Dear Kol Rinah Family,
How do we see this moment?
Is this the beginning (or the middle!) of the end of the oppressive, murderous Iranian regime, or the beginning (or continuation) of its increased radicalization, isolation and dangerousness?
When it comes to Israel and Iran, who is the giant, and who is the grasshopper?
In the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, are recent developments a pause and small and temporary step backward, or the beginning of a overwhelming reversal of law and opinion?
(I'll have more to say about this last question tomorrow at Pride Shabbat.)
The spies who we read about in this week's Torah portion (Shelach) who go to scout out the land of Israel come back with a report that says that the land is unconquerable, that the people there are giants and "we looked like grasshoppers to ourselves, and so we must have looked to them" (Numbers 13:33).
Two spies, Caleb and Joshua, are of a different opinion.
What separates Caleb and Joshua from the other ten spies is not their military expertise, or their better eyesight. The facts are not in dispute; rather it's their interpretation. It's Caleb and Joshua's faith that God will enable the Israelites to prevail that convinces or enables them to speaking encouragingly about the Israelites' chances.
We want to be people of faith, but also we want to be people of fact.
We are challenged to be faithful and hopeful, and yet also clear-eyed and fact-focused.
My heart reaches toward our siblings in Israel, who will spend another Shabbat in proximity to their bomb shelters. My heart turns towards our trans siblings in America, who are feeling less seen, less safe, less welcomed.
And let us not forget about the hostages, who have been in captivity now 623 days, amidst the ongoing war in Gaza where civilians continue to suffer.
Tonight, we'll gather at 6pm for Kabbalat Shabbat (no instruments). Bring your hopes, fears and uncertainties as we sing together to welcome Shabbat.
Candle lighting is at 8:11pm.
Tomorrow, starting at 9am we'll celebrate Pride Shabbat.
At 9:30am, Will Soll will lead our monthly Ma'avar service:
He writes:
We begin with the same intention as before--to welcome the approaching Hebrew month--and in the same place: the Pre-K classroom. But we will now be starting at a later time: 9:30 a.m. The first forty minutes will be devoted to songs and prayers related to the month of Tammuz and employing the earliest form of the Shema.
At 10:10 a.m. Ma'avar moves to the Community Hall for a Torah Talk session which will also relate to the impending month. We'll look at Tammuz in text and tradition, including connections with this week's parsha, an ancient mystical interpretation of the calendar, demons in doorways, and how the low points of our ancient history find themselves in the dog days of summer.
I'll be speaking about Pride Shabbat, and we'll have a Pride-themed kiddush.
Saturday evening at 7:10pm, we'll have mincha, followed by some food and learning, then ma'ariv and havdalah.
Shabbat ends at 9:14pm.
Looking back for a moment to last Shabbat, mazal tov again to Cooper Woollen on his bar mitzvah last Shabbat, and mazal tov too to his parents Stefanie and Bryce, his sister Sydney, and his grandparents, our members Diane and Harold Sanger, and Phyllis Marcus.
Looking to the coming week or so...
This Tuesday night at 7pm is the last of our three sessions with Rabbi Daniel Sentell on Jewish business ethics. The first two sessions were great, and the third session, "They Might Be Talking About You: Confidentiality and Jewish Law" will be excellent too! Come join us, even if you haven't been to the first two.
Next Friday night we'll have our first (but second scheduled--the first was rained out) Friday night at the Park, at the Shaw Park South Shelter, at 6pm, with an abbreviated Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv. We'll bring grape juice and challah, you can bring a picnic dinner.
Sunday afternoon June 29 at 4pm, Verein will present its next program on "What Do Jews Believe?" At this session, Richard Gavatin will be presenting on Atheism & Agnosticism.
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, Happy Pride, 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