MUCH IMPORTANT INFO IN THE EMAIL THIS WEEK--READ TO THE END :)
Dear Kol Rinah Family,
How do we know that the Jewish calendar was divinely inspired and not a human creation? No human would have put all these holidays one on top of another.
I am of course joking, mostly. The quick flow of all these holidays, Rosh Hashanah, to Yom Kippur, to Sukkot, to Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah gives us just enough time to take a breath before plunging into the next holiday.
It does also create a kind of intensity during this season too though, which I (mostly) appreciate. The emotions of gathering, of beginning anew on Rosh Hashanah, the catharsis of Yom Kippur, the joy of Sukkot--they do flow from one to another. It reminds me that to a significant extent, joy can be a choice--I don't always feel it naturally, but if I have to feel joy (as we are supposed to on Sukkot), then I usually can summon it. And then I'm glad I did.
Looking back for a moment, Yom Kippur was wonderful. It was wonderful to see so many of you, and to know also that so many more were watching the livestream. It was wonderful to sing with you, and schmooze a little, and "cathart" (not a word, I know) together.
And I am beyond grateful to all those who helped in innumerable ways, from ushering, gabbaing, reading Torah, davening, leading services, greeting, organizing books, delivering packages to the homebound, straightening up toys after vigorous playing, babysitting, communicating, parking, livestreaming, and so so much more. It's a huge effort, and a huge team effort. Thank you to everyone!
Here's my sermon from Kol Nidre, and here's the one from Yom Kippur Yizkor.
Tonight begins Shabbat as well as Sukkot. We'll have mincha, an abbreviated Kabbalat Shabbat (because of the holiday) and ma'ariv at 6pm in the chapel tonight.
Candle lighting is at 6:30pm.
If you're able to eat in the sukkah tonight, this is the ideal time to do it--the ideal is to eat in the sukkah at least on the first night of Sukkot.
All the Sukkot details are on our website here: https://www.kolrinahstl.org/sukkot-happenings.html.
Tomorrow, services will be at 9am. We don't use our lulav and etrog on Shabbat--I'll be speaking tomorrow about why exactly.
At about 10:15am, Karen Kern will lead some Sukkot-themed niggunim and conversation. We'll have kiddush in the sukkah.
Sunday, we'll have services again at 9am, this time with lulav and etrog! Kiddush will be in the sukkah again.
We'll be on Zoom for minyan Monday-Wednesday mornings at 7am, and then in-person at 7am Thursday morning and Friday morning (Hoshana Rabbah). Friday morning's Hoshana Rabbah service is the wildest liturgy of the entire year--if you're able to come, it's bizarre, vaguely pagan and kind of fun.
Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, the second session of our Grief Havurah, led by Rabbi Jessica Shafrin, will meet here in person. You don't need to have come to the first one to come to this session.
Thursday afternoon at 5pm, we'll have a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Monica Lynne Neidorff Early Childhood Center. A number of people will be speaking, including Clayton Mayor Michelle Harris. Please join us! And you can bring a picnic dinner to eat in the sukkah afterwards.
Starting at 7:30pm Thursday evening (aka erev Hoshana Rabbah), Bais Abe will be hosting (co-sponsored by CRC and Kol Rinah) learning and singing in and around the sukkah. Details are here, and rsvps are appreciated but not required.
Looking ahead for a moment to next weekend, next Saturday is Shemini Atzeret, when we'll read some of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), and also say Yizkor.
Saturday night begins Simchat Torah. We'll have festive singing and dancing Saturday night starting at 7:30pm, but the main Simchat Torah festivities will be Sunday morning!
Sunday, we'll start at 9am, by 10am we'll be singing Hallel. Then the real Simchat Torah festivities begin, with the hakafot (circular dancings), and we'll have music, treats and toys for kids, and it's going to be awesome!
Torah reading will be participatory--every single person will have an aliya (and it won't take all day--promise)! We'll finish the Torah, and start it anew. And then, after we put the Torahs away, before musaf, we'll have a Sunday brunch-themed kiddush. Musaf will follow after kiddush.
RSVPs would be helpful (but not required)-- details and RSVP here.
Looking even further ahead, Wednesday afternoon October 11 at 5pm, there'll be a Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Park Playdate at Shaw Park Treetop Playground (2 Topton Way)--come to see camp friends, but especially, come to learn a little bit more about Ramah Wisconsin. I mentioned my son Caleb's Ramah experience on Yom Kippur--it has been transformational in all the right ways for him, and for so many other kids. If you're interested to learn more, come the playdate, or be in touch with me! Details are here.
And finally, mark your calendars for October 27-28, our scholar-in-residence Shabbat with Prof. David Fishman focusing on the Jews of Ukraine.
Shabbat shalom, chag sameach, and see you in shul or in the sukkah,
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)
Morning Minyan on Zoom
Monday-Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7am; Sunday mornings and national holidays at 8am (not including Jewish holidays)
(Please note that Thursday morning minyan is now being held in-person and is not on Zoom)
(Friday morning October 3 will be in person for Hoshana Rabbah)
Friday nights and Shabbat mornings
Fridays, 6pm in the chapel (no streaming)
Saturdays, 9:00am (9:30am when we are doing our musical Kol Chadash service)
Click the link below, for the stream, as well as for additional instructions:
https://www.kolrinahstl.org/kr-streaming
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