Dear Kol Rinah Family,
"Beginning with the month of Elul until Yom Kippur, when you write a letter to your friend you should mention, either at the beginning or at the end, that you pray for them and bless them to be worthy during the forthcoming Days of Judgment to be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Good Life" (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:2).
I taught on Wednesday about some of the more obscure halakhot (laws) and minhagim (customs) of the season of repentance, and this was one of the first ideas we encountered and discussed.
How would it feel to put at the beginning or the end of an email, let's say, to a Jewish friend, "I am praying for you and bless you to be worthy during the forthcoming Days of Judgment to be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Good Life"?
They may not be used to you speaking (writing) like this, and might be a bit taken aback. But if they were to think about it, and understood that you meant it sincerely, and not ironically or in a formulaic way, I wonder if it could actually be lovely to realize there's someone praying and thinking about them and for their spiritual (and moral!) life.
And for us to write this to someone with sincerity, we have to actually care about them, and also be taking seriously this season and the opportunities (God-willing) it offers.
If you were going to rewrite the prescribed sentence in your own way, what would you say? I'd welcome your blessings and prayers, and will try to respond with my own if you send one to me! But the daring part would be to send one to someone else--let me know if you're brave enough to try, and let me know how it goes.
Looking back to last Shabbat, mazal tov to Leela Ferrendelli, who celebrated her bat mitzvah. Mazal tov as well as to her mother, Laurie Landay, and her father, Mike Ferrendelli.
Tonight we'll gather at 6pm for Kabbalat Shabbat and ma'ariv (no instruments).
Candle lighting is getting earlier - 7:07pm.
Tomorrow morning we'll start at 9am, and we'll celebrate New Baby Shabbat. Cuteness will abound.
I'll be leading Torah Talk at about 10:10am, where we'll be looking at a little section of the Torah from this week's Parashat Ki Tetzei I will readily confess to never having noticed, which considers the limits of punishments, as well as the immediate change a person undergoes in status as a sinner when being punished to "our sibling" the moment their punishment is complete. Come study with me!
Karen Kern will lead Tot Shabbat (the New Baby Edition) starting at 10:45am, and kiddush will follow services. (There will be solid food.)
Shabbat ends at 8:03pm.
Sunday at 3pm, we'll be having a special program on the painter Edward Boccia, who painted the ten large paintings mounted to the ceiling of the Staenberg Family Community Hall that previously were in the sanctuary at BSKI. We'll be showing a documentary about Boccia, and then hearing from his daughter and our member (and board chair) Gary Kodner about Boccia's relationship with BSKI, and they'll take questions as well. Details are here--this will be a very special program!
Wednesday evening, September 11 here at the synagogue, we'll have Intruder Training. This is especially relevant for anyone who ever serves as a greeter, and for people who are here with any regularity. Please come if you can. Sign up and details are here.
Saturday, September 13, will be Heirloom Shabbat, and we'll also hear that morning, both during services and then after kiddush, from Uri Keidar, the executive director of Israel Hofsheet and a leading advocate for freedom of choice in how Jews live, marry, and express their Judaism in Israel.
Next Saturday night, September 13 is Selichot. We'll begin at 8:30pm with havdalah, and then have some learning on "Humor: Laughing into the Days of Awe." Even amidst the solemnity of the Days of Awe, Jews have always found room for laughter — at ourselves, at each other, even (gently) at God. Together we’ll explore the meaning and power of humor during this season, through stories, jokes, and teachings that lighten the weight of judgment and open the heart to joy. Bring your favorite High Holiday jokes, as we begin to return to our truest selves with humility, honesty, and a smile.
We'll start Selichot at 9:30pm. The singing, the melodies, the words of Selichot are intended to get us into the spirit of these holidays, and I hope you'll come for one of the best nights of singing we do all year.
All the High Holiday details are on the website here.
Let us not forget about the hostages, who have been in captivity now an appalling 700 days, amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer.
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 at 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