Coming back from time away, we and our Kol Ami family hit the ground running. Midweek, a rally on behalf of the rights of tenants in Kansas City (really an ongoing fight against homelessness). Friday, we held our annual Shabbat Hanukkah service. Saturday morning, we celebrated the bat mitzvah of Matylda Breinin.
This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Vayigash (Bereishit/Genesis 44:18-47:27). We read about Judah’s extraordinary plea to Joseph for justice and mercy. We learn much from Judah about the need to speak up for others, and always concern ourselves for others who are marginalized and less fortunate. Worship Event of the Week
This week, we look forward to informal worship, to the joy of just connecting with one another in community. Friday, December 10, at 6:45 p.m., we enter into Shabbat together with Erev Shabbat worship via Zoom. Click here. Weekly Features
Hanukkah Reflections By Wynne Begun
The lights of the menorah, reflected in the faces of our children, make our homes bright and joyful, and help us deal with the shortening days and hours of darkness. When Hanukkah is late in the month, we light our candles closer to the imperceptible but real lengthening of daylight. This year, Hanukkah was so early! The Festival of Lights is over, and the days are still getting shorter. We are weeks away from the swing to more daylight than darkness.
The darkness and cold are getting to me more than usual this year. This feeling I have is probably just good old seasonal affective disorder. Or maybe it is a longing for those times when my menorah lit up the faces of my children. How did my kids grow up so quickly but the dark days of December seem to drag on? Now, the lights from the menorah shine on another generation of children — my grandchildren.
Calling All Soups Have a favorite winter soup recipe? Share it by sending it to newsletter@kolamikc.org. We’ll print it here over the coming winter weeks.
Social Justice News
Shopping to Help Migrant Farmworkers You can help migrant farmworkers through December 15 by shopping online at Ten Thousand Villages (click here). Use this code: MFAF21. A percentage of your order goes to Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund.
Community News
Community Garden Stay informed of goings-on at Manheim Gardens (4229 Forest) here.
We’ve got to get ourselves Back to the garden — Joni Mitchell
