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Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Shafrin! 4/30/2021

 
Dear Kol Rinah Family,

Throughout the seven weeks of counting the Omer that move us from Pesach (Passover) into Shavuot, it has become customary for many people to adopt a few unique customs. Beside reciting the blessing enumerating each day, which is said in the evening, it has become customary for people to avoid festive gatherings, not to schedule or attend weddings, and even to avoid cutting hair or shaving (in situations where doing so would not cause undo embarassment).

Many of these customs are also observed when one is in mourning for a loved one who has passed, which is not accidental. The Talmud holds that Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest teachers in Jewish history, had scores of disciples who all passed away during this period. In the years since, however, the mourning practices observed during this period of the Omer have been connected with other Jewish national tragedies like the massacres during the Crusades.

Sadly, today, we bear witness to another terrible national tragedy. A festive Lag Ba'Omer commemoration on Mt. Meron, in the norh of Israel, which almost 100,000 people attended, turned from rejoicing to mourning as a canopy collapse caused a stampede in which 45 people died and more than 150 were injured. It is possibly the most tragic civilian disaster in Israel's history. Our hearts mourn today with all of our siblings in Israel, especially on this day which has for generations been a focal point for joy and gathering amid a more somber and reflective time in our year. We pray that those receiving medical care are able to make a refu'ah sheleima, a complete and speedy recovery, and that all of those who have lost loved ones in this horrific tragedy can find comfort in their community and in all of us who are sending them our compassion and care. 

Such a loss of life is heartbreaking and we hope and pray for all of those directly impacted by this tragedy. As our Talmud (Sanhedrin 39a) teaches, Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh; "All of Israel is responsible for one another." We hope and pray that the care we can show one another in this moment of tragedy can help and comfort all who are mourning, injured, or harmed by these tragic events.
- -

This afternoon, I will be leading Torah talk at noon (12:00pm). We will be looking into a few often overlooked passages in Parashat Emor, as well as contemplating what the Torah's conception of some of our holidays can teach us about how we live our lives and shape our community today.

Tonight at 6:00 pm, we'll gather together virtually for mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat on Zoom.  (Link below)

Candle lighting is at 7:34 pm.  

Tomorrow morning, we will be returning with our second iteration of our Kol Chadash service, a soulful, music-filled, spiritual experience for our community. Thanks to all of the feedback you have provided, we have been able to add a few new things and modify this Shabbat experience to be even better and more engaging than before. We will have a minyan present in the sanctuary and will of course also be streaming from the sanctuary starting at 9:30am. We hope you will join us as we seek new ways of diving into familiar prayers and, we hope, give you new insights into your own ways to connect to Shabbat. (Link below)

This week we will read Parashat Emor
Torah Reading: Leviticus 22:17-23:22
Haftarah: Yehezkel 44:15-31


Shabbat ends at 8:38 pm.  

Sunday at 11:30pm, Jeff Spitzer will be leading a fascinating program called "Choosing Israel: Midrash and the Choice to Be a Jew." The program will focus on the wealth of diverse texts that inform how we build community which is equally meaningful for people born Jewish, those who convert, and those who are connected in many other incredible ways. For more information, and to register and receive the Zoom link for this program, please click
 HERE or check out the Kol Rinah website.   

Kol HaKavod to the Kol Rinah Men's Club, and especially to Bob Olshan and his planning team, for bringing together a lovely, thoughtful, and hope-filled gathering last night to comemorate Lag BaOmer! It was a joy to see so many of you and we appreciate everyone's tremendous efforts to come out and build community in safe and meaningful ways, especially during these difficult times.

And much more is on the website! 

Finally, a generous member of our congregation has a number of Passover meat dishes and cooking implements/equipment they are still happy to give to someone who would like them.  Let me know if you are interested!  

Shabbat shalom, and have a wonderful day! 
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-Friday evenings at 6pm

 
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,  as well as the first day, seventh and eighth days of Passover
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.”
Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784