Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Shafrin 12/4/2020 12/4/20
Dear Kol Rinah Families,
As we begin to make our way through December, this final month of the year, I have been reflecting on many powerful conversations about the in-between space we seem to find ourselves in. On one hand, the weather is getting colder, COVID-19 cases are spiking to terrifying new highs, and the prospect of a long winters spent isolated and indoors is a difficult load for many of us to bear. On the other hand, putting 2020 to rest, starting a new year with new elected leaders, with the potential for several COVID-19 vaccines an eminent reality is cause for relief, for joy, and for strengthening our resolve to make our way through.
In much the same way, Jacob and his family are stuck in between two parts of their own experience in this week's Torah portion, Parashat Vayishlach. In this week's parashah, Jacob has returned to the land of his ancestors and made peace with his brother Esau, ending decades of tension and conflict. But at the same time, his children are unsettled in this new land into which they were not born, and both suffer at the hands of others while inflicting suffering by their own hands as well. Caught in the middle as children of this ancestral land, but not a part of the communities of ther Canaanite neighbors, the children of Jacob are at once secure and terribly out of place.
It is in those moments that we see real growth. Just as each of Jacob's children grow and learn and change through these difficult experiences, we, as individuals and as a community, have the chance right now to use this singular time in our lives to look inside and discover what is truly important in our lives. What have we spent time on that is perhaps not worth getting upset over? What is something we may value in our hearts, but on which we spend little to no time or energy? What has the work of our hands and the labor of our days brought into this world? Where are our talents, skills, ideas, insights, and power most needed?
We all pray that in the weeks and months ahead, life will be more relaxed, more safe, and more akin to the lives we knew before this pandemic began, but so much of the world already had flaws and challenges that needed addressing before this all started. It would be tragic to simply slip back into old habits that no longer serve us or our community. Instead, I encourage us all to think as the children of Jacob did, to look at the world around us and adapt and change, learn from our own mistakes and the errors of others, and try to build a world renewed in 2021.
--
ALL ZOOM LINKS FOR THE EVENTS BELOW CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS EMAIL.
This Shabbat's Parashah is Vayishlach
Torah Reading: Genesis 34:1-35:15
Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21
Today at noon I will be leading Torah Talk on Zoom and we'll be investigating a little-known Biblical character who bursts onto the scene suddenly and unexpectedly midway through the Torah portion.
Please join us at 3:00pm on Zoom for mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. As we move into the winter months, Shabbat will continue to start early, and we would love to be able to join together with all of you and start our Shabbat with joy and song before the sun sets.
Candle lighting tonight is at 4:22 pm; Shabbat ends at 5:25 pm.
Tomorrow, we'll be streaming services from our Sanctuary in our Maryland Ave. building starting at 9:30am.
As you may have noticed in our synagogue's weekly E-Notes, we have a LOT of amazing programing in the next few weeks for Hanukkah and beyond. Please read those emails carefully for links to sign up for any and all of our wonderful programing!
Shabbat shalom, and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Scott Shafrin
ZOOM AND STREAMING LINKS
To join our Zoom Minyanim or classes, click on the desired meeting link, or call into either of the following numbers:
+1 312 626 6799
+1 646 558 8656
Then, when prompted, enter the Meeting ID of the desired minyan/class then press #. Then, when prompted, enter the password then press #.
Services (all times Central)
Evening Minyan on Zoom
Sunday-Thursday evenings at 6pm, Friday evening at 3:00pm
Morning Minyan on Zoom
Monday-Friday mornings at 7am; Sunday mornings and national holidays at 8am (not including Jewish holidays)
Learning Opportunities
Torah Talk with Rabbi Arnow or Rabbi Shafrin
Every Friday at 12pm
Join us for study and discussion of the week's Torah portion.
Zoom & Learn Series
Sundays at 11:30am,
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.”
