But first, as you know, the Torah contains lots of laws--things you're supposed to do (keep Shabbat, honor your parents, love your neighbor), as well as things you're not supposed to do (murder, eat non-kosher animals, stand idly by the blood of your neighbor).
What then, does the vague commandment "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2) mean? What specific action(s) does it require or prohibit?
One of the most compelling explanations comes from the Ramban(aka Nachmanides), who explains that it means that you should not be a naval birshut haTorah--literaly, "a jerk with the Torah's permission." It's sometimes translated (in a more highfalutin way) as "a degenerate within the framework of the Torah." It means following the literal rules of the Torah while still not following the spirit--being a glutton, a jerk, mean, petty, etc.
It's not enough just to follow the mitzvot--we are commanded to also be decent human beings, in all the ways that law cannot possibly cover.
This is what it means to be holy.
It's not an excuse to not follow the mitzvot--but rather you can think about it as the caulk that goes in between the spaces of the mitzvot. You can't build a structure from caulk, but without the caulk, there's a lot of air and moisture getting in that you don't want.
Most of us are probably pretty good at following formal rules. I find myself wondering though about the ways I'm technically doing what I should, but could do it with more holiness. What about you? But what are the ways we can caulk our lives with holiness?
This Shabbat, we'll celebrate the bat mitzvah of Amalia Padoa Schioppa. Mazal tov to her parents, Camillo Padoa Schioppa & Lori Markson, as well as to her brother Alessandro.
Tonight, Kabbalat Shabbat (no instruments) will be at 6pm. Come sing with me!
Candle lighting is at 7:45pm.
Services tomorrow with Amalia's bat mitzvah and kiddush will begin at 9am.
Shabbat ends at Saturday evening at 8:48pm.
Thursday evening, May 15, we'll gather at Shaw Park for our annual Lag Ba'Omer celebration, from 5-7:30pm. Bring a picnic dinner--ice cream (from 5:30-6:30pm) is on us. We'll light the bonfire at 6pm, and have mincha/ma'ariv at 6:15pm. All the details are here.
Next Shabbat morning (May 17) will be our musical Kol Chadash service.
We'll have Shabbat mincha for the first time in a couple of months that Saturday afternoon at 6:50pm.
There are some great learning opportunities coming up later in May too. Verein is leading a series on "What Do Jews believe?" starting on May 18. May 25 will feature a program by Rabbi James Stone Goodman and Will Soll on the music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. This is a great way to get excited for Neshama Carlebach's visit to Kol Rinah for Summerfest in August!
We don't know what the future will hold for the remaining hostages, who have been in captivity in Gaza now for 581 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
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