Dear Kol Rinah Family,
Like many of you, I have been distracted, finding it harder to focus, constantly checking social media (Facebook for this Gen X dinosaur), checking news updates. My thoughts this morning are a kind of tohu vavohu, per the second verse of the Torah (Genesis 1:2), which we'll read tomorrow morning, "formless and undifferentiated." A major part of God's work of creation is in separating, making order and distinctions. I'm not there yet. So here are some tohu vavohu thoughts this Friday morning.
Amidst the chaos of this dissolving of the created order, we have a bat mitzvah tomorrow morning at Kol Rinah. Mazal tov to Sadie Wohl, her parents Matt and Heather, and her brother Owen. Sadie has the distinction of being the only b'nai mitzvah at Kol Rinah in 2023. (Don't worry--we have five b'nai mitzvah coming in 2024, and about nine in 2025!)
Friends in Jerusalem today spent time organizing minyanim (prayer gatherings) for Shabbat because they have been advised not to gather in groups of more than fifty.
I hope many of you will come tomorrow, to celebrate something special, and yet normal, to be together in Jewish community, to be grateful to be able to gather in safety in groups I hope much bigger than fifty.
One genre of liturgy I've never thought much about is prayers for captives. This has been an area, tragically, of liturgical creativity and development these last days. Beginning tomorrow, we will recite a prayer for captives on Shabbat mornings.
Thank you to everyone who fasted and/or joined us yesterday in the first unscheduled public fast day I remember in my lifetime. Saying the liturgy for fast days felt right. I appreciated hearing Rabbi Avi Killip of Hadar speak about the fast on NPR, capturing so many of my feelings around the fast.
Two of the Shalom Hartman Institute podcasts this week also stayed in my ears, in my heart, long after listening to them. This is a compilation of Americans who have moved to Israel speaking about their experiences last Saturday and Sunday
And here, journalist Yossi Klein Halevi and Rabbi Donniel Hartman process their feelings and experiences from Israel this week. Listen to both of their (short) episodes, "Israel at War."
And for something totally different, I found myself moved by this wedding that took place in Israel on Monday, at which Israeli singer Ishay Ribo came and sang. Read the story and watch the video here. Here are the lyrics (in English) to the first song he sings, and to the second song, a particular favorite of mine.
Having spent much more time on my phone and computer this week than usual, I am really looking forward to unplugging for Shabbat, and if that feels like it could be helpful to you, try it out.
There's a custom of giving tzedaka ("putting the coins from your pockets in the pushke/tzedaka box") before Shabbat. Donations are still needed. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis has an Israel Emergency Fund open to donations now. If you are looking for other ways and organizations to support, here are many other suggestions.
Here's the rundown of the weekend at Kol Rinah:
This afternoon from 5:15pm-6pm, before we begin Kabbalat Shabbat, I'll be here at the synagogue, in the chapel, holding space for anyone who'd like to sit and talk, or sing, or be quiet. Come just for that, come and stay for Kabbalat Shabbat, or come just for Kabbalat Shabbat at 6pm.
Candle lighting is at 6:08pm.
Services are at 9am tomorrow, we'll begin the Torah from the beginning, say the blessing for the new month, and celebrate Sadie Wohl's bat mitzvah, with kiddush to follow.
Shabbat ends at 7:04pm.
Sunday morning, after the 9am opening of KoREH (our religious school), starting at around 9:15am, parents of kids in KoREH and any other parents as well who would like to join us, are invited to sit together in the sanctuary to process this all for ourselves, and also to think about how we talk to our kids about what's happening.
May the one who makes peace in the heavens make peace over us, and over all Israel, and over all who dwell in the world.
See you in shul,
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 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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