This Shabbat, we welcome Ari Litt to the Bimah for his Bar Mitzvah. Ari is the son of Tegan Miller and Kevin Litt. Ari is the step-brother of Ella-Jane Miller and Mabel Miller. Grandparents are Sheila Tuthill and Ann and Kevin Darling. Ari also has his Great Grandparents, Alice and Robert Michel - they live in New Jersey and are so proud of the hard work he has been doing!
Saturday, August 7 Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose, Cantor Sharon Nathanson and Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am
Bar Mitzvah of Ari Litt
Regional Men's Club Installation
Mazel Tov to Regional Men's Club Officers in our congregation: Creighton Cohn, FJMC Regional President, and Jay Englander, FJMC Regional Vice-President (along with Kol Rinah member, Max Brown)
Following Services, we will enjoy a Kiddush luncheon open to the community
The world has seen much since our forefathers meandered about the desert, and only one thing remains the same—our people. Parshat R’eh reiterates the foundation that sets Israel apart from its neighbors then and now. For instance, kashrut has served to provide a boundary between Israel and its neighbors. Our practices of pilgrimage, tithing and our compassionate response to the poor give us a communal identity.
We are told at 12:29 to enter the Land and “dispossess them.” What are we to do with all of this religious hostility? The easiest solution is to contextualize it—these laws were specific to the conquest of the Land from its Canaanite population, and perhaps more importantly, to wean Israel from worship of the local gods. From our prophets, we can see how difficult both of these tasks were and perhaps can understand, if not justify, the viciousness with which they were “dispossessed.” Yet, we are used to applying the Torah's values and norms to our own lives. What do these verses imply about interfaith relations today?
In medieval Europe, rabbis were already beginning to adjust attitudes, seeking to distinguish between the monotheistic faiths of Islam and Christianity (which happened to be the dominant faiths where most Jews resided) and the polytheism of the rest of the world. While not all rabbis were convinced that Christianity should be “inside” the definition of monotheism, it is safe to say that most modern Jews have indeed accepted this view. If so, we can read the Torah's rules to apply to the Torah's time and not to the people of different faiths we encounter today.
Conservative Judaism fully embraces the more positive approach. We respect all people of faith and are committed to adapting our internal rituals to reflect the new positive attitude. Yet, we remain committed to maintaining the distinctiveness of our religion and our covenant. Given the great pressure in modern society to homogenize cultures, it is often hard to protect Jewish identity without resorting to bigoted beliefs that reinforce a sense of difference. That is our precise intention—to show love and respect for those whose faith takes different forms, while maintaining our own faith within the traditional norms, as well as integrity and passion. As we consider the choices offered by the Parashah, we should remember to choose to express our identity in positive ways that affirm the religious practices characterizing Jewish life and give it a dimension of holiness.
Weekday Minyan Information Join us In-Person or on Zoom, BA Livestream or Facebook Live
Morning Minyanim
Sunday Morning Minyan - Rosh Chodesh Elul: 9:00 am
Monday - Friday Morning Minyan: 7:00 am
In-Person, Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live
Evening Minyanim
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan: 6:15 pm
via Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live
In Our Community
Mazel Tov to...
The Newly installed Regional Men's Club Officers in our congregation: Creighton Cohn, FJMC Regional President Jay Englander, FJMC Regional Vice-President
Max Brown, FJMC Regional Vice-President
Please join us for our Rosh Chodesh Elul Women's Program
This Sunday, August 8 co-sponsored by BA Sisterhood
Kolot Rosh Chodesh Elul Event THIS SUNDAY, August 8 from 7:15 - 8:15 pm Family Recipes from the Heart & Soul
Women of all ages are invited to bring their favorite family recipe printed or handwritten on a recipe card and join in a community recipe exchange event to celebrate the month of Elul. The evening will also include a live cooking demonstration of an easy "no bake" recipe and of course, lots of schmoozing. Our program begins at 7:15 pm, but all are welcome to also join Minyan at 6:15 pm.
ClickHERE to register!
Pre-High Holy Day Classes with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose
Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose's thought-provoking weekday classes return next week. Fresh Eyes on Ancient Teachings will resume on Monday, August 9 at 5:00 pm and Inyana Deyoma - Issues of the Day, Rapping with Rabbi Rose will resume on Wednesday, August 11 at 10:00 am. Each class will run for four consecutive weeks and serve as spiritual preparation for the High Holy Day season. All are welcome! Kindly RSVP to Amy at 314-576-9990 x131 or amy@bnaiamoona.com.
For the time being, Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose's classes will be available on Zoom only. We will reevaluate in-person participation following the High Holy Days.
Congregation-wide "Big Read"
This year's High Holy Day "Big Read" book is The Beauty of What Remains by Rabbi Steve Leder and will serve as the creative fodder for many of our sermons and classes. Please contact amy@bnaiamoona.com to order your copy. Cash or check can be made out to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund for $18.00 please. We look forward to hearing your reactions to this meaningful chronicle.
Todah Rabbah To The Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Our Shul Doors Have Opened: Health & Wellness Update
Our Shul doors have opened! We are thrilled to invite you to pray, learn and grow with us B'yachad, together, during in-person Services. Registration for Services will no longer be required - simply come as you are.
Our face mask and social distancing protocols will remain in effect for the health and safety of our Kehillah. Click HERE for more information.
Jewish tradition teaches “Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh,” meaning that we are all
responsible for each other (B.Talmud Shevuot 39a).
Our B'nai Amoona Klei Kodesh is proud to join other local Jewish spiritual leaders in issuingTHIS STATEMENTin favor of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, continuing to wear a mask and practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC and other medical and other public health authorities.
As more people receive the Covid-19 vaccine, we encourage you to download and print the prayers below. We recommend you say them when you receive your vaccination.
