Dear Kol Rinah Family,
This week, I have felt a little calmer, a little less on the constant verge of tears, more able to focus. The stories that are still emerging about the horrors of the attack in Israel continue to break my heart. The ongoing situation of the almost two hundred hostages being held in Gaza is agony--for them, their families, for all of us. We will continue to recite a prayer for captives on Shabbat mornings.
I've heard from many of you about how lonely you have felt among people who are not Jewish who understand neither that you are feeling pain now nor why you are feeling pain now. The tragedy of deaths at the hospital in Gaza was awful enough; the immediate and continued blame of Israel, even after it seems that it was a Gazan, not Israeli, rocket, that did the damage--that's an added dimension of awfulness.
If you'd like to talk, please be in touch.
I've also heard that being in Jewish spaces feels especially comforting now.
I can't help but read the stories of the Torah in the context of what's happening in the world. And sometimes, it's a little too on the nose.
For example, why does God decide to destroy the world with a flood in this week's portion, the story of Noah? Because the earth was filled with hamas, translated variously as violence, unrighteousness, robbery, lawlessness, and outrage.
I'm not making this up.
The story of Noah is filled with silence, and building, and violence, and regret, and destruction, and refuge, and safety, and planning, and uncertainty, and loss, and grief.
It doesn't tell us what to do, or what to feel, but it does offer infinite lens through which to look at our own lives and world.
In Torah Talk tomorrow (10:10am or so in the community hall), we'll look at some different Jewish understandings of what hamas means in the story of Noah. We won't focus on today or Israel, but there's no need, because every word we study and say will have this kind of dual meaning and reference.
The Jewish Federation of St. Louis has put together many useful resources about what's happening in Israel.
***
Looking back for a moment at last week, mazal tov Sadie Wohl on celebrating her bat mitzvah last Shabbat, and to her parents, Matt and Heather, and her brother Owen.
Tonight, Karen Kern and Will Soll will lead a musical Kabbalat Shabbat beginning at 6pm in the chapel.
Candle lighting is at 5:58pm.
Tomorrow morning, we'll begin as usual at 9am. I'll be leading Torah Talk at 10:10 am or so in the community hall. Karen Kern will lead Tot Shabbat at 10:45am in the chapel, and Will Soll will be giving the sermon, on "The Silence of Noah."
Kiddush will follow services.
Beginning this Shabbat, we'll have Shabbat mincha once a month through June, always (except for April--2nd Shabbat of the month) on the third Shabbat of the month, starting two hours before Shabbat ends. Join us Saturday afternoon at 5pm for mincha, some food, some learning, maariv and havdalah.
Shabbat ends at 6:55pm.
Sunday at 4pm, Verein will be beginning their new series on Jews in Music. In this session, Phyllis Hyken will be teaching about conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas. In person and on zoom--details here.
Next Shabbat, I'm so excited for us to be hosting Prof. David Fishman of the Jewish Theological Seminary, for a Shabbat focused on the Jews of Ukraine. RSVPs for dinner (Gokul!) are due on Tuesday.
All the details and dinner RSVP are here.
Friday night, after a musical Kabbalat Shabbat at 6pm, and dinner at about 7:15pm, Prof. Fishman will speak about the golden age of the Jews of Ukraine.
Shabbat morning and after kiddush, he'll speak about the 20th century, and the last year.
You can read some of his recent writings about the situation in Ukraine here.
This program is sponsored by the Hereld Institute for Jewish Studies of JTS and the Leo and Sara Wolf Adult Education Fund.
Next Shabbat will also be a St. Louis Israel Solidarity Shabbat, which we will be participating in as well.
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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