11/14/2021 09:04:11 PM
Nov14
Wednesday and Thursday our chapel became the workspace for Rabbi Moshe Druin, our Sofer On Site. Rabbi Druin travels the country repairing Torahs. Last week he was in St. Louis. This week he is in Arizona. I spent some time talking with him and watching him work. His job requires a wealth of knowledge about the text, a skill with ink and a quill pen and the dexterity to repair damaged and worn scrolls. He told me his job is never dull, he learns something new every day and he gets to travel and meet people all over the country. Isn’t that something we all strive for? Using our skills to help others, meeting new people and learning something every day.
One of my favorite things now about Friday mornings is attending the Shabbat celebration with our rabbis and the children from the ECC. It is so much fun, and there is such energy in the sanctuary with everyone singing, Rabbi Shafrin playing the guitar and the rabbis and kids dancing to the songs. It is a joyous way to wrap up the week.
Monroe Ginsburg and Steve Keyser planned the Shabbat service to honor our veterans. Ben Weintraub, a World War II veteran, told stories of his time in uniform. His stories included details of his training, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and being at a concentration camp when it was opened and the prisoners were freed. He told the stories with humor and reverence for the situations he was in and the human cost of the war. My father, 96, also fought in the Battle of the Bulge but did not talk about his experience in the war until he was in his late 80’s. It is so important for us all to hear these stories. If you know a veteran, ask them about their experience. Perhaps they too will open up and tell stories with reverence for the experience, and some humor.
Many people ask me what we are doing in-person with our COVID-19 protections. It is a lot. You can attend Shabbat morning and evening services, sign up for the Fitness & Flexibility class, celebrate Hanukkah with a fire dancer and attend a very special weekend of singing with our scholar in residence Deborah Sachs Mintz. Check the website for all the details on these programs.
10/31/2021 10:25:09 AM
Oct31
It is a coincidence, but I have attended a few reunions in the past week. I used to play soccer on a women’s adult team and a member of the team got the group back together for her birthday. She said she couldn’t picture another group of people she would rather be with to celebrate turning 60. A friend from high school was in town and several of us had an impromptu reunion over lunch. And the Jewish leadership cohort I participated in for a year met for the first time since the pandemic for a reunion happy hour. All these very different groups of people are so important to me and represent an important part of my life and growth. They are each an example of small groups dedicated to learning or achieving something together that connected us to something much bigger.
This got me thinking about our congregation. How is each member connected to the whole? Is it through a committee? Lifelong friends who are members? Attending minyan or Shabbat services? What is it that connects us each to the whole congregation? For me it was the facilities committee. Working closely with members of the committee to figure out and make recommendations on how to proceed with our building was my path to feel connected to the whole congregation. Now? It is our fabulous staff that are such a joy to work with every day.
The leadership, led by Gary Kodner and Joel Portman, has been focused on engagement. We are focused on providing opportunities for you to find that group of like-minded people within the congregation who make the shul your Jewish home. As we learn how to live with COVID-19 and what it is safe to do, we are providing more opportunities to gather in person for services, celebrations and other activities. Watch the website, read the e-mails, see what we are doing and look for that place where you can find your group. And if you don’t see it? Want to try something new? Just call. Let’s talk about it. Chances are someone else is interested too.
My claim to fame playing soccer? I had a pretty mean kick and could send the ball far down the field. Best part of playing? When I get back together with this group of women I know I am with my team.
Last week we hosted a meeting and building tour for the Federation’s JPro Building Managers Affinity Group. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation, this is a group of professionals responsible for managing their buildings that meet throughout the year to share information and update each other on their building projects. It was wonderful to host the first in-person meeting since the pandemic and be the tour guide for this group of knowledgeable professionals. The response was great with questions about lighting and HVAC controls and lots of interest in how we incorporated legacy artwork throughout the building. I love showing people our building as we have such a wonderful story to tell.
Members of the JPro Building Managers Affinity Group
09/20/2021 01:34:44 PM
Sep20
I have been thinking about all the people attending services in person the past two weeks, many seeing the building for the first time. There have been many first times to a new building in our collective past. When I had some quiet time during services last week, I looked through the volumes of Walter Ehrlich’s Zion in the Valley, about the history of the Jewish communities in St. Louis. Not counting our current building, between our three legacy congregations, Brith Shalom, Knesseth Israel and Shaare Zedek, we have moved approximately eleven times, twice into former churches.
This High Holy Days marks the first time we have opened our doors wide for our members and guests to gather, pray and spend time together since we finished construction and the pandemic began. It felt so good to have the building full of people, to have services in the Sanctuary and Community Hall, to see people reading quietly in the Bill Solomon Gallery and to see so many attending the Young Families service in and around the tent in the courtyard. It showed us how much people want to be together and brought our building to life.
