Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Arnow 4/8/2022
Dear Kol Rinah Family,
There's something paradoxical about tzara'at, the mysterious skin affliction sometimes translated as leprosy, that the Torah talks about. One the one hand, the Torah gives no indication that it is something dangerous to our physical health. Rather, it reads like a physical manifestation of a spiritual illness. And the ways that it is both diagnosed (by a priest, a kohen) and treated (with isolation, time and certain spiritual purification rituals) do not indicate any real physical health concern.
On the other hand, it is real physical symptons that the Torah is talking about. So there was something real happening, that to the sufferer, may actually have been quite distressing, and could have indicated a real physical problem.
There's a piece of this that strikes me as mapping a bit onto the challenging transition to mask-optional spaces.
For some people, the transition to being in a mask-optional space is a spiritual, psychological adjustment, one some are very excited for, and others are very anxious about and not ready for.
There are other people for whom being in a mask-optional space is emotionally and psychologically fraught because they have real and particular physical concerns.
Figuring out exactly how to meet everyone's needs is not easy. Maintaining a mask-required environment permanently is not a sustainable solution. And yet we also want to be as inclusive of everyone in our community as we can be. I'd love to hear suggestions about how we can best do this.
As you have heard, beginning this Shabbat, our Sanctuary will be mask-optional, with a large section on one side that will be mask-required. While this is an imperfect solution, we'll try it and see how it goes and how it feels. And this will evolve, as our Covid policies have evolved continuously over the past two years.
Our full Covid protocols are available on our website's Covid Safety page.
We're also having Kiddush this Shabbat, and will be having kiddush more frequently after Passover.
Speaking of this Shabbat...
Today at noon Rabbi Shafrin will be leading Torah Talk on Zoom at noon, focusing on the strange phenomenon of tzara'at in (the walls of) houses.
Tonight, mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat and maariv will be at 6pm in the Sanctuary.
Candle lighting is at 7:14pm.
Tomorrow morning, services in the Sanctuary will be at 9:30am. We'll be welcoming Erica Steen, the director of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, who will be speaking about food insecurity in our community as a kickoff to a food drive we'll be beginning after Passover and as a leadup to our Mitzvah Day on May 15.
Mincha Saturday afternoon will be at 7:05pm, and Shabbat ends at about 8:13pm.
And don't forget about Passover--sell your chametz and more on our Pesach page. Particularly, note that we'll be having a siyyum and breakfast for the fast of the first born on Friday morning, April 15. Details on the Passover schedule!
Next week (Thursday at 10:30am) I'll be teaching the second session on Jewish eating, focusing on bread and matza--not too late to join! Details here.
May we all stay safe and healthy, and I hope to see you soon.
Shabbat shalom,
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 (but not on Jewish holidays)
Friday evenings when not in person one hour before candle lighting
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.
Friday nights when in person and Shabbat mornings
Fridays, 6pm
Saturdays, 9:30am
Click the link below, then click the triangular "play" buttom:
tinyurl.com/KR-Streaming
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.”
There's something paradoxical about tzara'at, the mysterious skin affliction sometimes translated as leprosy, that the Torah talks about. One the one hand, the Torah gives no indication that it is something dangerous to our physical health. Rather, it reads like a physical manifestation of a spiritual illness. And the ways that it is both diagnosed (by a priest, a kohen) and treated (with isolation, time and certain spiritual purification rituals) do not indicate any real physical health concern.
On the other hand, it is real physical symptons that the Torah is talking about. So there was something real happening, that to the sufferer, may actually have been quite distressing, and could have indicated a real physical problem.
There's a piece of this that strikes me as mapping a bit onto the challenging transition to mask-optional spaces.
For some people, the transition to being in a mask-optional space is a spiritual, psychological adjustment, one some are very excited for, and others are very anxious about and not ready for.
There are other people for whom being in a mask-optional space is emotionally and psychologically fraught because they have real and particular physical concerns.
Figuring out exactly how to meet everyone's needs is not easy. Maintaining a mask-required environment permanently is not a sustainable solution. And yet we also want to be as inclusive of everyone in our community as we can be. I'd love to hear suggestions about how we can best do this.
As you have heard, beginning this Shabbat, our Sanctuary will be mask-optional, with a large section on one side that will be mask-required. While this is an imperfect solution, we'll try it and see how it goes and how it feels. And this will evolve, as our Covid policies have evolved continuously over the past two years.
Our full Covid protocols are available on our website's Covid Safety page.
We're also having Kiddush this Shabbat, and will be having kiddush more frequently after Passover.
Speaking of this Shabbat...
Today at noon Rabbi Shafrin will be leading Torah Talk on Zoom at noon, focusing on the strange phenomenon of tzara'at in (the walls of) houses.
Tonight, mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat and maariv will be at 6pm in the Sanctuary.
Candle lighting is at 7:14pm.
Tomorrow morning, services in the Sanctuary will be at 9:30am. We'll be welcoming Erica Steen, the director of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, who will be speaking about food insecurity in our community as a kickoff to a food drive we'll be beginning after Passover and as a leadup to our Mitzvah Day on May 15.
Mincha Saturday afternoon will be at 7:05pm, and Shabbat ends at about 8:13pm.
And don't forget about Passover--sell your chametz and more on our Pesach page. Particularly, note that we'll be having a siyyum and breakfast for the fast of the first born on Friday morning, April 15. Details on the Passover schedule!
Next week (Thursday at 10:30am) I'll be teaching the second session on Jewish eating, focusing on bread and matza--not too late to join! Details here.
May we all stay safe and healthy, and I hope to see you soon.
Shabbat shalom,
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 (but not on Jewish holidays)
Friday evenings when not in person one hour before candle lighting
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.
Friday nights when in person and Shabbat mornings
Fridays, 6pm
Saturdays, 9:30am
Click the link below, then click the triangular "play" buttom:
tinyurl.com/KR-Streaming
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.”
Mon, May 5 2025
7 Iyyar 5785
MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.
Find it at Kol Rinah
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Weekday Services
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.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday 9am to 5pm
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Mon, May 5 2025 7 Iyyar 5785