Dear Kol Rinah Family,
Hanukkah begins Sunday night. It comes every year at the darkest time, when the days are the shortest and the sun is at its weakest. In that darkness, we light a first candle. It's one little light in so much darkness. And there is an awful lot of darkness, in a lot of hearts, and homes, and places, in the world.
I want to be clear--even all eight candles burning brightly don't fix the world, or our broken hearts.
Rather, to me at least, the candles are a reminder that light can exist amidst darkness. The candles can help us remember brighter, warmer times in our past, and remind us that the real darkness we feel right now will be brightened, whether by sunshine, time, love, healing, or maybe by something unexpected.
Our own darknesses don't operate on the predictable schedule of the days and the solstices. But we know, even as it's hard to remember sometimes, that we have seasons of joy, and seasons of sorrow, and no season lasts forever. Moreover, joy and sorrow coexist in our hearts and lives in different balances at every moment.
Hanukkah reminds us of what joy can look like, when it can be hard to see, hard to find, in the world, and in our hearts.
What are the ways you need Hanukkah this year? What is your encroaching darkness? What are the candles, the light, you can find, and light, and create in the world, and in your own life and heart?
Here are the Hanukkah blessings, with links to how one can sing them too.
Hadar has a great packet of things to read and discuss with kids each night of Hanukkah. They also have a similar thing for adults. Both are beautiful, and a great thing to do with a family member or friend of any age, or just by yourself, by the light of the candles.
I won't call this light reading, but the Shalom Hartman Institute's journal Sources has its Fall/Winter 2025 issue out, entitled "Two Years Since 10/7." It has many thoughtful essays on Jewish life and community that I recommend.
Looking back to last Shabbat, mazal tov to Jonah Abeles, son of Stacy and Eli (of blessed memory) Abeles. Mazal tov as well Stacy, to Jonah's brother Aaron, and to Jonah's grandparents, Rochelle Sapot and our members Bette and Ron Abeles.
Candle lighting tonight is at 4:22pm.
Tonight, join me for Kabbalat Shabbat 6pm (no instruments). It'll be nice to be together.
For your planning, next Friday night (12/19), Karen Kern, Will Soll and I will all be here for very musical Friday night service. The following Friday night (12/26), Karen and Will will be here for another musical service.
Speaking of music, tomorrow morning starting at 9:30am is our musical Kol Chadash service. We have some great new melodies and some old favorites we're working up. This Spotify playlist has many of the melodies we do, so take a listen!
Shabbat ends tomorrow evening at 5:24pm.
Kol Rinah's Annual Meeting will be this Sunday, December 14 at 10am. You can come in person or watch the livestream of it.
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings December 16 and 17, we'll be trying a new way of celebrating Hanukkah for Kol Rinah--"Hanukkah at Home." A number of Kol Rinah members have opened up their homes to host Hanukkah celebrations, and you are welcome to sign up to attend one (or more!). This is a lovely way to get to know some Kol Rinah people in a more relaxed environment. Details and signup here.
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