Dear Kol Rinah Family,
As we enter a season of gifts, it's worth thinking about the qualities and purposes of the objects (or experiences) we're buying, creating, giving and receiving.
Some gifts are unsentimental and practical (and perhaps a touch judgmental). Undershirts. A snow/ice scraper for your car. A new garbage can.
Other gifts are not so useful but meaningful - a siddur (prayer book) that belonged to a grandparent, that's being handed down. A piece of inexpensive art featuring a theme the receiver especially likes (i.e. water polo or cheetahs).
What exactly does Jacob acquire when he buys his brother Esau's birthright for a pot of lentils, something useful or something meaningful?
There are essentially two different answers. One is that Jacob acquires something of monetary value--an extra portion allocated to the first-born child, as well as various rights and obligations associated with the role that can create financial value. This would fall into the "useful" basket.
A different approach is suggested by Rashi: "At that time, religious rituals were still performed by the first-born. Jacob thought, 'this wicked man is not worthy of offering sacrifices before the Holy One.'"
This is to say, Jacob acquired something of spiritual (or some other kind of) value, that was valuable to him, but perhaps not valuable to another person. This is more akin to water polo art, although obviously of much greater meaning.
Sometimes, we make decisions that are based on need, practicalities, finances, fiduciary responsibility. Other times we make decisions that are emotional, sentimental, spiritual.
The ideal, of course, at least in my mind, when it comes to gifts, is to find things that are both useful and meaningful - water polo socks, an antique or vintage cheetah snow scraper.
But Jacob doesn't acquire this birthright for nothing. He takes advantage of his brother's hunger/exhaustion/desperation.
I wouldn't be so thrilled to receive a gift acquired in such a manner. I appreciate what last week's bar mitzvah, Asher Fox taught, that just as Abraham wanted to pay full price for a burial place for Sarah, there are times when it's actually good to pay full price--it can be a sign of respect for the person we're buying for, and also it can be a way of not taking advantage of the people we're buying from.
This is not to say don't shop Black Friday sales. But the way we acquire something is part of the process of giving the gift, and can reflect the values of the person we're giving to.
May we all find the right gifts for the people in our lives, and may we each receive gifts both meaningful and useful, that were acquired in ways that make us proud.
Speaking of Asher Fox, mazal tov again to him, his parents Brett and Jada, his siblings Autumn and Liav, and his grandmother, our member Arlene Fox.
Candle lighting tonight will be at 4:26pm.
Kabbalat Shabbat services will be at 6pm in the chapel. Karen Kern, Will Soll and I will be leading a musical service, for the first time together in a bunch of weeks. It'll be great--come sing with us!
Tomorrow morning, we'll start as usual at 9am. It's Enchanting Shabbat, with congregants doing the Torah reading.
Cyndee Levy will be leading Torah Talk at about 10:10am.
A mini-kiddush will follow.
Shabbat ends at 5:26pm.
Next week is Thanksgiving. Minyan Thursday morning will be in-person as usual, but at 8am, not 7am. And minyan Thursday evening will still be on Zoom at 6pm.
The office will be closed Thursday and Friday, but Shabbat next week will still be happening!
Coming up early in December: Monday night December 1 will be our monthly Short Story Discussion Group, at 7pm on Zoom. Check back soon for December's story.
Tuesday, December 2 at 2pm we'll be featuring an in-person program here at the synagogue on "Art and Humanity in Peril: The Story of Degenerate Art."
Bill Sitzer, docent and educator at the St. Louis Art Museum, will provide an illustrated introduction to art labeled 'degenerate' by the Nazi party. Bill is a fascinating lecturer with deep experience in guiding discussion and promoting visual literacy. RSVP here.
We have some new and lovely Hanukkah gatherings in the works--details coming soon.
Finally, as a reminder, if you or someone you know is sick or ailing and could use a call, a text, a visit, a card, or to be added to the mishebeirach list (the list of people for whose healing we are praying), whether from me or from our dedicated Chesed (caring) Committee, email me or call and let the office know.
Shabbat shalom, happy Thanksgiving, 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