A message from Rabbi adam Berman
Dear B'nai Jacob community,I will be away this week (although I'll be back for Shabbat!), so this newsletter will cover the next two weeks. My family and I will be exploring some of what West Virginia has to offer. Specifically, we will be up in the area of Summersville Lake.
We hope that the rainy forecast does not overly interfere with our travels! In fact, the way that we relate to rain has been a constant topic in our home. Our children have come home from preschool singing: "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day." By contrast, rain features positively in Hebrew children's songs. For example, consider the song "Bo'u Ananim" (in translation):
Come, clouds, come,
bring rain to the gardens!
Drip, drip, my raindrops,
rain, rain for my fields.
For the wheat stalk, for the tree,
and for the little flower
in the garden.
The divergence is due to the fact that rain is more scarce in Israel. (Our desert community of Kibbutz Ketura only received about an inch of rain per year!) Additionally, while Egypt has the Nile and Mesopotamia has the Tigris and Euphrates, Israel largely relies on rainwater, making it extremely susceptible to drought. Some of the most dramatic stories in our tradition, involving Elijah the Prophet and Choni the Circle-Maker, involve drought and rain.
While I certainly hope that rain does not disrupt my vacation, may we all appreciate the miracle and blessing of a good rain and reliable water sources.
L'Shalom,
Rabbi Adam Berman
We hope that the rainy forecast does not overly interfere with our travels! In fact, the way that we relate to rain has been a constant topic in our home. Our children have come home from preschool singing: "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day." By contrast, rain features positively in Hebrew children's songs. For example, consider the song "Bo'u Ananim" (in translation):
Come, clouds, come,
bring rain to the gardens!
Drip, drip, my raindrops,
rain, rain for my fields.
For the wheat stalk, for the tree,
and for the little flower
in the garden.
The divergence is due to the fact that rain is more scarce in Israel. (Our desert community of Kibbutz Ketura only received about an inch of rain per year!) Additionally, while Egypt has the Nile and Mesopotamia has the Tigris and Euphrates, Israel largely relies on rainwater, making it extremely susceptible to drought. Some of the most dramatic stories in our tradition, involving Elijah the Prophet and Choni the Circle-Maker, involve drought and rain.
While I certainly hope that rain does not disrupt my vacation, may we all appreciate the miracle and blessing of a good rain and reliable water sources.
L'Shalom,
Rabbi Adam Berman
our services schedule for august 2-16, 2026
SERVICES AUGUST 2-16, 2026
EVENING SERVICES
Monday - Thursday
5:45 PM - Evening Services
MORNING MINYAN
Wednesday morning
Breakfast to follow
7:30 AM - Morning Minyan
SHABBAT
Friday
5:45 PM - Friday Evening Service
Saturday
10:00 AM - YouTube livestream.
Candle Lighting and Torah Readings
Shabbat candle lighting time for
August 7th, 2026 / 25th of Av, 5786 - 8:11 PM
Torah portion: Re'eh Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Triennial reading: Deuteronomy 11:26-12:28
Shabbat concludes with the emergence of three stars at 9:12 PM
****
Shabbat candle lighting time for
August 14th, 2026 / 2nd of Elul, 5786 - 8:03 PM
Torah portion: Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Triennial reading: Deuteronomy 16:18-18:5
Shabbat concludes with the emergence of three stars at 9:03 PM
EVENING SERVICES
Monday - Thursday
5:45 PM - Evening Services
MORNING MINYAN
Wednesday morning
Breakfast to follow
7:30 AM - Morning Minyan
SHABBAT
Friday
5:45 PM - Friday Evening Service
Saturday
10:00 AM - YouTube livestream.
Candle Lighting and Torah Readings
Shabbat candle lighting time for
August 7th, 2026 / 25th of Av, 5786 - 8:11 PM
Torah portion: Re'eh Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Triennial reading: Deuteronomy 11:26-12:28
Shabbat concludes with the emergence of three stars at 9:12 PM
****
Shabbat candle lighting time for
August 14th, 2026 / 2nd of Elul, 5786 - 8:03 PM
Torah portion: Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Triennial reading: Deuteronomy 16:18-18:5
Shabbat concludes with the emergence of three stars at 9:03 PM
Tisha B'Av
Tisha B'Av itself is one of the two major, full-day fast days on the Jewish calendar (the other being Yom Kippur). Click here for more background on the day from Exploring Judaism.
