Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Noah Arnow 2/5/2021
Dear Kol Rinah Family,
Have you ever used the phrase, "I had a revelation?" It's when we suddenly realize something profound.
This week, the Israelites get their revelation--The Revelation--God appearing to the Israelites, and giving them the Ten Commandments (or utterances, if we are to be more accurate). God has already given some commandments before leaving Egypt--about the new month, observing Passover, and laws about redeeming the first born.
But these are the big ones, and they give more shape and flavor and definition to this new life and relationship the Israelites have with God.
Amidst all the suffering and loss of this pandemic, there has also been a lot of learning, on an individual basis (how to use Zoom, for example), and for groups and organizations (how much can we be together virtually, and how do we translate and reinvent our culture and life for virtual?).
Is this a revelation? It's been pretty sudden. It's led to important realizations. In some sense too it has come uninvited, from the outside. It has been a response, and not from proactive work.
Various legends (midrashim) about the Ten Commandments say that God only said the first two commandments, or even that all God did was say the first letter of the first word of the first commandment, א - aleph. What sound does aleph make?
It is silent.
This is all to say that what happened at Mount Sinai may have been as much response as it was revelation---response to God uttering the silence of aleph.
Likewise, our current continuing revelation feels like a response, too.
Today at noon in Torah Talk, we'll look at the third commandment (not taking the Lord's name in vain, as it's often translated), and try to figure out how this can relate to our own lives and religious experiences.
Have you ever used the phrase, "I had a revelation?" It's when we suddenly realize something profound.
This week, the Israelites get their revelation--The Revelation--God appearing to the Israelites, and giving them the Ten Commandments (or utterances, if we are to be more accurate). God has already given some commandments before leaving Egypt--about the new month, observing Passover, and laws about redeeming the first born.
But these are the big ones, and they give more shape and flavor and definition to this new life and relationship the Israelites have with God.
Amidst all the suffering and loss of this pandemic, there has also been a lot of learning, on an individual basis (how to use Zoom, for example), and for groups and organizations (how much can we be together virtually, and how do we translate and reinvent our culture and life for virtual?).
Is this a revelation? It's been pretty sudden. It's led to important realizations. In some sense too it has come uninvited, from the outside. It has been a response, and not from proactive work.
Various legends (midrashim) about the Ten Commandments say that God only said the first two commandments, or even that all God did was say the first letter of the first word of the first commandment, א - aleph. What sound does aleph make?
It is silent.
This is all to say that what happened at Mount Sinai may have been as much response as it was revelation---response to God uttering the silence of aleph.
Likewise, our current continuing revelation feels like a response, too.
Today at noon in Torah Talk, we'll look at the third commandment (not taking the Lord's name in vain, as it's often translated), and try to figure out how this can relate to our own lives and religious experiences.
We'll have mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 4pm today.
Candle lighting is at 5:10pm.
Saturday morning we'll be streaming services from the Sanctuary.
The readings are:
Exodus 19:1-20:22 (triennial section of Parashat Yitro), including the 10 Commandments!
Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
We'll also be blessing the new month.
Shabbat ends at 6:10pm.
Sunday morning at 11:30am we have a great program on Judaism and crafting!
Crafting Judaism: Creation, Resilience, and Jewish Americans
Join Professor Jodi Eichler-Levine, author of Painted Pomegranates and Needlepoint Rabbis: How Jews Craft Resilience and Create Community, for an interactive discussion of how material culture is a vital part of contemporary Jewish life. Dr. Eichler-Levine will share images from her research and lead a brief study of ancient and modern Jewish texts about creation.
Shabbat shalom, and see you on Zoom,
Rabbi Noah Arnow
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 3:30pm
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.
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
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Fri, April 19 2024 11 Nisan 5784