Rabbi's Week in Review
This past week, we learned the awful news from Uvalde, Texas. I am heartsick, angry, tired and determined.
We know that the intolerable number of mass shootings — in our schools, in grocery stores, in churches, in synagogues and Jewish Community Centers, etc., etc. — is unique to the United States. Other countries — democratic countries we consider allies — have, with success, created societies free from such violence and ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion
This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Naso (Bamidbar/Numbers 4:21-7:89). We read of the Sotah ritual, the ritual performed when a woman is accused of adultery. There is an inherent injustice in this ritual, in that there is no such test/challenge/process of accusation for a man suspected of adultery. Possibly the ritual was created to restore trust. However, we should be mindful regarding the systems we put in place that make distrust more, rather than less, likely.
As we celebrate Shavuot this coming Saturday evening and Sunday, we also recognize the special Torah portion from Parashat Yitro (Shemot/Exodus 19:1-20:22) — the Ten Commandments. It is in what we do for G-d and what we do for one another that create lives of meaning and purpose.
Worship Events of the Week
Jazz Shabbat
This Friday, June 3, at 6:45 p.m., we gather at All Souls for a special Jazz Shabbat. Our special guest musician will be the wonderful jazz trumpet player Stan Kessler. This should be a very special evening.
Shavuot
We continue celebrating together Saturday evening, June 4, at 7 p.m., with the holiday of Shavuot. We will be at the home of Fay and Rabbi Doug for fun and lively Torah study and the traditional Shavuot dairy meal. A Kol Ami Shavuot tradition will be Fay’s Pan de Siete Cielos, the Shavuot Challah of the Seven Skies. RSVPs are required by June 2 to rabbidoug@kolamikc.org.
Upcoming Kol Ami Event
Shabbat Picnic
We get together for an outdoor Shabbat service and BYOP (bring your own picnic) at the Loose Park Pavilion, Friday, June 10, starting at 6:45 p.m.
Feedback
Please Take Our Short Survey
We'd like to know your opinion, whether you’re a reader or a skimmer. Please clue us in to your Kol Ami newsletter preferences by clicking here. It takes just a minute. Thank you!
Weekly Features
Shavuot — Its Origin and Its Food
By Wynne Begun
Shavuot begins at sunset June 4 and marks the completion of the seven-week counting period from Passover. It was during these weeks that the Hebrews wandered in the desert, learning how to function as a free people and cleansing themselves of the scars of Egyptian slavery. They prepared to enter an eternal covenant with G-d with the giving of the Torah.
It is said the souls of all Jews, from all times, came together to hear the Ten Commandments from G-d. Jews are treated to the reading of the Ten Commandments during services to commemorate this event.
Shavuot also marks the harvesting of wheat, which brings me to the subject of food! It is traditional to eat dairy during Shavuot. One of my favorite childhood memories is my family’s noodle kugel, which is a perfect dish for Shavuot. Our kugel was not too sweet and had absolutely no raisins. Everyone has their favorite recipe, however. Here are kugel recipes to try — sweet as well as savory. You pick!
Sweet kugel — This is the one I grew up on, minus the nutmeg. Click here.
And this one is for more creative types. Click here.
Savory kugel — This is the one I want to try! Click here.
(Reprinted from the Nosher – MyJewishLearning.com)
Goin’ Fishing
By Wynne Begun
This is our penultimate newsletter until July. Watch for the Rabbi’s Friday Reminders in June that will announce worship events — and be sure to check the website. And please complete our survey (if you haven’t already), which asks for your opinion on this publication.
As we plan for our newsletter break, I would like to acknowledge some of the awesome volunteers who have done so much for our Kol Ami community.
Much appreciation to Pat Clinton and Brad Ordo for their commitment to social-justice actions, especially with Martin Luther King Jr. School, Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund, MORE(2) and our Caring Connection committee. Brad is also one of the founders of Ga’avah KC, an organization for the LGBTQ+ community that’s sponsored through Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation of Greater KC and The J.
Our finances are in great shape due to the diligence of Aaron Zitron. Serving as our volunteer treasurer is a little bit like herding cats, but he has everything under control!
Lee Merrill has been the leader of our book club. She has led us to very diverse and stimulating book selections and discussions. Many thanks to Lee for her hard work.
Lara Steinel has continued to lead our meditation group. There are many ways to express our Judaism, and Lara has shown us the way that meditation is a path to Jewish spirituality. Thank you to Lara for bringing her personal practice to us all.
Thanks also to Ray Berger, who has ably led our worship committee for several years. His planning, follow-through, and recruitment of volunteers have enabled us to establish the support structure needed to hold services.
And finally, a note of appreciation to Ellen Karp for her help publishing the newsletter, with maintaining the Mi Shebeirach list, and with her work on membership. She has contributed so much over the years.
See you around the shul …
