Kol Rinah Families and Youth

I love summer. I love the heat, and I don’t even mind the humidity; I love the long days, the flexibility to get away for a bit, and not feeling as tied to a schedule. And this was a great summer for families at Kol Rinah, with three Shabbats in the Park on Friday nights, the historic groundbreaking at our new home (complete with hard hats, sand, and trucks), and a wonderful pool party hosted by Brett and Jada Fox (thank you!).

But what I long for about fall is the return to regular kids’ Shabbat programming at Kol Rinah, when families are back from vacation and ready to connect with new and old friends. Back-to-School Shabbat is this year’s “welcome back” to the new year for learners and teachers of all ages. Our calendar has Shabbat-morning opportunities for kids and families to learn and build community together. This year we add two new elements to our calendar: 1) Junior Torah Talk (which will take place on specific Shabbat mornings) and will be modeled after the “grown-up” version, but geared to elementary-school-aged kids, and 2) First Friday Nights for families, a special invitation to families to join Kabbalat Shabbat services, with a slightly shortened service, plus snacks before services and a few surprises to help kids feel connected.

I am so thrilled that new families have joined our shul community and others are seeking out the vibrant and fun community we are building. Please spread the word about our programs and mark your calendars for Tashlich (Sunday September 16), a family Sukkot celebration (Sunday September 23), and Simchat Torah dinner and dancing (Monday October 1). As always, be in touch at families@kolrinahstl.org with questions, ideas, or ways you would like to get involved. Wishing us all a sweet, happy, healthy new year, filled with learning, growth, and the sweetness of community