Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Shafrin 8/7/2020
Dear Kol Rinah Family,
The other day, as I was getting ready to start the morning, I walked by some pictures that we had recently put together of our family from the last year or so, and I had to stop and smile. Looking at each of them on the shelf, I was transported back to each of those happy times: a fun afternoon family hike, a visit from siblings, a special afternoon shared together. All it took was a moment, and suddenly I felt lighter, calmer, more attuned to joy and gratitude in my own life.
Sometimes, it only takes a small shift to pull us from a place of darkness and into the light. Last week, we commemorated Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, recalling the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and countless expulsions from nations arount the world. Yet from this moment of supreme sadness, we rise, and less than a week later (this past Wednesday) we celebrated Tu B'Av, the 15th day of Av, regarded since the the writings of our Talmudic sages as a day to celebrate love and to reach out with care to the people in our lives. It was historically, a day when young people would put away their garb of mourning and go out into the world to reconnect with one another.
It is powerful, therefore, that these last seven weeks in the Jewish year are each marked by special readings from Book of Isaiah designed to inspire us to hope. Known collectively as the Seven Haftarot of Consolation, they were written in a time of great upheaval and uncertainty. Today, even as this pandemic rages on, I am taking to heart the message of Isaiah, who lived both through the tumultuous period of war with the Assyrians, as well as the peace that followed. He was able to see the warning signs, the conflict, and the suffering of his time and yet his writings end with visions of joy and gladness, of love and community, and of a people at peace long before that dream was eventually realized in his day.
And so too, we must work and hope for a better future. I am so inspired by all of the people in our community who are reaching out to one another, to neighbors, friends, and strangers, to help, to show compassion and solidarity, and to create a better future for us all. While I know that we are not now able to relax easily, that we are stressed and harmed in many profound ways, it is the goodness I see in so many places that reminds me how much power comes from continuing to hope and to let the light of it guide us to a better tomorrow.
This heartening vision is what gives energy to everyone who is working with our synagogue leadership, our staff, as well as Rabbi Arnow and myself, to help us face the many challenges of today and those that lie ahead. Keep reaching out to one another in any way you can connect. Keep each other safe and sane and healthy to the very best of your ability. May we see each other again soon.
Minyan continues this week at the usual times (see times and links below), and today at noon, I will be teaching Torah Talk, inspired by Parashat Eikev, which we read this week. We will take a look at a few sections from the Torah portion which center onon the ways we relate to world around us, and what can happen without the blessings of gratitude.
Tonight at 6:00 pm, we'll gather on Zoom for mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. Karen Kern and I will try to start off Shabbat with some lively and soulful tunes, as we move from the three weeks of mourning, admonition, and grief toward the final seven weeks of reflection, consolation, and hope that will take us into this new year. Candle lighting this evening will be at 7:47pm. Havdallah will be at 8:48 pm on Saturday.
Sunday morning, at 10:00 am, there will be Havdalah led by our own Melissa Bellows, and at 11:30am, we are very excited to host a sprecial presentation by Cheryl Adelstein & Alyssa Banford from the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis talking about the crucial work their Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity has been engaged in, as well as how we can be a part of this sacred work.
I'll be taking my second week of vacation this coming week. I hope that you all have a wonderful Shabbat, a great week ahead, and that you all stay safe and healthy.
Shabbat shalom and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Scott Shafrin
The other day, as I was getting ready to start the morning, I walked by some pictures that we had recently put together of our family from the last year or so, and I had to stop and smile. Looking at each of them on the shelf, I was transported back to each of those happy times: a fun afternoon family hike, a visit from siblings, a special afternoon shared together. All it took was a moment, and suddenly I felt lighter, calmer, more attuned to joy and gratitude in my own life.
Sometimes, it only takes a small shift to pull us from a place of darkness and into the light. Last week, we commemorated Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, recalling the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and countless expulsions from nations arount the world. Yet from this moment of supreme sadness, we rise, and less than a week later (this past Wednesday) we celebrated Tu B'Av, the 15th day of Av, regarded since the the writings of our Talmudic sages as a day to celebrate love and to reach out with care to the people in our lives. It was historically, a day when young people would put away their garb of mourning and go out into the world to reconnect with one another.
It is powerful, therefore, that these last seven weeks in the Jewish year are each marked by special readings from Book of Isaiah designed to inspire us to hope. Known collectively as the Seven Haftarot of Consolation, they were written in a time of great upheaval and uncertainty. Today, even as this pandemic rages on, I am taking to heart the message of Isaiah, who lived both through the tumultuous period of war with the Assyrians, as well as the peace that followed. He was able to see the warning signs, the conflict, and the suffering of his time and yet his writings end with visions of joy and gladness, of love and community, and of a people at peace long before that dream was eventually realized in his day.
And so too, we must work and hope for a better future. I am so inspired by all of the people in our community who are reaching out to one another, to neighbors, friends, and strangers, to help, to show compassion and solidarity, and to create a better future for us all. While I know that we are not now able to relax easily, that we are stressed and harmed in many profound ways, it is the goodness I see in so many places that reminds me how much power comes from continuing to hope and to let the light of it guide us to a better tomorrow.
This heartening vision is what gives energy to everyone who is working with our synagogue leadership, our staff, as well as Rabbi Arnow and myself, to help us face the many challenges of today and those that lie ahead. Keep reaching out to one another in any way you can connect. Keep each other safe and sane and healthy to the very best of your ability. May we see each other again soon.
Minyan continues this week at the usual times (see times and links below), and today at noon, I will be teaching Torah Talk, inspired by Parashat Eikev, which we read this week. We will take a look at a few sections from the Torah portion which center onon the ways we relate to world around us, and what can happen without the blessings of gratitude.
Tonight at 6:00 pm, we'll gather on Zoom for mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. Karen Kern and I will try to start off Shabbat with some lively and soulful tunes, as we move from the three weeks of mourning, admonition, and grief toward the final seven weeks of reflection, consolation, and hope that will take us into this new year. Candle lighting this evening will be at 7:47pm. Havdallah will be at 8:48 pm on Saturday.
Sunday morning, at 10:00 am, there will be Havdalah led by our own Melissa Bellows, and at 11:30am, we are very excited to host a sprecial presentation by Cheryl Adelstein & Alyssa Banford from the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis talking about the crucial work their Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity has been engaged in, as well as how we can be a part of this sacred work.
I'll be taking my second week of vacation this coming week. I hope that you all have a wonderful Shabbat, a great week ahead, and that you all stay safe and healthy.
Shabbat shalom and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Scott Shafrin
Thu, April 25 2024
17 Nisan 5784
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Thu, April 25 2024 17 Nisan 5784