Construction of the early childcare center is complete, and the complex process of county and state inspections is nearly finished as well. Liz Collins, our ECC director, and her staff have worked tirelessly to have the classrooms ready for the kids. We all should give a huge shout-out and thank you to Rhiannon Kaye who has volunteered an overwhelming number of hours working with Liz and our contractor to have the space ready. Our architects, Patterhn Ives, designed a beautiful, light filled space and thanks to Liz, Rhiannon and many others it will soon be full of energetic kids.
08/24/2021 10:26:04 AM
Aug24
This past week the ReOpen Task Force met and after a lengthy, in-depth discussion made changes to our COVID-19 protocols. The biggest change is that we now require proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 36 hours to attend services or an event. This also applies to the staff. We have seen firsthand how contagious the Delta variant is and must take more precautions to keep our members, guests, and staff safe from the virus.
Masks are required at all times in the building and anyone not properly wearing a mask will be asked to do if they do not comply will be asked to leave.
All of the protocols are posted under the COVID-19 section of the website and can be seen here.
So much is happening in the building. Many projects designed to make the building our home are being completed in anticipation of the High Holidays. The furniture is installed in the Bill Solomon Gallery, so we now have a place to sit, gather or read quietly. Panels are installed in the lobby to improve the acoustics and tomorrow, some of our legacy stained glass is being installed.
Our contractor, BSI, is working to complete the ECC in anticipation of it opening on September 1st. The ECC furniture is coming out of storage, new equipment is being delivered and the staff is preparing for the children.
On Sunday the Tzedek team hosted a meeting in the courtyard where we learned from members of the Sierra Club about the Mayors for 100% Clean Energy project. We also gave guided tours of the building so our members and their guests could see, many for the first time, the results of the hard work and many hours our volunteers have put in to make our building a realty.
With the new protocols we will continue to figure out how we can come together safely and enjoy this wonderful spiritual space we have worked so hard to create.
08/02/2021 10:15:00 AM
Aug2
Planning, writing, editing, printing, folding, stuffing and stamping. The office has been buzzing the past two weeks preparing for the High Holidays. There are many details to figure out as we plan for celebrating these important holy days in our new building as the concerns about the COVID-19 virus rise.
We are having services in-person. Masks are required and we will ask anyone not properly wearing a mask to do so.
We also are asking that you RSVP. This helps us to plan for the numbers of people attending and for parking. You will not be turned away if you do not RSVP, but it is a big help us to know you are coming.
For parking, we are reserving our lot for those who require accessible parking due to health restrictions. The lot is reserved for that purpose, but we do not have individual reserved spaces. It is first come – first serve.
We also have arranged with Pierre Laclede Center for parking on the surface lot across Maryland Avenue and in the garage with the entrance on Forsyth.
We are handling name tags differently this year. Included in the information you received in the mail are blank name tags to use for several services. Please fill them out at home. Include your name, note if you are on the board or a committee, decorate it, tell us something about yourself. We look forward to seeing your creativity!
All the information about the High Holiday’s was mailed to our members and is on the website. This time, unlike the Passover packet that arrived for many two months after the holiday, the mail was delivered after two days. I encourage everyone to check the website often as we continue to add information or, if needed, make changes due to the virus.
I am writing this on Sunday afternoon. Earlier today we sent a text message to all our members with a link to the High Holiday page on the website. We are using text messages as another way to reach our members about upcoming events. Please let me know if this is helpful as we continue to look for ways to keep everyone informed about the activities at the synagogue.
The ECC construction is proceeding quickly. Liz Collins, our ECC director, has been coming in several times a week to work out of the administration office in preparation for opening in September. It has been wonderful getting to spend time with Liz as we work out details on shared areas of the building, security and parking. We look forward to having all the kids and activity in the building.
07/19/2021 09:59:58 AM
Jul19
Justice, Justice you shall pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20). I love that. It goes to the core of why I love being a Jew – justice is central to how we treat each other and people in the broader community. And I love being a part of a synagogue that takes that idea to heart in its words and actions.
This past week Benjamin Singer gave a presentation at the board meeting on what Tzedek, our social justice team, is doing and its plans for future activities. They have several projects underway, including writing cards for seniors at Brentmoor and Crown Center (pick up blank cards at the office and Young Families programs) and the Reverse Tashlich stream clean in August.
In June some of the members participated in a training program with JOIN for Justice. They continue to look for issues important to our community and align with our mission. During the High Holy Days, members of Tzedek will lead a breakout discussion group on renewing our approach to helping others and building a better world.
