Dear Kol Rinah Family,
Let me tell of you a few highlights of my week. (I'll tell you why I'm telling you in a minute.)
Sunday night, we had our first Moving Traditions B-Mitzvah cohort gathering. It's a class for kids and parents whose b'nai mitzvah are coming up in the next year. Hearing parents and their twelve-year-olds talk about why having a b-mitzvah is important was amazing.
Thursday was the third of four sessions of a cohort of Jewish clergy from around the country that I'm in that has been learning techniques for counseling people about reproductive choices. It's an opportunity organized and sponsored by NCJW. I feel so much more competent and prepared now to help people think about their reproductive choices. It feels practical, relevant, and important, despite not being at the top of our news right now.
Wednesday and Thursday, Rabbi Scott Shafrin, Karen Kern, Will Soll and I rehearsed for two hours each day for Kol Chadash, our musical Shabbat morning service that we'll have this Saturday starting at 9:30am. Singing was so joyful, expressive, beautiful, and focusing.
I mention these highlights because it's hard for me to remember them, to focus on them, amidst the endless heartbreaking, scary, disappointing, frustrating and infuriating news about Israel and Gaza, America, and the world, from this last week.
It's easy for me, maybe for you too, to stop focusing on anything else. While we are and should be affected, we should not, we cannot, stop planning celebrations, working on the issues that needed our attention before October 7 and still need our attention, and singing and praying.
What good thing have you been planning for this week?
What have you been working on this week to bring healing and justice to the world?
How have you soothed your own soul this week?
We each need a different balance of engagement with what's happening with Israel, and with the rest of our lives and the world. Check in with yourself and see if you've struck the right balance this week.
We had a wonderful Shabbat last week with Prof. David Fishman of JTS, as we learned about the Jews of Ukraine, past and present. Thank you to everyone who helped and came, as well as the Hereld Institute of Jewish Studies at JTS and the Leo and Sara Wolf Adult Education Fund.
There's a lot happening the next few days.
Today is the last day to order Hanukkah in a Box! Send Hanukkah equipment to your grandkids, college kids, or anyone else--but the deadline is today.
Today from 4-6pm at the Enterprise Pavilian at Shaw Park in Clayton, there's an Empty Shabbat Table gathering. The Clayton Police Department and the Federation's security team are coordinating and involved. I'm told that there's no program, but that people can just drop by during those two hours.
Candle lighting is at 5:41pm.
At 6pm, we'll gather in the chapel here for an a cappella Kabbalat Shabbat and maariv.
Tomorrow morning, we'll have our musical Kol Chadash service at 9:30am. A bunch of the music is on this Spotify playlist. We're bringing back a couple of old favorites this week, and introducing a few new things as well. In our Torah conversation, we'll focus on God and Abraham's conversation about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.
Shabbat ends 6:39pm.
Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night!
Sunday morning from 9:15-10:15am in the sanctuary, I'll be holding some open space for anyone who would like to come and share and process how they've been feeling about Israel and Gaza, and in America, recently.
Tuesday from 7-8pm at B'nai Amoona, there will be a gathering to observe the sheloshim (30-day anniversary) of October 7. Kol Rinah is one of the many co-sponsors. Details here.
For more and collected Israel information, see this page on our website, as well as Jewish Federation of St. Louis's Israel Resources page.
Looking ahead, next Saturday will be Veterans Shabbat. Join us as we honor our veterans.
Friday night, November 17, we'll host STAAM, Wash U's Jewish a cappella group for services, dinner (Italian food) and a concert. Details and RSVP here.
And November 18 will be New Members Shabbat.
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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