As we begin to make our way through December, this final month of the year, I have been reflecting on many powerful conversations about the in-between space we seem to find ourselves in. On one hand, the weather is getting colder, COVID-19 cases are spiking to terrifying new highs, and the prospect of a long winters spent isolated and indoors is a difficult load for many of us to bear. On the other hand, putting 2020 to rest, starting a new year with new elected leaders, with the potential for several COVID-19 vaccines an eminent reality is cause for relief, for joy, and for strengthening our resolve to make our way through.
In much the same way, Jacob and his family are stuck in between two parts of their own experience in this week's Torah portion, Parashat Vayishlach. In this week's parashah, Jacob has returned to the land of his ancestors and made peace with his brother Esau, ending decades of tension and conflict. But at the same time, his children are unsettled in this new land into which they were not born, and both suffer at the hands of others while inflicting suffering by their own hands as well. Caught in the middle as children of this ancestral land, but not a part of the communities of ther Canaanite neighbors, the children of Jacob are at once secure and terribly out of place.
It is in those moments that we see real growth. Just as each of Jacob's children grow and learn and change through these difficult experiences, we, as individuals and as a community, have the chance right now to use this singular time in our lives to look inside and discover what is truly important in our lives. What have we spent time on that is perhaps not worth getting upset over? What is something we may value in our hearts, but on which we spend little to no time or energy? What has the work of our hands and the labor of our days brought into this world? Where are our talents, skills, ideas, insights, and power most needed?
We all pray that in the weeks and months ahead, life will be more relaxed, more safe, and more akin to the lives we knew before this pandemic began, but so much of the world already had flaws and challenges that needed addressing before this all started. It would be tragic to simply slip back into old habits that no longer serve us or our community. Instead, I encourage us all to think as the children of Jacob did, to look at the world around us and adapt and change, learn from our own mistakes and the errors of others, and try to build a world renewed in 2021.
--
ALL ZOOM LINKS FOR THE EVENTS BELOW CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS EMAIL.
This Shabbat's Parashah is Vayishlach
Torah Reading: Genesis 34:1-35:15
Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21
Today at noon I will be leading Torah Talk on Zoom and we'll be investigating a little-known Biblical character who bursts onto the scene suddenly and unexpectedly midway through the Torah portion.
Please join us at 3:00pm on Zoom for mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. As we move into the winter months, Shabbat will continue to start early, and we would love to be able to join together with all of you and start our Shabbat with joy and song before the sun sets.
Candle lighting tonight is at 4:22 pm; Shabbat ends at 5:25 pm.
Tomorrow, we'll be streaming services from our Sanctuary in our Maryland Ave. building starting at 9:30am.
As you may have noticed in our synagogue's weekly E-Notes, we have a LOT of amazing programing in the next few weeks for Hanukkah and beyond. Please read those emails carefully for links to sign up for any and all of our wonderful programing!
Shabbat shalom, and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Scott Shafrin
ZOOM AND STREAMING LINKS
To join our Zoom Minyanim or classes, click on the desired meeting link, or call into either of the following numbers:
+1 312 626 6799
+1 646 558 8656
Then, when prompted, enter the Meeting ID of the desired minyan/class then press #. Then, when prompted, enter the password then press #.
Services (all times Central)
Evening Minyan on Zoom
Sunday-Thursday evenings at 6pm, Friday evening at 3:00pm
Morning Minyan on Zoom
Monday-Friday mornings at 7am; Sunday mornings and national holidays at 8am (not including Jewish holidays)
Learning Opportunities
Torah Talk with Rabbi Arnow or Rabbi Shafrin
Every Friday at 12pm
Join us for study and discussion of the week's Torah portion.
Zoom & Learn Series
Sundays at 11:30am,
Shabbat morning
Saturdays, 9:30am
Click the link below, then click the triangular "play" buttom:
https://player2.streamspot.
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.”
Fri, April 19 2024
11 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
Fri, April 19 2024 11 Nisan 5784