Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Arnow 7/10/2020
Dear Kol Rinah Family,
I hope you've had a good week!
Lots is happening behind the scenes at Kol Rinah, including continued work to be able to begin using our new building, moving things from the old building to the new building, and much planning for High Holidays and the fall.
Keep in mind that if you or someone you know is in need of support now, financial, spiritual, or otherwise, please let Rabbi Shafrin or me know, so we can help and help connect them with resources.
Today (Friday) at noon I'll be teaching Torah Talk. Pinchas, who read about in this week's Torah portion, protests (in a graphically violent way) about what was happening in his community. We'll look at a number of different readings of Pinchas's act and think about how they function as a kind of protest and what kind of influence he was seeking. #TorahofProtest
(All the zoom links are at the bottom of this email.)
Tonight at 6pm we'll have our usual mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat on Zoom with Karen Kern, Rabbi Shafrin and me.
Sunday at 4pm, the Verein Discussion Group will be talking about Rabbi Arthur Green's book, Judaism's Ten Best Ideas.
Minyan continues every morning and evening (except Saturdays)--join us to pray, and for some community.
And now for a little Torah...
Yesterday (Thursday) was the 17th of Tammuz, a fast day, that begins the period known as "The Three Weeks," a time of mourning leading up to Tisha b'Av, the 9th of Av, which commemorates the destruction of the Temple.
These three weeks are a time of subdued joy; we traditionally do not hold weddings; some do not listen to live music. And in the nine days preceding the 9th of Av (July 22-29, this year), we don't drink wine or eat meat, which are both signs of joy.
But I have to say, this year, I'm not feeling especially like increasing my mourning-like practices. Life is already so dessicated of much of the joy we usually experience. Camp, travel, restaurants, live music, movies, parties, sports, gatherings, just meeting in person with other people--in so many ways we're living in a time that is mourning-like.
Recognizing this, I think, Rabbi Herschel Schacter, an orthodox rabbi and teacher at Yeshiva University, and well-known posek (decisor of Jewish law) permitted listening to music (some people don't listen to any music during this period) because "At the current time due to the ongoing pandemic, the entire world is in a state of uncertainty and concern. One who feels compelled to listen to music in order to help alleviate their tension or pressure would be allowed to do so. Th is would especially apply to Erev Shabbos, when listening to music would create a positive frame of mind in anticipation of Shabbos."
For me, I'm still working out the extent to which I'll keep the strictures of the 3 Weeks and the 9 Days. On the one hand, we have to work even harder to know what day of the week it is, to make our weeks not all blend together. And anything we can do--including these kinds of observances--helps. And also, regardless of the diminished joy we may be experiencing, so many of the practices of this season give me a small taste of what it's like to have less--to have no meat or wine, or not enough food when I'm fasting, to have no way of listening to music. And that's always a valuable experience for me.
And on the other hand, I really I'm really not looking for ways to diminish joy in my life, home, family or world now.
How are you striking this balance?
Shabbat shalom, and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Noah Arnow
I hope you've had a good week!
Lots is happening behind the scenes at Kol Rinah, including continued work to be able to begin using our new building, moving things from the old building to the new building, and much planning for High Holidays and the fall.
Keep in mind that if you or someone you know is in need of support now, financial, spiritual, or otherwise, please let Rabbi Shafrin or me know, so we can help and help connect them with resources.
Today (Friday) at noon I'll be teaching Torah Talk. Pinchas, who read about in this week's Torah portion, protests (in a graphically violent way) about what was happening in his community. We'll look at a number of different readings of Pinchas's act and think about how they function as a kind of protest and what kind of influence he was seeking. #TorahofProtest
(All the zoom links are at the bottom of this email.)
Tonight at 6pm we'll have our usual mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat on Zoom with Karen Kern, Rabbi Shafrin and me.
Sunday at 4pm, the Verein Discussion Group will be talking about Rabbi Arthur Green's book, Judaism's Ten Best Ideas.
Minyan continues every morning and evening (except Saturdays)--join us to pray, and for some community.
And now for a little Torah...
Yesterday (Thursday) was the 17th of Tammuz, a fast day, that begins the period known as "The Three Weeks," a time of mourning leading up to Tisha b'Av, the 9th of Av, which commemorates the destruction of the Temple.
These three weeks are a time of subdued joy; we traditionally do not hold weddings; some do not listen to live music. And in the nine days preceding the 9th of Av (July 22-29, this year), we don't drink wine or eat meat, which are both signs of joy.
But I have to say, this year, I'm not feeling especially like increasing my mourning-like practices. Life is already so dessicated of much of the joy we usually experience. Camp, travel, restaurants, live music, movies, parties, sports, gatherings, just meeting in person with other people--in so many ways we're living in a time that is mourning-like.
Recognizing this, I think, Rabbi Herschel Schacter, an orthodox rabbi and teacher at Yeshiva University, and well-known posek (decisor of Jewish law) permitted listening to music (some people don't listen to any music during this period) because "At the current time due to the ongoing pandemic, the entire world is in a state of uncertainty and concern. One who feels compelled to listen to music in order to help alleviate their tension or pressure would be allowed to do so. Th is would especially apply to Erev Shabbos, when listening to music would create a positive frame of mind in anticipation of Shabbos."
For me, I'm still working out the extent to which I'll keep the strictures of the 3 Weeks and the 9 Days. On the one hand, we have to work even harder to know what day of the week it is, to make our weeks not all blend together. And anything we can do--including these kinds of observances--helps. And also, regardless of the diminished joy we may be experiencing, so many of the practices of this season give me a small taste of what it's like to have less--to have no meat or wine, or not enough food when I'm fasting, to have no way of listening to music. And that's always a valuable experience for me.
And on the other hand, I really I'm really not looking for ways to diminish joy in my life, home, family or world now.
How are you striking this balance?
Shabbat shalom, and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Noah Arnow
Thu, April 25 2024
17 Nisan 5784
MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.
Calendar & Services
Weekday minyans on Zoom:
Mornings- M, T, W, F 7am & Sun 8am.
Evenings- Sun-Th 6pm.
Log in to view the Zoom Links page.
Thursday mornings 7am are in-person only.
Shabbat services in-person, streaming.
To stream kolrinahstl.org/kr-streaming
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday 9am to 5pm
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Find it at Kol Rinah
Shavua Tov
Contribute to a Shabbat Kiddush
Celebrate life-cycle events or honor a loved one. A Shabbat Kiddush is a beautiful way of sharing a moment with the community!
Want to sponsor a specific Kiddush? Contact Barbara Shamir,
Event Request
FAQ's
Thu, April 25 2024 17 Nisan 5784