Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Shafrin!
Dear Kol Rinah Family,
The past week has been a turbulent one. We have experienced the shock, sadness, anger, and frustration of the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding abortion, carrying firearms, and environmental protections, alongside upheavals and losses in our own Kol Rinah community. For me, these losses feel heavy and overwhelming and tragic beyond words.
The feeling I have come back to again and again is most powerfully brought to light in this week's Torah portion, Parashat Korach. After the Jewish People witness the earth open up and swallow Korach, his followers, their homes, and all their possessions, the Torah describes their reaction saying:
וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נָ֣סוּ לְקֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ פֶּן־תִּבְלָעֵ֖נוּ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
All Israel around them fled at their shrieks, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” [Numbers 16:34]
That is how I feel. I feel like the world I knew has been decimated and that there is a powerful hole in my life, my heart, my community, and my country. I feel like the stripping of rights and protections from all those who dwell in this nation is harmful both to individuals as well as to our free and democratic institutions. Most of all, I feel like a core principal of this nation, that I believed in with all my soul, that we were, as Adlai Stevenson (23rd Vice President under Grover Cleveland) once opined, "America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact, the first community in which [people] set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality."
I am saddened by these recent developments, none more so than the ruling in Dobbs v. Mississippi Women's Health which stripped hundred's of millions of women and people who may become pregnant of their rights and control over their bodies. I feel hollowed out, and in that empty space, I feel anger growing.
But, just as we may feel like are world has turned upside down, so too did their circumstances devastate the Jewish People in the generation of Korach. They dealt with struggle and pain and frustration and doubt and tragedy and loss. But eventually, they made changes, they moved forward, and they marched their way into their sacred land, to build themselves a home there.
I hope and pray that we can support one another now, at a time in which things seem to be changing fast, that we can work with one another to uphold our shared values and ideals to create a world of justice and peace, and that we can one day all reach the Promised Land of freedom, compassion, justice, equity, and equal rights and protectons together.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Scott Shafrin
--
We have a lot of exciting programs, experiences, and opportunities coming up, and we would love to see you at all of them!
Our Brotherhood will also be honoring annual Men of the Year, as well as Youths of the Year, for 2020-22 and we are thrilled to have this wonderful celebration back in our community after a brief hiatus.
Register HERE for the Men and Youth of the Year Gala
We need YOUR help to do a mitzvah! We still have slots available so please register here for our blood drive.
We will be having Torah Talk today on Zoom at noon! I will be leading Torah Talk focusing on an often overlooked section of Parashar Korach that touches on the tribe of Levi and how the position they held in the world of the ancient Israelites can teach us a lot about how to structure our communities today.
This Friday night we will gather in our courtyard, weather permitting, at 6:00 pm for our First Fridays for Families! There will be no livestream for Friday night, but everyone is invited to join us as we bring in Shabbat together with some fantastic energy and wonderful singing!
Tomorrow morning, our service for Shabbat will begin in our sanctuary at 9:30 am.
Mincha/Ma'ariv services for Shabbat will begin in the sanctuary at 8:00 pm on Saturday evening.
Candle Lighting Friday night is at 8:12 pm
Parshat Korach
Torah:Numbers 16:1-18:32
Haftarah: Samuel 1 11:14-12:22
Mincha/Maariv- 8:00 pm
Havdalah- 9:15 pm
Shabbat Shalom,
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 ( tinyurl.com/KR-EveningMinyan )
Sunday-Friday evenings at 6pm
Morning Minyan on Zoom ( tinyurl.com/KR-MorningMinyan )
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 ( tinyurl.com/KR-TorahTalk )
Every Friday at 12pm
Join us for study and discussion of the week's Torah portion.
Kabbalat Shabbat/Shabbat morning ( tinyurl.com/KR-Streaming )
Fridays at 6:00pm, Saturdays at 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 the service officially begins, there will a filler screen, but livestreamed video and sound will both start before the start of the service.
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.”