Please watch for information on their programs. Call Benjamin Singer (or the office, 314-727-1747) if you are
interested in the important work they are doing. And on August 8 come get your hands dirty and join our second stream clean, the Reverse Tashlich, when we take things out of the water. See the website for details.
interested in the important work they are doing. And on August 8 come get your hands dirty and join our second stream clean, the Reverse Tashlich, when we take things out of the water. See the website for details. Stream Clean Fall 2021
We are finalizing the details for the High Holy Days. The packets with information on the schedule of services, parking and COVID-19 protocols will soon be in the mail, posted on the website and sent by e-mail.
07/12/2021 09:20:01 AM
Jul12
With an eye towards the High Holy Days when more of us will gather in the synagogue, the building has been hopping with activity. In addition to the ECC construction other projects are being completed:
The acoustical panels are installed in the sanctuary, completing the original plan our architects designed. They improve the sound quality throughout the room.
The panels designed to mount the memorial plaques are installed. The plaque sorting is still in process and when that is completed, we are ready to install them.
Other items such as acoustical panels in the lobby and furniture for the Bill Solomon Gallery are on order and should be installed before the holidays. Every day something new is happening to turn our building into our spiritual home.
The Federation just launched a new social media platform to help people throughout our Jewish community be informed and connected. It’s called JBuzzSTL. You set up an account, follow Kol Rinah and other St. Louis organizations to register for events, get book recommendations, view fitness videos and much more. It is our private social media platform to stay connected. Please download the app or view it online and set up your own account. https://www.jbuzzstl.com/
06/28/2021 08:00:00 PM
Jun28
I have been thinking a lot about my family lately. Two weeks ago, we spent a long weekend in Dallas with my stepdaughter, her husband and our grandchildren. My son and his girlfriend drove down with us. It was the first we all got together since COVID-19 shut everything down and it was so much fun to be together.
This weekend it was wonderful to have my sister, Joan Levinson, and our children, Elie and Daniel here. Joan came in town for a closing reception of her artwork at the Kranzberg Foundation High Low Gallery (https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/st-louis-artist-explores-intersection-of-literary-and-visual-arts/) and then to take down the show and prepare it for shipping. Many hands came together to get the job done. Elie, Daniel, Daniel’s girlfriend Sarah, Joan and I worked together to wrap and protect all the pieces being shipped and to prep the pieces sold to go to their new owners. We held things for each other, cut tape, wrapped corners, resolved problems, chatted, and listened to Joan’s selected playlist (Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits and Terry Allen [I included him]) which brought out a bit of foot tapping and lip syncing while we worked. I kept thinking about how much I loved it – helping each other, having a good time and enjoying each other’s company. I am grateful for the day we spent together.
I have been asked over the years why I stayed in St. Louis, why I didn’t move somewhere else. My answer quite simply is family and friends. I love seeing people I have known most of my life and having family connections to people and places going back several generations. A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from Paul Flotken. Paul didn’t realize he was e-mailing me; it went to the general office e-mail. I first met Paul when I was in high school and worked for his brother John. Paul let me know he had two chairs from the original Knesseth Israel building in DeMun, did I want them? Absolutely. Paul told me
that after being used by Knesseth Israel the chairs belonged to his wife Terry’s great-grandparents, Morris and Ida Berin. They were likely purchased as a fundraiser when the congregation moved to South Hanley. Morris lived from 1879 to 1956 and was the Shammas of the synagogue. The chairs are now in our chapel. I don’t know yet what we will do with them, but I love having that physical connection in the building going back generations to one of our founding legacy shuls.
that after being used by Knesseth Israel the chairs belonged to his wife Terry’s great-grandparents, Morris and Ida Berin. They were likely purchased as a fundraiser when the congregation moved to South Hanley. Morris lived from 1879 to 1956 and was the Shammas of the synagogue. The chairs are now in our chapel. I don’t know yet what we will do with them, but I love having that physical connection in the building going back generations to one of our founding legacy shuls.Throughout the summer we are having outdoor services in the courtyard. Last week we held a service for Young Families. It was a hot day, and the turnout was low but those who came had a great time. The sanctuary shades the courtyard in the evening and the breeze kept everyone comfortable. Please don’t let the weather keep you away - come to our outdoor services.
We have increased attendance in the sanctuary to 60 people. Please look at the new COVID-19 protocols on the website - we would love to see you at services.
Finally, our softball teams are making up in spirit what they are missing in wins. I am happy to say that the Ball Mitzvahs won their game last week against B’nai Amoona. Grab a chair, wear your Kol Rinah swag and head out to watch a game!
