Dear Kol Rinah Families,
Hanukkah this year has been jam packed with so much joy that I have almost felt like it was making my head spin! Between several amazing cooking programs, social gatherings over Zoom, small group candle lightings (also on Zoom), and a ton of fascinating learning sessions, this holiday brought some much needed warmth to my soul just as the weather has begun to get chilly.
I want to give a huge thank you specifically to Grace Cooperstein, Jenny Stempel, Melissa Bellows, the leadership of our Kol Rinah Brotherhood and Sisterhood, our St. Louis Rabbnical and Cantorial Association, and everyone who worked so hard to make these programs possible. It has really been an amazing eight days (and eight crazy nights), and we appreciate all of your hard work.
Amid all the joy of this season, my mind always turns to powerful memories from my own past, especially because the yahrzeit for my grandmother, Claire Shafrin, falls on the last day of Kislev, right in the middle of Hanukkah. My Grammy was an amazing person, very traditional in her Jewish life, warm and caring with her family and friends. She taught me, both through her example and her words, how important it is, in every situation, to approach others with care and compassion, as well as how something as simple as sharing some fresh-baked peanut butter cookies can change someone's day, or their outlook on life. She made it clear what it meant to be a mensch, a good and kind person, and how we raise ourselves up most when we look to elevate the lives of others.
More so than any other year in recent memory, 2020 has been a trial full of stress, loss, heartache, and unimaginable challenges, but it has also revealed to what is truly important in each of our lives and in our community. The connections we have made and maintained with one another have helped warm the coldest, lonliest corners of this pandemic experience. Our isolation has been pierced by the light of the kind words and deeds of our friends, neighbors, family, and community members who have made sure that we are each ok. With the introduction of an effective vaccine (soon, God willing, two vaccines) we have so much to hope for in the new year, and I pray that we can take the lessons, journeys, challenges, and gifts of these past months with us into 2021.
I hope, as we enjoy this final day of Hanukkah and move into Shabbat, that just as the hannukiyot (Hanukkah menorahs) we lit last night were filled with brightness and warmth, so too may the days ahead be for all of us.
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ALL ZOOM LINKS FOR THE EVENTS BELOW CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS EMAIL.
This Shabbat's Parashah is Miketz
Torah Reading: Genesis 41:53-43:15
Haftarah: 1 Kings 3:15-4:1
This afternoon at 3pm we'll have mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat, with Hanukkah candle lighting at the end.
As a reminder, we light Hanukkah candles first, and then Shabbat candles.
Candle lighting is at 4:24 pm, and Shabbat ends at 5:28 pm on Saturday night.
Saturday morning we'll be streaming services from the Sanctuary beginning at 9:30 am. Please see the link below for the streaming information: https://player2.streamspot.com/?playerId=3506a4c8
Today (Friday) at noon, Rabbi Arnow will be teaching with Rabbi Janine Schloss of Shir Chadash (St. Louis's Reconstructionist congregation) on "Healing Lessons of Hanukkah." Because of this, there will be NO Torah Talk today. To sign up (required), and for the other sessions in the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association's Hanukkah series, click here .
Shabbat shalom, happy Hanukkah, 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.”
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