by Moshe when he descended from Mount Sinai. According to tradition, Moshe went up Mount Sinai on the first day of Shavuot, the 6th of Sivan, and came down 40 days later, on the 16th of Tammuz. As he entered the Jewish camp the next day, the 17th of Tammuz, he saw the Golden Calf that was constructed and then in anger broke the Luchot. The fast begins at daybreak on Sunday and ends at nightfall (4:35am to 9:00pm in University City, according to the more lenient view on myzmanim.com). No food or drink is permitted. Special prayers are added in the services - in the morning we add Slichot and Avinu Malkeinu followed by the reading of a section of the Torah that is read on all fast days, in which Moshe asks God to forgive the Jewish people. In the afternoon at Mincha, we again add special prayers and read the same Torah section, this time with the addition of a Haftorah (Isaiah 55:6 – 56:8). This Haftorah includes some of Isaiah’s most inspiring words, such as “Observe what is right and do what is just,” and “Seek Hashem while he can be found, call to Him while He is near.” Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
Community-wide event Commemorating the 19th Yahrtzeit of Sarah Adelman z"l Rabbi Jeremy Donath "Mental Health and psychotherapy: How the Torah world has evolved and the challenges every patient and therapist must consider"
Sunday July 20, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. CDT In the Beit Midrash of Young Israel of St. Louis And Via Zoom*
Rabbi Jeremy Donath has served as the Rabbi of Congregation Darchei Noam in Fair Lawn, New Jersey since its founding in 2011. Under his leadership, the shul has grown from fewer than 40 families to a vibrant community of over 200 member families. In addition to his congregational role, Rabbi Donath is a member of the Limudei Kodesh faculty at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, where he teaches Tanach. He is an active member of both the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) and the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC). A native of Minneapolis, Rabbi Donath earned his B.A. in Jewish History from Yeshiva University, an M.S. in Education from the Azrieli Graduate School, and received semikhah from RIETS. Rabbi Donath and his wife Shira are the proud parents of four children. He feels deeply privileged to be connected to the Saint Louis community through Shira, and is a proud son-in-law of Alan and Bryna Kandel, with longstanding ties to the Adelman family.
Contribution categories: Guarantor $750+; Benefactor $350-$749; Sponsor $100-$349 Minimum donation of $18.00 per family
Please send contributions to the address below or through our website: samfstl.com *To obtain the Zoom link and sign in information, please send an email, after July 13, 2025, to samfstl@gmail.com
SPONSORED BY THE SARAH ADELMAN MEMORIAL FUND 17490 Meandering Way #2104, Dallas, TX 75252
The Sarah Adelman Memorial Fund supports programs and initiatives to help educate the community about dealing with psychological and social issues. Needy children in the St. Louis Jewish Orthodox community, requiring counseling, are supported by the fund.
Neshama Carlebach in Concert - Sunday, August 17 at 5:30pm Come join us for a soulful time with the incredible Neshama Carlebach at SummerFest 2025! Get ready for an unforgettable experience filled with uplifting music and inspiring melodies. This concert is a chance to connect with beautiful tunes in person. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a magical musical afternoon. The event will be at Clayton High School and is sponsored by Kol Rinah. For more information about the oncert and tickets, visit the website.
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
