Dear Kol Rinah Family,  There is less than ONE WEEK left to vote in the World Zionist Congress election. Voting ends March 11. So stop what you’re doing right now and vote in the World Zionist Organization elections. Click HERE to cast your vote now. Â
You can vote for any slate you want, but I’m supporting Mercaz USA, the voice of Conservative/Masorti Judaism. Our Kol Rinah numbers are improving—we have 45 people who have emailed Rabbi Arnow or me to tell us they’ve voted. But let’s get that to at least 100. It does cost $7.50 ($5.00 for those under age 25). If the cost is an issue, let me know and I’m happy to reimburse you.  If you have voted already, reply to this e-mail and let me know!  So, stop, and don’t read any further until you’re finished voting. Â
Ok, now that you’ve voted, and told me you have….
THERE'S MORE VOTING! I also wanted to remind everyone who is able to vote in the Missouri Primary elections this Tuesday, March 10. It is vitally important that as many people as possible show up and make your voices heard. It is, quite literally, the only way democracy will work and anything of meaning can be done. See you at the polls!  We have many wonderful things happening throughout our community this week. Tonight, Rabbi Arnow, Karen Kern, and I will be leading our First Fridays for Families services downstairs in the Mirowitz Auditorium, with plenty of room for our younger friends who need to wiggle and spirited singing for all to join in with together and to welcome Shabbat. Services begin at 6:00 pm tonight, with candle lighting at 5:34pm.  Tomorrow morning services will be in the lower auditorium at 9:00 am.  Rabbi Arnow will be leading Torah Talk at about 10:10 am and mincha this Shabbat afternoon will be at 4:45 pm. Shabbat ends at 6:46 pm.  Check the website for all the Purim info. We have so much planned! Below is the entire schedule for the Purim Carnival (Sunday, March 8), Erev Purim (Monday night, March 9), and Purim Day (Tuesday morning, March 10).
We also want to wish a huge mazal tov to Micah Lotsoff, who will become a Bar Mitzvah this Monday evening. We also wish mazal tov to his father, David Lotsoff, his mother, Jennifer Baer, and his sister, Moriah Lotsoff, as well as their extended family and friends. It is so wonderful to be able to join the community's joy of celebrating Purim with the joy of Micah's entire family at watching him being called up to read from the megillah.
As some of you may know, hearing the megillah read on Purim, is a mitzvah, a commanded ritual connected to this holiday. Because of this, only those who have Jewishly come of age can be the megillah readers, since they are the ones who help fulfill this mitzvah for the community, and one of the main ways we mark that change in a person's status to Jewish adult is by having them lead things that they would have been legally ineligible to lead as children. Many may not realize it, but there are actually FIVE mitzvot connected to celebrating the holiday of Purim:
Hearing the Megillah read at night (Erev Purim)
Hearing the Megillah read ain the morning (Purim day)​​​​​​​
Matanot l'Evyonim (Gifts for the Needy)Â - Ideally giving money, food, or resources directly to those who need them.
Mishloach Manot (Sending gifts to friends) - Should include at least two different portions of food sent to at least two people.
Seudat Purim (Eating a festive meal)
EACH of these mitzvot should be done on Purim itself, as they each add to the meaning and joy of the day and are time-bound to be fullfilled during Purim. One can enlist help to fulfill these mitzvot (i.e.: giving money to someone else to donate on your behalf) but that should still be done ideally on Purim itself.
The day before Purim is also a minor fast day, the Fast of Esther, which commemorates Esther's fast prior to confronting King Achashverosh in order to thwart Haman's plan to kill the Jewish people. The fast begins in the morning on Monday, March 9 at 6:03 am and ends at 7:30 pm.
 And now for a little Torah…
Our own wonderful and brilliant Rabbi Noah Arnow wrote an insightful drash in the St. Louis Jewish Light about the ways we hear and interpret the megillah each year. Check it out:
Make sure you vote BEFORE MARCH 11 in the WZC election and the Missouri primaries on MARCH 10! We are all counting on YOU! Â Shabbat shalom, Chag Purim Sameach, and see you in shul, Rabbi Scott Shafrin
Kol Rinah    829 N Hanley    St. Louis, MO 63130    314.727.1747   kolrinahstl.org
MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.
Phone: 314-727-1747