Dear Kol Rinah Family,
My sermon from last week is here.
This has been a very difficult and sad week for so many of us.
On October 7, 2023, among the hostages taken by Hamas were Yarden and Shiri Bibas and their two sons, Ariel and Kfir. Ariel was four; Kfir was nine months old.
On February 1, 2025, Yarden was released, emaciated but alive.
This week, it seemed that the bodies of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir would be returned. The scene of their return was infuriating, and then the news came that it seems that Ariel and Kfir were killed, brutally, by Hamas, and not, as had been claimed by Hamas, by an Israeli missile. And then, more news--that the body presented as that of Shiri Bibas is not actually her, but rather an unidentified woman.
Just typing this all this brings tears to my eyes. I'm trying just to sit in the sadness now, and not to be distracted by all the questions of what this says (or does not say) about Hamas and Gaza, of what this means (or does not mean) for Israelis, the ceasefire, and the return of the rest of the rest of the hostages. But this is all so hard, and so sad.
On Sunday at 4pm in Shaw Park, there will be a St. Louis Jewish community gathering: “Together in Light: Honoring the Hostages,” a simple candlelight gathering focused on solidarity and support. Details are here. Candles will be provided, or bring your own.
One way to hold this heaviness is through being together.
Beginning in March, our Israel Committee will be convening "Compassionate Conversations" around Israel, facilitated by Cyndee Levy. Details and signup (by February 21--today) are here. Among the goals are to foster a spirit of mutual respect for divergent perspectives and to serve as a model for how we, as a community, can comfortably engage in discussions when there is conflict. I'm so grateful to our Israel Committee and its chairs Shula Neuman and Rena Munster for their leadership.
This is going to be an amazing experience, and I'm really proud of our shul for offering this. There is space left--if you're considering signing up, please do so ASAP!!! The deadline is today.
Tonight, candle lighting is at 5:30pm.
We'll have a musical Kabbalat Shabbat with Karen Kern, Will Soll and me at 6pm. Coming together to sing in Shabbat is another way of holding ourselves up.
Tomorrow morning is New Member Shabbat--come to celebrate all of our new members!
We'll start at 9am in the sanctuary.
Also at 9am will be Will Soll's Maavar service:
9-10:10 a.m • Ma'avar ("Transition")
Celebrating the transition from one month to the next
Ma'avar is a service led by Will Soll that welcomes the coming month through text, discussion, meditation, prayer, song, and music. It will end in time for participants to join the main service for Torah reading or attend Torah Talk.
Cyndee Levy will be leading Torah Talk at 10:10am.
Tot Shabbat with Karen Kern will be at 10:45am.
At the end of services (right before kiddush and Adol Olam), we'll have a short ceremony to welcome and bless our new members.
Kiddush will follow services.
Shabbat ends at 6:28pm.
Next Saturday morning (March 1) will be Kol Chadash, our musical Shabbat morning service, starting at 9:30am. Last Kol Chadash, we bid farewell to Rabbi Scott Shafrin, Rabbi Jessica Shafrin, Amitai and Nadav, as they prepared to move from St. Louis.
This coming Kol Chadash, we'll welcome two new members to the Kol Chadash team: Gavriel Savit-Woods and Avi Mazzeo. Also, that Saturday--March 1--will be Rosh Chodesh, so we'll be saying Hallel--the extra psalms of praise we say on holidays. We're working up an amazing musical Hallel, and are so excited to sing with you all. Don't miss it!
Here's a Spotify playlist of some of the melodies we'll be using during Hallel, and here's a Spotify playlist of much of what we regularly do at Kol Chadash.
As hostages thankfully continue (God-willing) to be released, we will continue each Shabbat morning to read this prayer by liturgist Alden Solovy. The hostages still in Gaza have been in captivity for 504 days. May they all come home soon.
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
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Phone: 314-727-1747