Dear Kol Rinah Family,
Although the Jewish Federation of St. Louis did not get sufficient in interest to charter a flight to go to the March for Israel in Washington, DC on Tuesday, I am still going. If you are going, let the Federation know by filling out this form, and let me know too (just email me, if you haven't already)!
The following, by Yehuda Kurtzer, was helpful in my decision to go:
If you’re reading this I want to encourage you to come - even if, like me -
* you don’t love rallies and get nervous about what messages that you don’t support might also be present;
* you harbor your own ambivalences about this aspect of the war or that, ambivalences that can get reflected in long Facebook posts but not usually at rallies;
* you mourn the loss of innocent Palestinian lives in this war, as part and parcel of your Zionism;
* you are anxious about large gatherings of Jews right now and who else might show up to cause trouble;
* you have a zillion things to do right now otherwise, even worthwhile war-related commitments that need to get moved;
Or this, or that.
I want to encourage you to come if for no other reasons that our friends in Israel are watching global protests around the world that in many ways are demonizing them and entrenching their loneliness; and because we represent the vast majority of American Jews, and that story needs to be told; and because solidarity is a muscle that needs to be exercised and not just an emotion that is felt; and because our tradition insists that in moments of crisis for the Jewish people there is immense value in showing up, and screaming, and being with others, as virtuous acts whether or not they succeed at changing present realities; and because our friends and loved ones are in harm’s way, and we dare not sit on the sideline; and because we have nostalgia for moments like this in our past and finally a chance to do what must be done; and because our kids are watching.
I've spent some time the last week reading and listening to try to understand and learn and feel more about what's been happening in Israel and Gaza. I want to share with you a couple of things to read and listen to that I have found helpful, but I will warn you, not always easy reading or listening.
I just listened to this podcast with Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of 23-year-old hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Listen to it. And use this website to call your representatives and tell them to help release the hostages.
This episode (or on Spotify here) of the Ezra Klein show focuses on public opinion polling in Gaza on October 6. It's hard to listen to, because there will be things that you (and I) disagree with. But it was informative and I hadn't heard this perspective in detail yet.
We know there's so much happening now on college campuses. My friend and colleague, the extraordinary Rabbi Jason Rubenstein, is the Howard M. Holtzmann Jewish Chaplain at Yale, Slifka Center. He writes thoughfully and helpfully about anti-Semitism generally and at Yale,and I think what he writes is applicable to many other campuses as well.
And last, my friend and colleague Rabbi Claudia Kreiman in Brookline, MA wrote beautifully about trying to live with kindness through this heavy time. I appreciate her Torah so much this week.
For more and collected Israel information, see this page on our website, as well as the Jewish Federation of St. Louis's Israel Resources page.
Every Shabbat morning, we are reciting a prayer for the State of Israel, a prayer for Israel Defense Forces soldiers, and a prayer for hostages.
Looking back at this week, the most moving part of the sheloshim (30-day anniversary) of October 7 that took place at B'nai Amoona was hearing the names of all the hostages read. Bring them home.
Tonight, candle lighting is at 4:34pm.
We'll gather for Kabbalat Shabbat and maariv at 6pm in the chapel, a cappella. It'll be dark outside, but nice to be together.
We're gauging interest in having occasional mask-required Friday night services, to meet the needs of those in our community who for health reasons are only able to come to indoor gatherings where everyone is masked. If you or someone you know would appreciate having this and would be interested in coming if we did it, let me know!
Saturday morning, we'll begin at 9am, and hear from and focus on veterans, and especially Jewish veterans, in honor of Veterans Day. Lt. Col. Kathryn Shaw will speak about what it's like being Jewish in the military now. Kiddush will follow.
At about 10:10am, Will Soll will lead Torah Talk in the community hall.
At 10:45am will be our Kol HaMishpacha service for elementary school-age kids
Shabbat ends at 5:33pm.
Sunday will be our Hanukkah Pop-Up Craft Fair with over twenty vendors. You don't want to miss this. The fair will be open 12pm-4pm, with a special extra hour just for Kol Rinah members at 11am-12pm! All proceeds will benefit KoREH.
Wednesday evening from 6:30-8pm, our grief group, led by Rabbi Jessica Shafrin, will meet again.
Next Friday night (11/17), STAAM, Wash U's Jewish a cappella group, will join us for services, dinner, and a concert. Dinner RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Tuesday 11/14. (Dinner will be dairy/vegetarian Italian food.)
And next Saturday (11/18), we'll have New Member Shabbat.
Next Sunday, our Brotherhood is organizing a visit and tour of the Kaplan-Feldman Holocaust Museum. Details and RSVP are here.
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 at 7am (8am on national holidays) 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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