August 9, 2025 - 15 Av 5785 Shabbat Candle Lighting– 7:45 pm Shabbat Ends– 8:46 pm According to myzmanim.com Shabbat - Parshat Vaetchanan Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat-7:00 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Birthday Celebration Kiddush–9:00 am Mincha/Seudah Shelishit/Haftarah Study and Maariv-7:30pm
Services are on the first floor this Shabbat. Next Shabbat: Lunchish sponsored by the Nemes- Chapel Family
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
Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant We are pleased to share that Bais Abraham Congregation is the recipient of a 2025 Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant for our proposal, "Shoring Up the Shul." The funds from this grant will enable us to complete much needed tuckpointing on our synagogue building. As this is a matching grant, we are tasked with raising $5000 in order to receive the funds and do the work. To contribute towards these efforts to beautify and protect our shul, please visit the website or be in touch with Ruth in the office. We thank the Staenberg Family Foundation for their ongoing support of our initiatives, and thank you, our wonderful community, in advance for your generosity as well!
Some Thoughts and Reassurances Regarding the Recent Vandalism in Clayton (Reprint of Email Sent to Bais Abe Community on 8/6/25) Dear Bais Abe community,
A few nights ago, an unidentified person burned three cars in Clayton, and vandalized the nearby road with anti-Israel graffiti, as well as other personalized threats to a specific Jewish individual. While we are grateful to the Clayton Police Department for investigating the attack seriously, many of us are surely unmoored by the presence of such violent attacks against members of our own community. In that vein, let us take to heart two seemingly disparate points:
1. Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israel acts and opinions have risen in the United States and worldwide in the last decade, only supercharged since the attacks of October 7. We no longer live in the same world we grew up in, where anti-Semitism felt like a minor issue. As such, we need to remain vigilant, protecting ourselves and our communities from harm, and respond with a united strength when threatened.
2. At the same time, we have to remember that we are uninformed about the nature of this attack, and should not jump to conclusions about our safety in St. Louis, MO. We are blessed to be supported by many people in our city, including by the Police and other security officials. And while this attack may have been the harbinger of greater threats to come, it is just as likely this was a delinquent young person who did something stupid on a summer night, drawn forth by boredom and a desire to act on talking points they do not fully understand or comprehend.
We have been blessed by God to find a country in the United States that has been more than kind to the Jewish people. And even as we see the winds shift, we must be grateful for how kind America still is towards its Jewish citizens. While we must naturally be vigilant towards threats and violence, that should not stop us from being proud Jews and proud Americans.
A final note: the individual and family to whom the threats were made have requested privacy, but in a small community such as the St. Louis Jewish community, word sometimes spreads. If you happen to know the individuals’ names, or hear people trying to discover it, please respect their privacy and encourage others to do so as well.
Sincerely, Eliezer Finkelstein Rabbi of Bais Abraham Congregation
I hope you are all finding ways to stay comfortable during this hot summer. In preparation for the coming year, I wanted to share a survey to gather the community's preference for learning at Bais Abe this year. If you are interested in particular topics, or if there are any specific times in the week that you are able to come, please let us know in the survey.
Volunteers Needed! 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!
Cooking: Do you like to cook or bake? Or are you interested in learning more? Come help prep, cook, and bake for Kiddushes and events at shul! Be in touch with Abbyfor more information.
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.
THE HOLIDAY OF TU B’AV (THE 15th of AV)
This Shabbat is Tu B’Av, one of the Jewish holidays described by Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel in the fourth chapter of the Tractate Ta’anit (26b). There he says, “there were no days as joyous for the Jewish people as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur, as on them the daughters of Jerusalem would go out in white clothes, borrowed from each other so as not to embarrass one who did not have her own.” On daf (page) 30b, a number of reasons are given for this holiday. One of them is that there was an old rule that if a woman inherited family property she could only marry somebody in her tribe, but after Joshua completed the conquest of Canaan, on the 15th of Av he lifted that ban. Another happy event mentioned is that it was on this day that the descendants of the generation involved in the “sins of the spies” found out that they were not destined to die in the desert and would be able to enter the land of Israel. Also mentioned is that it was on this day that King Hosea removed the guards stationed by a previous king of Judea to keep certain tribes from going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; now all would be able to go.”
Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
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 concert and tickets, visit the website.
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 Beef-Stew, Chili, and Protein-Rich Food Kosher Non-Perishable Foods Peanut Butter (creamy or crunchy) Any Kind of Canned Vegetables (e.g. corn, green beans, peas, and carrots) Healthy Cereals (please avoid sugary cereals) Tomato Sauce and Pastas Healthy Snacks Personal care items such as: Toothpaste, Dental Floss, and Sunscreen
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.
Modest Hospital Gowns Now Available A limited quantity of modest hospital gowns are now available. These gowns are designed to ensure tznius while still allowing hospital staff access for IVs, etc. A small donation is requested, as is a deposit. Please contact Rivka Dushoff-Tobin for more information or to borrow a gown, 314-397-3931.
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