Here in Charleston, the fast begins at sunset on Wednesday, July 22nd at 8:45pm, and ends on Thursday, July 23rd at 9:18pm. Some have the custom to fast only until the afternoon service. Fasting customarily means that the following are prohibited: Eating and drinking, wearing leather shoes, sexual relations, bathing (except for minimal washing to remove dirt or after using the toilet), and applying skin or bath oils. As always, health and safety are paramount; do not fast if you are not safely able to do so.
It is also traditional to avoid greeting one another, especially with the world shalom. We refrain from studying Jewish religious texts, except those that are within the spirit of the day, such as our session on Mourning the Temple in Jewish Texts (details above).
May it be a meaningful fast to those fasting, and a meaningful day for all.
jewish classes through olli
Rabbi Victor Urecki: The Journey of Life Through Dialogue and Encounter (Edgewood Summit. August 10, 1:00 - 2:30)
OLLI membership required, but there is a trial membership for those who have never joined OLLI. $45 for a term of unlimited classes and benefits. Click here for more information about OLLI at WVU, and click here for the Summer 2026 catalogue.
OLLI membership required, but there is a trial membership for those who have never joined OLLI. $45 for a term of unlimited classes and benefits. Click here for more information about OLLI at WVU, and click here for the Summer 2026 catalogue.
BABY NAMIING
Shabbat morning services on Saturday, August 15th will feature a special occasion: a triple baby naming! We look forward to giving Hebrew names to Thomas Weber and to June and Luna Adkins.
A hearty mazel tov to Thomas' parents, Molly and Andrew Weber; to June and Luna's parents, Alissah and Kyle Adkins; and to grandparents Amy and Bob Bloom, Linda and Harvey Siler, and Dolores and Stewart Bloom.
A hearty mazel tov to Thomas' parents, Molly and Andrew Weber; to June and Luna's parents, Alissah and Kyle Adkins; and to grandparents Amy and Bob Bloom, Linda and Harvey Siler, and Dolores and Stewart Bloom.
save the date - trivia night fundraiser
Save the date for the B'nai Jacob Ladies' Auxiliary inaugural trivia night fundraiser on Sunday, August 30th.
This week's trivia question: In West Virginia, what is a "mater"?
The event will include a raffle. How about some delicious carbs? A loaf of bread from Charleston Bakery! Yummy.
This week's trivia question: In West Virginia, what is a "mater"?
The event will include a raffle. How about some delicious carbs? A loaf of bread from Charleston Bakery! Yummy.
root and branch
Mark your calendars! The next Root and Branch interfaith discussion group, including Rabbi Victor Urecki, will be held at Monday, August 10th at 7pm at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St. We look forward to gathering and conversing with friends from various faith traditions!
wondering jews
The One Stop For All Things Jewish in West Virginia
Wondering Jews, Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the goal of connecting people who are physically or geographically challenged with the wide variety of educational, service, and faith activities in the local West Virginia Jewish congregations.
Moe and Janie Rubenstein have created a unique website which will allow all congregations and Jewish organizations who wish to announce activities and programs of interest for Jews throughout West Virginia. We have seen at B'nai Jacob how Zoom has opened the door to those who are challenged to allow people in isolation to join and be a part of our B'nai Jacob family.
The website offer us and Jews around our state an opportunity to further connect and be together.
Check out Wondering Jews here.
Wondering Jews, Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the goal of connecting people who are physically or geographically challenged with the wide variety of educational, service, and faith activities in the local West Virginia Jewish congregations.
Moe and Janie Rubenstein have created a unique website which will allow all congregations and Jewish organizations who wish to announce activities and programs of interest for Jews throughout West Virginia. We have seen at B'nai Jacob how Zoom has opened the door to those who are challenged to allow people in isolation to join and be a part of our B'nai Jacob family.
The website offer us and Jews around our state an opportunity to further connect and be together.
Check out Wondering Jews here.