The past week has been a turbulent one. We have experienced the shock, sadness, anger, and frustration of the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding abortion, carrying firearms, and environmental protections, alongside upheavals and losses in our own Kol Rinah community. For me, these losses feel heavy and overwhelming and tragic beyond words.
The feeling I have come back to again and again is most powerfully brought to light in this week's Torah portion, Parashat Korach. After the Jewish People witness the earth open up and swallow Korach, his followers, their homes, and all their possessions, the Torah describes their reaction saying:
וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נָ֣סוּ לְקֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ פֶּן־תִּבְלָעֵ֖נוּ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
All Israel around them fled at their shrieks, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” [Numbers 16:34]
That is how I feel. I feel like the world I knew has been decimated and that there is a powerful hole in my life, my heart, my community, and my country. I feel like the stripping of rights and protections from all those who dwell in this nation is harmful both to individuals as well as to our free and democratic institutions. Most of all, I feel like a core principal of this nation, that I believed in with all my soul, that we were, as Adlai Stevenson (23rd Vice President under Grover Cleveland) once opined, "America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact, the first community in which [people] set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality."
I am saddened by these recent developments, none more so than the ruling in Dobbs v. Mississippi Women's Health which stripped hundred's of millions of women and people who may become pregnant of their rights and control over their bodies. I feel hollowed out, and in that empty space, I feel anger growing.
But, just as we may feel like are world has turned upside down, so too did their circumstances devastate the Jewish People in the generation of Korach. They dealt with struggle and pain and frustration and doubt and tragedy and loss. But eventually, they made changes, they moved forward, and they marched their way into their sacred land, to build themselves a home there.
I hope and pray that we can support one another now, at a time in which things seem to be changing fast, that we can work with one another to uphold our shared values and ideals to create a world of justice and peace, and that we can one day all reach the Promised Land of freedom, compassion, justice, equity, and equal rights and protectons together.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Scott Shafrin
--
We have a lot of exciting programs, experiences, and opportunities coming up, and we would love to see you at all of them!
Our Brotherhood will also be honoring annual Men of the Year, as well as Youths of the Year, for 2020-22 and we are thrilled to have this wonderful celebration back in our community after a brief hiatus.
Register HERE for the Men and Youth of the Year Gala
We need YOUR help to do a mitzvah! We still have slots available so please register here for our blood drive.
We will be having Torah Talk today on Zoom at noon! I will be leading Torah Talk focusing on an often overlooked section of Parashar Korach that touches on the tribe of Levi and how the position they held in the world of the ancient Israelites can teach us a lot about how to structure our communities today.
This Friday night we will gather in our courtyard, weather permitting, at 6:00 pm for our First Fridays for Families! There will be no livestream for Friday night, but everyone is invited to join us as we bring in Shabbat together with some fantastic energy and wonderful singing!
Tomorrow morning, our service for Shabbat will begin in our sanctuary at 9:30 am.
Mincha/Ma'ariv services for Shabbat will begin in the sanctuary at 8:00 pm on Saturday evening.
Candle Lighting Friday night is at 8:12 pm
Parshat Korach
Torah:Numbers 16:1-18:32
Haftarah: Samuel 1 11:14-12:22
Mincha/Maariv- 8:00 pm
Havdalah- 9:15 pm
Shabbat Shalom,
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 ( tinyurl.com/KR-EveningMinyan )
Sunday-Friday evenings at 6pm
Morning Minyan on Zoom ( tinyurl.com/KR-MorningMinyan )
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 ( tinyurl.com/KR-TorahTalk )
Every Friday at 12pm
Join us for study and discussion of the week's Torah portion.
Kabbalat Shabbat/Shabbat morning ( tinyurl.com/KR-Streaming )
Fridays at 6:00pm, Saturdays at 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.
Until shortly before the service officially begins, there will a filler screen, but livestreamed video and sound will both start before the start of the service.
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.”
Thu, April 25 2024
17 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
Thu, April 25 2024 17 Nisan 5784