Welcome/Shalom
Congregation Beth Abraham has been an active shul in the city of Buffalo since 1922. While for much of its history CBA was recognized as Orthodox, it reinvented itself as a fully egalitarian Conservative synagogue in the 90's. To learn more about CBA, its history and who we are today,
click HERE. Highlights:
(Scroll further down page for details) CBA Torah Study Group (Zoom) Tuesday, May 17th at 7:30 pm CBA Book Club (Zoom) Wednesday, May 25th at 7:00 pm CBA Friday Night Service (Hybrid) Friday, May 20th at 6:30 pm Vintage Jewish Movie Group Sunday, May 22nd at 4:00 pm-CANCELED Pirkei Avot Discussion with Joe Rosenstein (Zoom) Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 pm
For the Latest Community Events/Programs, Click HERE
To Visit CBA's NEW Project Belonging Page, Click HERE 
Friday, May 20 at 6:30 pmPlease join us for our next Friday Night Service on May 20th at 6:30pm in-person and on Zoom.
All those who are fully vaccinated are welcome to attend in-person at the synagogue. Masks are required and will be provided at the door if you forget to bring one. Please refrain from attending services in-person if you have not been fully vaccinated. Services will be led by Cantor Irwin Gelman. Kiddush and Motzi will be held in the sanctuary. Please note that due to the emergence of the BA.2 variant, we will not have a dessert oneg as originally planned. As always, services will be also offered online on Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, you may email us by 5:00 PM on the day of the service at info@congregationbethabraham.net Please note that if you received the Zoom link last month, you may use it again. Shabbat Shalom! 
Wednesday May 25 at 7:00 pm Join the CBA Book Club on Zoom on Wednesday May 25 at 7:00 pm. We will be meeting to discuss
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. (The “doors” will open at 6:45 for some pre-discussion “schmoozing”). Copies can be borrowed from the library or purchased through book sellers on the internet. If you want to attend and have not signed up for the book club previously, please RSVP to Shelly at info@congregationbethabraham.net and she will send you the location details. Coming up next month: Button Man by Andrew Gross 
Canceled The movie group scheduled for Sunday, May 22nd at 4:00pm has been canceled. The next movie group is TBD. For questions about the Vintage Jewish Movie Group, please email Marty.
CBA Torah Study Group Tuesday, May 17th 7:30 pm Take a journey through the Torah – the touchstone of the Jewish people.
The CBA Torah Discussion Group will be meeting on Tuesday May 17th at 7:30 pm on Zoom, to discuss the Torah portion, Behar. We will be using the book A Year With The Sages by Rabbi Reuven Hammer as a guide. This group is meant for people who are interested in learning about the greatest book of the Jewish people. It is appropriate for beginners and also for people who have more knowledge to share. If you want to attend, and have not signed up, please RSVP to Shelly at info@congregationbethabraham.net for details. Pirkei Avot Discussion with Joe Rosenstein Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 pm CBA welcomes back Joseph Rosenstein, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Rutgers University, to discuss his new book Reflections on Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers): Not Just What My Rebbe Taught Me.
The discussion, moderated my Irwin Gelman, will take place Thursday, May 26th at 7:00pm on Zoom. All are invited to attend, and it is not necessary to read the book prior to the discussion. Pirkei Avot, a favorite text of Jews for more than fifty generations, is a collection of sayings by the most distinguished rabbis from 200 BCE to 200 CE. Although there are already numerous translations and commentaries, Dr. Rosenstein presents a personal overview and analysis of the ethical principles contained in the Pirkei Avot. Professor Rosenstein's book is different from other commentaries on Pirkei Avot, in that it compares and contrasts different teachings, presents significant themes for every chapter, relates the teachings of Pirkei Avot to contemporary events, relates the teachings of Pirkei Avot to events that took place in ancient times, boldly and appropriately challenges the assumptions of the ancient teachers and commentators, and is written in an informal style, to appeal to beginners as well as to scholars. A quote from the introduction: “. . . this book is not intended to be a definitive commentary on Pirkei Avot. Rather, it is my modest attempt to understand how our ancestors understood these teachings and how we ourselves can learn from them, and to share what I have learned from others.” Joseph Rosenstein published Siddur Eit Ratzon and Machzor Eit Ratzon. He served as a professor of mathematics at Rutgers University for 48 years until he retired in 2017. He taught many courses on Judaism throughout the years, in synagogues and at programs of the National Havurah Committee, of which he was a founder. He and his wife have 5 daughters, 5 sons-in-law, and twelve grandchildren. Women of the Wall (WOW) Special Presentation Zoom Recording on YouTube 
Watch a recording of the event on YouTube, click HERE
CBA presented Yochi Rappeport, the Executive Director of Women of the Wall (WOW), who joined us from Israel via Zoom on Sunday, March 6th. Yochi spoke about the activities of WOW and her own life experiences as an Orthodox Jewish woman who is seeking gender equality and religious pluralism. WOW’s central mission is to attain social and legal recognition of the right for women to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah, collectively and aloud, at the Western Wall. WOW works to further their mission through social advocacy, education, and empowerment. Eit Ratzon Discussion |
CBA appreciates your financial support and we are happy to offer the convenience of secure online donations by clicking on the embedded link above. In addition to our annual appeal to cover our operating costs, we appreciate your help with building renovations, accessibility improvements, special projects and our regular ongoing expenses. If you make a donation of $18 or more, you will automatically be considered a member unless you choose to opt out by informing us accordingly.
If you prefer to donate by mailing a check, our address is 1073 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo NY 14222. Please download/print our DONOR FORM and include it with your payment and other information so we can recognize your contribution. Thank You!!!! Sign Up to Receive our Monthly Newsletter and AnnouncementsParking and Building Access
Great news -- we now have a stairlift inside the building providing access to all 3 levels, from the basement up into the sanctuary! We also plan on purchasing a ramp to make it easier to navigate the steps outside the front entrance.
For All Events:
Please note that there are now two handicapped-only parking spaces in front of the Synagogue. Please let us know if you would like assistance with helping you from your car into the building and/or up and down the stairs. Email us at info@congregationbethabraham.net or call 716 435-0658 Click HERE for a map with parking information. 
Enjoy CBA's New Lending LibraryWe are proud to open up our Congregational Lending Library, located in the CBA Social Hall. We have an eclectic collection of books, donated by individuals all over the Buffalo area, and they are ready for check out.
The selections include: Torah commentary, Holocaust study, fiction, history, and much more. In addition, we have a table set up with give-away books. Please visit and help yourself. We hope this new addition to CBA will encourage discussion and education among our members. If you have any questions about the library or would like to check out or donate books, please feel free to contact Madalyn Fliesler. 
CBA Community OutreachCBA is a warm and welcoming community that cares about the well being or our congregants, friends and neighbors. We are initiating an outreach to members of our community, who may be feeling isolated and alone, and would appreciate a friendly phone call or assistance with accessing helpful services to get them through difficult times. If you or someone you know is experiencing a hardship, and is in need of a helping hand,
please email us at: info@congregationbethabraham.net 
We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends
If you would like to help with Ritual, Programming, or Building improvements, please contact our volunteer coordinators:
Community UpdatesThank you to Lorne Opler for presenting an engaging and enlightening D'var Torah during our January 21st Kabbalat Shabbat service. Please click on the button below to view his D'var Torah on Parshat Yitro. |