06/21/2021 08:30:00 AM
Jun21
We are getting settled in our new offices at Maryland Avenue. We have room to spread out and we’re putting away the files and supplies. There are a few glitches we must work out. Our phone system was not programmed properly so if you called the main number and no one answered it was transferred to a man’s voice mail box in Westchester County, New York. No doubt a surprise for him but it is now fixed.
Our copier prints (black & white and color!) but doesn’t scan yet (another programming error) and one new filing cabinet is locked with no key (key is on order) so we can’t fill it yet.
The biggest issue is that right before the move the air conditioner went out. It is an older unit and replacing it was not part of the office renovation. We thought it was working but unfortunately it is not. We have many fans going, we take breaks and go downstairs (which feels very cold to me now) and are getting by pretty well. A big thanks to Dan Rosenthal who stepped up to manage the bids for the new air conditioner.
The new building-use protocols are posted on the website and shown below. These are designed to get us through the summer with the added restrictions of the construction. The biggest change is that we have increased the number of people that can attend Shabbat morning services and no longer require that you arrive at 9:30. We are able to do with a greeter in the lobby through the entire service. The greeter gets to see everyone, welcome them to the building and still hear the entire service through the speakers in the lobby. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Micki Kingsley (314-727-1747, michele_kingsley@yahoo.com) as she is coordinating the schedule.
For parking, we can use the Pierre Laclede Center lot (enter from Maryland Ave) from 6PM on Friday through 10PM Sunday. We have parking tags for your dashboard available on the website, at the greeters table in the lobby, in the office and here:
06/07/2021 01:30:00 PM
Jun7
I launch the blog on Monday so if you are reading this on Monday, June 7th, the office move is in process. On Tuesday we will be open at Maryland Avenue, phones and computers working and many moving crates to unpack. It is both a sad milestone to be leaving 829 S. Hanley and a very exciting next step as we continue to complete construction projects in the new building.
As you can see
from the photo, Rabbis Arnow and Shafrin, Nancy, Meir and Micki have been doing their jobs in tight quarters. The need to social distance this past year has only added to the challenge. I have been working out of Maryland Ave since September and am so happy to have everyone together. We will hold our first in-person staff meeting on Wednesday. Give us time to get settled and unpacked, then give us a call that you would like to come visit.
from the photo, Rabbis Arnow and Shafrin, Nancy, Meir and Micki have been doing their jobs in tight quarters. The need to social distance this past year has only added to the challenge. I have been working out of Maryland Ave since September and am so happy to have everyone together. We will hold our first in-person staff meeting on Wednesday. Give us time to get settled and unpacked, then give us a call that you would like to come visit.Construction continues in the building. The construction fence will remain through the end of August, we have limited restrooms for the next two months, and work is being done on all three floors. With all of that in mind the ReOpen Task Force met last week to discuss our next steps as more people are vaccinated and the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. We will be posting the new protocols on the website soon, and I will include them in my next blog. I greatly appreciate the thoughtful discussion the task force had weighing the science available, the feedback we get from members on what they are ready and comfortable to do and the added limitations we have with the construction. The revised protocols are designed to get us through the summer and the completion of this phase of construction.
Finally, we sent all our members a letter a couple weeks ago about the member directory available through the website. If the information we have on file is not correct, please use the directions included in the letter to log in make corrections. If you have trouble with that you may note the corrections on the letter and mail it back for us to update.
The letter includes a second and equally important request. On the back we have listed several topics and want to know which of these interest you. We want to connect you with others who have the same interests, start small groups around things you want to learn or do and invite speakers to discuss topics you want to learn about. The best way for us to do that is for you tell us what interests and excites you. Please go to the back side of the letter, circle your topics, add others we missed and mail it back. You may also e-mail me, stacey@kolrinahst.org, with your preferences. Then watch for new programs developed around your interests.
Mon, April 29 2024
21 Nisan 5784
MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.
Calendar & Services
Weekday minyans on Zoom:
Mornings- M, T, W, F 7am & Sun 8am.
Evenings- Sun-Th 6pm.
Log in to view the Zoom Links page.
Thursday mornings 7am are in-person only.
Shabbat services in-person, streaming.
To stream kolrinahstl.org/kr-streaming
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday 9am to 5pm
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Find it at Kol Rinah
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Contribute to a Shabbat Kiddush
Celebrate life-cycle events or honor a loved one. A Shabbat Kiddush is a beautiful way of sharing a moment with the community!
Want to sponsor a specific Kiddush? Contact Barbara Shamir,
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Mon, April 29 2024 21 Nisan 5784