I've been slowly reading my teacher Rabbi Shai Held's extraordinary new book, Judaism is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life. It's one long meditation (deeply researched and footnoted) on different dimensions of love in Judaism, including on how God loves us, love within family, loving neighbors, what Judaism says about loving enemies (haven't gotten to that chapter yet), and what it means to act out of love.
It's this week's Torah portion, Kedoshim (the middle of Leviticus and really of whole Torah) that says, "love your neighbor as your self" (Lev. 19:18).
Love, for Shai Held, is not only an emotion, or about action, though. He describes it as a disposition--we won't always at every moment feel love or act in a loving way, but we should try to be people inclined towards love, with a disposition of or towards love.
What would it look like for you to be a bit more disposed towards love?
I'll be teaching in my sermon on Saturday about the first part of the verse I quoted above: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people." It's interesting and challenging material!
Tonight, join Karen Kern, Will Soll and me at 6pm for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat and ma'ariv. Candle lighting is at 7:45pm.
Tomorrow, we'll start at 9am. It's Enchanting Shabbat, with congregants reading Torah. (No Torah Talk tomorrow.) Tot Shabbat is at 10:45am.
Shabbat ends at 8:49pm.
Sunday night and Monday is Yom HaZikaron (Israel's memorial day), and Monday night and Tuesday is Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel's independence day). Details on the community's observance (Sunday evening at the J and Tuesday evening at Chesterfield Amphitheater) are here.
Our shinshinit Or Garti has put together displays for Yom HaZikaron (in our memorial alcove) and Yom HaAtzmaut (on the KoREH bulletin board). Check them out!
There's a group that's working on Kol Rinah's plans for Pride Month. If you're interested in being involved, let me know asap and I'll connect you!
As I mentioned last week, if you know any Kol Rinah college students, I'd love to hear from them and find a time to talk and hear more about their experiences on campus this semester. Put them in touch with me!
A couple of other reminders. If you know anyone who's sick and you'd like to put them on our mishebeirach list (our list of people whose health we're praying for), let me know. If you or someone you know are dealing with a medical (or other) issue and you'd like to talk, or know someone who would appreciate a visit in the hospital or at home, let me know!
If you or someone you know needs some financial support, let me know, or have them be in touch with me.
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.
Shabbat shalom and 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
MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.
Phone: 314-727-1747