Dear Kol Rinah Family,
I'll tell you what I was thinking (and said out loud to my only slightly impatient family) last night as we lit the first candle of Hanukkah.
We all know the legend of the miracle of Hanukkah--that after winning a miraculous military victory against the Greeks, and rededicating the Temple, the Maccabees had enough oil for only one night, but it lasted for eight days.
So why do we light a candle for the first night--there was no miracle that night--there was enough oil. One explanation is that the first candle is for the military victory.
But the explanation I need this year is that starting something without knowing how it will turn it out is an act of faith, an act of hope, and is not at all easy.
We don't know what the rest of this Hanukkah will hold for any of us, for the Jewish people collectively. But by lighting that first candle, we are moving forward with one step, one day at a time, with hope and faith that we'll be able to light a candle the 2nd night, and the 3rd night, all the way through Hanukkah, and to keep going at this uncertain time.
I don't always love or need kavvanot (intentions or focuses) for Hanukkah candle lighting, but I want them more this year. The Shalom Hartman Institute has a beautiful short intention for each night focusing on different values and qualities. Hadar has a packet that contains a little bit of study for each night of Hanukkah, something to enjoy while enjoying the light of the candles.
There's one more thought about Hanukkah I want to share. Imagining ourselves in the role of the few but valiant Maccabees fighting an oppressive military force that doesn't quite fit this year. Sadly, Gazans perhaps can better imagine themselves as Maccabees than we can this year.
But here's the way I feel like a Maccabee this year. There are so many extremists, of every flavor. People who hate Jews and Israel. Jews who hate Palestinians and Muslims. People who will fight, violently, against a peace that results in anything less than their side's complete and total hegemony.
There are people who don't see calls for genocide as reprehensible, whether calls on college campuses for a(nother) genocide of Jews, or calls by Jews for a genocide or ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Extremists are people who are intentionally getting in the way of the hopes for long-term peace.
Being a Maccabee for me this year means for me to be passionately and actively moderate, and uncertain, and humble, and hopeful.
What does being a Maccabee mean for you this year?
***
As a reminder, scammers are still impersonating rabbis, including me, via email. I'll only email you from my Kol Rinah email address, and will never ask you for money or gift cards or account information!
These two (here and here) a cappella Hanukkah videos feature melodies from Time Magazine's person of the year. They brought me joy.
Tonight, we light Hanukkah candles first, then Shabbat candles. Candle lighting is at 4:22pm.
We'll gather at 6pm for a musical, Hanukkah-inflected Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv. Join us to sing away the darkness!
Tomorrow morning, we'll start at 9am. We'll sing Hallel for Hanukkah, and have lots of different people reading Torah for Enchanting Shabbat.
At about 10:15am, Joyce Olshan will lead Torah Talk, on: "What did your Sunday School teacher NOT teach you about Chanukah - and what does it have to do with Joseph?"
Our shinshinit Or Garti will be speaking as part of services.
A Hanukkah-themed Tot Shabbat will start at 10:45am, and a Hanukkah-themed kiddush will follow services.
At 3:25pm, we'll have Shabbat mincha, maariv and Havdalah, with some food and learning.
Shabbat ends at 5:24pm. We don't light Hanukkah candles Saturday night until Shabbat is over.
Sunday will be a busy day!
Sunday morning as part of parent learning for KoREH, the whole community is invited to learn wth Nina Needleman, a retired financial planner who regularly writes and teaches about finances to various non-profits and community groups. She will be sharing her insight with us about finances and kids. Topics will include: saving, spending, budgeting, tzedakah, and needs vs. wants. This session begins at 9:15am in the sanctuary.
At 1pm there will be a March for Israel in the Delmar Loop. I'll be there, and I hope you'll join me and St. Louis Jewish community.
And also Sunday afternoon and evening, join Kol Rinah and the whole communiy for Hanukkah at Garden Glow at the Botanical Gardens.
Looking ahead to next Sunday (12/17), at 11:30am we'll have a blood drive. We need a few more people to sign up to make sure we have enough people coming to run the drive.
At 4pm next Sunday (also 12/17), we'll have our annual congregational meeting(Zoom and in person), where we'll have updates on the state of the congregation, and vote on new board members.
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 still reciting a prayer for the State of Israel, a prayer for Israel Defense Forces soldiers, and a prayer for hostages.
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
|
|
