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Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Noah Arnow 10/16/2020

 
Dear Kol Rinah Family, 

How many new beginnings can you think of in Jewish life and tradition?  Birth obviously.  Death also brings a new beginning, of sorts.  B'nai mitzvah, marriage, divorce.  Havdalah.  Rosh Chodesh.  Rosh Hashanah.  Pesach.  Maariv.  Birkot HaShachar (morning blessings).  I could go on.  

One new beginning I have in mind particularly this Shabbat is the new cycle of Torah reading.  Usually, we finish reading the Torah with the end of Deuteronomy on Simchat Torah (which was last Sunday), and just a few minutes later, read the beginning of Genesis, symbolically launching a new beginning immediately after an ending.  Then, the following Shabbat morning, we begin reading Genesis from the start again.  

This year is going to be a slightly different new beginning.  

On Saturday morning, rather than begin with Genesis 1:1, we're going to be begin with Genesis 2:4.  Genesis 1:1-2:3 is the creation story with which we are probably most familiar with--"God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.  It was evening and it was morning, the first day."  In that version of the creation story, people are created simultaneously and in God's image.  

But we won't be reading that this year. 

Beginning with Genesis 2:4 is a different creation story, where Adam is created first, and then Eve is created from Adam's rib.  
Here's a little more reading about the two stories.   

It's not a theological reason though that we're beginning with Genesis 2:4 and not 1:1; it's because of Covid.  

For as long as streaming is the primary way for people to engage with our Shabbat morning services, services need to be much shorter--for those at home, because we know being attentiive to a screen for a long period of time is hard, and because for safety reasons, we also want people together for less rather than more time in the Sanctuary.  

So, for this period, we'll be using the Triennial Cycle of Torah reading, which is used by more than two thirds of Conservative synagogues in America.  Here's how it works.  Each year, everyone following this cycle reads the same approximately one third of each Torah portion.  Last year, it was the first third of each Torah portion.  This year (starting Saturday), it's the second third, thus, starting with Genesis 2:4.  A year from now would begin the third third.  Thus, over the course of three years, the entire Torah is read.  Also, those following the triennial cycle are always reading the same parasha (portion) as the rest of the world (with the exception of 
the few occasions when Israel and the diaspora are out of sync), and the same section as everyone else using the triennial cycle.  Full details on the triennial cycle are here.   

To be clear, Rabbi Shafrin and my intent in using the triennial cycle is only for when services are pimarily streaming, during this time of Covid; when we can fill the Sanctuary again, we intend to return to the full Torah reading cycle.  

This year, which feels different to me than any other year, we'll truly have a new beginning--by starting in a slightly different place.  And we can lament and long for "old" new beginnings.  

What new beignnings have been changed for you recently?  

Today at noon I'll be leading Torah Talk on Zoom, where we'll look at some of the stories (ancient and modern) of Lilith, the woman, according to legend, created before Eve.  And by the way, as we'll see, the idea of Lilith comes from the two creation stories!  

At 5:00pm on Zoom, we'll have mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat.  And yes, services are getting earlier, and they'll get much earlier as the time changes.  

Candle lighting is at 6:03pm.  

Tomorrow, we'll be streaming services for Shabbat Bereisheet starting at 9:30am.  

Shabbat ends at 7:04pm.  


Sunday morning, KoREH is beginning in our new building, with shorter, socially-distanced, in-person learning.  Very exciting!  

Also Sunday morning, the JCRC's Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity is beginning their virtual conference with a keynote address by Yavila McCoy, an amazing teacher and leader around issues of race, Judaism, and Jews of Color.  The conference will continue for several more Sundays, each from 10-11:30am. 
Details and registration are here.  

Then, at 11:30am, Kol Rinah's Verein (adult learning/discussion group) will be teaching about the top ten Jewish websites.  

Lots happening!  As always, if you'd like to talk or are needing support, please be in touch with Rabbi Shafrin or me.  We'd love to hear from you!  

Shabbat shalom, and see you on Zoom,

Rabbi Noah Arnow


Shabbat morning!!!
Saturdays, 9:30am
Click the link below, then click the triangular "play" buttom:

https://player2.streamspot.com/?playerId=3506a4c8

Until shortly before 9:30am, there will a filler screen, but livestreamed video and sound will both start around 9:30am.  

You can also set your computer or device in advance so that this link will continue streaming continuously and you will not have to press any buttons on Shabbat. To make sure that your device will not shut itself down or do into sleep mode, follow the directions below to disable sleep mode:

For PC:
To disable automatic Sleep:
1. Open up Power Options in the Control Panel. In Windows 10 you can get there from right clicking on the start menu and going to Power Options
2. Click "change plan settings" next to your current power plan
3. Change "Put the computer to sleep" to never
4. Click "Save Changes"

For Apple Products:
1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click "Energy Saver."
2. Do either of the following:
          a. Set the amount of time your computer or display should wait before going to sleep: Drag the “Computer sleep” and “Display sleep” sliders, or the “Turn display off after” slider.
          b. Keep your Mac from going to sleep automatically: Select “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.”

 
Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784