Dear Kol Rinah Family,
There's a lot in this email this week--read to the end!
Here's a d'var Torah I wrote for T'ruah on this week's Torah portion, Parashat Vayikra.
I have heard now from 24 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.
***
Services tonight with Karen Kern and Will Soll will be at 6pm.
Candle lighting tonight will be at 7:11pm.
Tomorrow morning beginning at 9:30am will be our musical Kol Chadash service. We're bringing three new melodies this week:
1. a beautiful niggun by Zusha (Spotify) or Youtube.
2. a new Ahava Rabbah by Rabbi Josh Warshawsky (Spotify) or Youtube.
3. a new melody for Hashiveinu by Joey Weisenberg (Spotify) or Youtube.
A full Spotify playlist of lots of what we do at Kol Chadash is here.
Kiddush will follow services.
Shabbat ends at 8:11pm.
***
This Sunday morning (April 6) at 10am, Ben Greene will be speaking at Kol Rinah. Ben is an outstanding (Jewish) transgender activist and educator--this is going to be a great program of learning and storytelling. All are invited!!!
Thanks to Becky Mollett and the Tzedek Committee for organizing.
Related, if you're interested in helping to organize Pride Shabbat in June (June 21), let me know!
***
Passover is coming. All the details are here.
A couple of weeks ago, 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. I've added a few more links since last week!
RSVPs for our congregational second seder (Sunday evening, April 13 at 6:30pm) are due on Monday, April 7. If you would like to attend but cost is challening, please let me know.
Thursday, April 10 is the Fast of the Firstborn. (Usually it's the day before Passover, but since Passover begins Saturday night, we don't fast on Shabbat usually, and we also usually don't fast on Fridays, so it's moved to Thursday.) I am on schedule to make a siyyum (a completion ceremony) on Masechet Rosh Hashanah, a tractate of Talmud. In honor of that, everyone in attendance will have to eat something, and won't be able to fast. Come join us--services start at 7am, and the siyyum will be at about 7:45am, with some bagels right after.
***
One of the most impactful Jewish experiences a kid can have is Jewish overnight camp. It's also expensive. Camp Ben Frankel, an outstanding Jewish overnight camp in located in southern Illinois, has secured funding to make camp dramatically more affordable for kids attending for the first time. The flyer with info is here.
***
We don't know what the future will hold for the remaining hostages, who have been in captivity in Gaza now for 546 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