Rabbis' Weekly Message

Dear Kol Rinah Family,

Kol Rinah has been participating this month in the now-annual Clean Speech initiative.  Today's message features our member (and Community Learning Committee Chair) Lisa Schlesinger.  

I have heard from twelve (12) members of Kol Rinah so far who have voted in the World Zionist Congress elections.  If you have already voted, email me and let me know!  

If you have not yet voted, vote, and reply to this email and let me know you've voted!  If you've voted already, make sure everyone eligible in your household has voted too.  

As a reminder, World Zionist Congress (WZC) elections are open now, through May 4.  Voting costs $5.  There are some restrictions--among them, you have to be 18 by June 30, 2025, not vote in Israeli elections, and live in the US.  

The delegates and the bodies those elected form at the WZC determine the leadership and influence the policies of Israel’s National Institutions: the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet Leyisrael (JNF) and Keren Hayesod – which together allocate over $1 billion annually in funding in support of Israel and Jewish communities around the world.  These organizations have real power and influence in Israel and Israeli society, as well as in organizations around the globe.  

To vote, first you have to register, and then they'll email or text you (your choice) a pin #, which you enter with your email address to vote.  (It may take a few minutes after you register for the text or email with your pin # to arrive.)

Then you have to choose which slate to vote for.  There are 22 different slates, and you can read about each of them.

I voted for Mercaz-USA, the Conservative Movement's slate.  I know many of the delegates, and you may recognize a few names too, including Hazzan Joanna Dulkin.  

While I endorse and recommend voting for Mercaz-USA, there are many other slates too, some of which are wonderful, and some of which really do not share Kol Rinah's values.  

Email me if you have already voted, or when you do vote.  I'll let you know next Friday how many votes I've been told about.  

***

Last week's email accidentally omitted saying anything about Friday night services (which were indeed happening).  And we had our biggest crowd in several weeks!  Go figure.  

We'll gather again tonight at 6pm for Kabbalat Shabbat (no instruments).  Hope to see you! 

Candle lighting tonight will be at 7:05pm.  

There is A LOT happening tomorrow morning!  

Services begin at 9am.

Also at 9am, our Ma'avar service, led by Will Soll, will be meeting.  
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. 

It is Enchanting Shabbat, so we'll be having congregants read Torah.  We'll be completing the book of Exodus, and also it's Shabbat HaChodesh, the last of the four special Shabbatot leading up to Passover.  

There will not be Torah Talk tomorrow. 

We'll also during the Torah service be giving a Jewish name to Julia England, daughter of Allison Shenker & Phillip England.  Mazal tov to Allison and Phil, big sister Madalyn, and grandparents Janice and Mitch Shenker.  

Also tomorrow morning, we'll have two opportunities to learn more about Israel.  Lee Gordon, cofounder of the Yad b'Yad ("Hand-in-Hand") schools--Israel's largest network of bilingual, multicultural Jewish-Arab schools, will be speaking during services, at about 11am.  

Following a great, Israeli-themed kiddush after services, Lee and Dr. Ayala Hendin will lead a conversation.  Ayala is an Israel Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis who researches Israeli politics, policy, and society, focusing on education and higher education.This will be a great opportunity to hear more about Israel!  

Shabbat ends at 8:03pm.  

Next Shabbat (April 5) will be our musical Kol Chadash service.  

*** 

Passover is coming.  All the details are here.  

Tuesday night, I shared some readings and questions to use at your Passover seders. Here's a link to much of what a shared.  Let me know if you have questions.  As I receive more Passover materials, I'll add them to the resources at the bottom of that document.  

RSVPs for our congregational second seder (Sunday evening, April 13 at 6:30pm) are due on April 7.  If you would like to attend but cost is challening, please let me know.  

Throughout the rest of March, KoREH is collecting used sports equipment.  If you have sports equipment no one is using anymore sitting in a closet, bring it by and put it in the bin in the lobby, so it can get rehomed, and used! 

We don't know what the future will hold for the remaining hostages, who have been in captivity in Gaza now for 539 days.  May they all come home soon.  

Kol Rinah now has an Instagram feed 
as well as Facebook  account!