September 6, 2025 - 13 Elul 5785 Shabbat Candle Lighting– 7:06 pm Shabbat Ends– 8:04 pm According to myzmanim.com Shabbat - Parshat Ki Tetze Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat-7:00 pm Shabbat Morning Services followed by Lunchish - 9:00 am Lunchish is sponsored by our dear friends, Adam and Anne, who are visiting Bais Abe this weekend. Welcome back to St. Louis! Mincha/Seudah Shelishit/Haftarah Study & Maariv- 6:51 pm
Next Shabbat: Services on the first floor, followed by a Lunchish sponsored by Paula Lemerman & Stewart Shilcrat.
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.*
Lulav and Etrog Order Form It's time to order your lulav and etrog! You may order on the website or by contacting Ruth in the office.
We must have all orders in by the end of the day on Monday, September 15.
Please be in touch with Ruth with any questions or to speak further.
High Holiday Childcare Registration We look forward to celebrating the High Holidays with you and your family! We are pleased to offer childcare (through TLC Family Care) for children between the ages of 0-5. Please help us prepare by signing up your child(ren) on the Bais Abewebsite or by calling the office. The cost is $25 per child per session. If cost presents a challenge, please be in touch with the shul office. Age appropriate activities and snacks will be offered. The deadline to sign up is Friday, September 12 at 5 pm. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for childcare.
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. Rabbi Finkelstein's Perek of the Day WhatsApp group has transitioned to join the 929 cycle of Tanach. We just started Bereishit this week. To join, please click here .
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.
Selichot (Prayers of Repentance)
Next week, right after next Shabbat (September 13), we will begin saying Selichot. This will be done early Sunday morning close to midnight and will continue almost every day until Yom Kippur. The custom began in the “Gaonic” period, around the 10th Century. At that time Selichot were only said from Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, but there is a note by Rav Hai Gaon (939-1038) that it might be a good idea to extend the time of saying Selichot by beginning in the month of Elul. When exactly in Elul to start was a debate between the Sephardic and Ashkenazik communities. The Sephardic tradition is to begin Selichot on the first day of Elul, which was close to two weeks ago, while the custom of the Ashkenazic community, of which Bais Abe is a part, is to start about a week before Rosh Hashana. The central part of Selichot is the sentence, Hashem, Hashem Kayl rachum v’chanun. . .describing God’s 13 attributes. This sentence is chanted with its haunting tune several times during Yom Kippur services.
Jack Shapiro
St. Louis Jewish Community News and Messages
Women’s Elul Kumsitz - Sunday, September 7 Women of the community are invited to join in an evening of singing and Torah to prepare for the Yamim Noraim with Leora Balinsky-Glauber! Bring your voices! Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025 Time: 8-9:30 pm Location: At the home of Ruth Asher (please contact the Bais Abe office if you need the address)
October 7th Community Commemoration - Sunday, October 5th On Sunday, October 5, 2025, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis invites you to join our community as we mark two years since the October 7, 2023 attacks. We will honor the memory of the lives lost and stand together in tribute to the strength and resilience of the Israeli people.
All are welcome to this interactive and meaningful gathering, designed to unite our community in remembrance, solidarity, and hope.
5:00-6:30 pm Interactive Experiences for All Ages 7:00 pm Program Begins
The program will be at a convenient location. The exact address will be shared before the event.
Light Kosher snacks will be provided. No cost to attend. Pre-registration is mandatory. Visit the website for more information.
Wisdom and Wellness: Navigating Aging for Yourself and Your Loved Ones - Wednesday, September 17 The Jewish Federation invites you to an important, no-cost educational program on caring for aging loved ones. Wisdom and Wellness is designed for adults in their mid-30s and older, offering a meaningful opportunity to explore this vital topic before families face a crisis. Wednesday, September 17 6:00 PM – Networking Reception with Heavy Appetizers & Beverages (Kosher under Vaad supervision, fleishig) 7:00 PM – Panel Discussion and Q&A Polsinelli, 7676 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105 Click here to register.
JSU and NCSY News JSU House Closed This Shabbat The JSU House will be closed this Shabbat. The JSU House will be open after school Monday, September 8th for all 5th through 12th grade students between 5:00pm and 7:00pm.
JUMP INTO JSU Kick-Off @ SkyZone Get ready to soar into the new school year at the JUMP INTO JSU Kick-Off! This event, open to all high school students, will take place this Sunday, September 7th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the SkyZone Trampoline Park located in Ballwin. Come and meet JSUers from all across St. Louis for a high-energy night of fun. You'll have the opportunity to jump in and connect with new and old friends. Please RSVP by filling out the form @ http://tinyurl.com/JUMPINTOJSU
Rosh Hashana Challah Bake Get ready for the new year at the Rosh Hashana Challah Bake! This event, open to all high school students, will take place on Tuesday, September 16th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the JSU House. In partnership with NCSY, JSU, and Honeycomb, you'll have the opportunity to knead and braid challahs for the holiday. You can then choose to bring your delicious challah home to share with family and/or donate challot to those in need. Please RSVP by filling out the form @ bit.ly/RHChallahBake
If you have any questions, contact Yossi @ +1 (314) 369-4688 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 currently needs:
Canned Beef-Stew, Chili, and Protein-Rich Food Canned Fruit Boxed Side Dishes (beans, rice, and potatoes) Peanut Butter and Jelly Kosher Non-Perishable Foods Any Kind of Canned Vegetables (e.g. corn, peas, carrots, and green beans) Macaroni and Cheese Personal care items such as: Baby Diapers, Toilet Paper, and Kleenex
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
