August 16, 2025 - 22 Av 5785 Shabbat Candle Lighting– 7:37 pm Shabbat Ends– 8:36 pm According to myzmanim.com Shabbat - Parshat Ekev Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat-7:00 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Lunchish sponsored by the Nemes-Chapel Family–9:00 am *Sheet cake sponsored by the children and grandchildren of Fawn Chapel & Alan Nemes *Rabbi Hody Nemes will deliver the Drasha this Shabbat. Mincha/Seudah Shelishit/Haftarah Study & Maariv-7:22 pm
Next Shabbat: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Finkelstein (see flyer below)
Upcoming Events (click on the images to visit the website)
Thank you to our generous sponsors of the BBQ and Garden Dedication:
Meat and Vegan Mains Sponsorship
Anonymous
Steve Aroesty
Larry Friedman & Randi Mozenter - In memory of Stanley Mozenter, Edith Mozenter, Estelle Friedman, Dan Friedman, and Joel Wexelman
Michael & Roberta Gutwein - In memory of Jessica Friedlander
Mark & Judy Hoffman - In memory of Jessica Friedlander
Beverages Sponsorship
Alice Thomas
Sides and Condiments Sponsorship
David Scherba & Rebecca Swartz
Other
Anonymous
Helene Gottesmann - In memory of Alex and Flora Gottesmann
Paula Lemerman & Stewart Shilcrat
Daniel & Simone Picker
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
UPDATE - Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant Thanks to generous donors, we have raised $4500 in just one week and are now only $500 away from our goal of raising $5000! 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!
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.
Birkat Hamazon - Parshat Ekev This week’s Torah reading, Parshat Ekev, contains the main source of the obligation to say Birkat Hamazon, a blessing after eating a meal. The verse is, “You will eat and be satisfied and then bless the Lord your God . . . .” (Devarim 8:10). The Talmud Yerushalmi extends this to also include benching together with others, three or ten, if possible (Yerushalmi Berachot 7:7). There are four main blessings in Birkat Hamazon. The first is Birkat Hazan (blessing for the food), the second is Birkat Haaretz (blessing for the land), the third Boneh Yerushalayim (building Jerusalem), and the fourth, Hatov Vehametiv (things should get better). The Babylonian Talmud gives the following origins for each of these blessings: “Moshe composed Birkat Hazan when the manna fell, Joshua composed Birkat Haaretz when the people entered the land of Israel, King David and his son King Solomon composed Boneh Yerushalayim when they built up that city, and then many generations later, the Rabbis of Yavneh composed Hatov Vehametiv in response to the burial of the martyrs of Beitar.” (Berachot 48b). 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.
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
