Newsletters

Worship Event 
of the Week

Shabbat Shulchan
At 6 p.m. Friday,  November 17, we gather to make Shabbos together in the foyer at All Souls. A very informal service will be followed by a Seudah, a festive Shabbat dinner. This has been a wonderful way to start Shabbat together, and to get to know one another through easy conversation. Because we are bringing in dinner, we need RSVPs to rabbidoug@kolamikc.org.
 
Upcoming
Kol Ami Event

Mah Jongg Club
The game night of November 20 has been canceled. The next meetup of Mah Jongg Club is Monday, December 4, at 7 p.m.

Social Justice News/Event

MLK School 
MLK School students need coats, hats and gloves. We will be collecting these items at the November 17 Shabbat Shulchan service only, at All Souls. Thank you.
— Pat Clinton and Sheryl Kretchmer

Yahrzeits 
This Week
November 16
Leon Snitz – father of Irwin Snitz
November 19
Bernard Klein – grandfather of Beth Thompson
November 20
Sarah Katzeff – grandmother of Stan Stern

We Wish Mi Shebeirach
A Complete Healing of Mind, Body and Spirit to:

Robert Clinton
John Cottrell
Kenneth Dantzler
Bill Drummond
Rev. Lloyd Fields
Dana A. Fuller
Amanda Goldstein
Beth Greenwald
Josh Greenwald
Kay Grossman
Brian Guthrie 
Butch Murphy
Michah ben Sarah
Gerry Trilling

If you would like a name to continue to be listed or if you have a
new name to include, please send an email to  healing@kolamikc.org. 

Rabbi's Week in Review



At our Shabbat study, worship and brunch at the house last Saturday, I discussed the Halakhah, the Jewish law, surrounding war. One of the sources I cited was the Jerusalem Talmud (not to be confused with the Babylonian Talmud). The excerpt relating to war reads as follows:

“And one shall stand before Eleazar the Priest, who shall inquire of them by the judgment of Urim before G-d” (Bamidbar/Numbers 27:21). The verse shows that ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.

This Week's Torah Portion
Parashat Toledot (Bereishit/Genesis 25:19-28:29)



I have previously commented on this Torah portion in the way Esau has been unfairly maligned for the way in which he gave up his birthright. To this I add that we consider the unfairness of our Torah commentators in further maligning Esau for marrying Hittite women rather than those of his “ancestral home.”
   
At this point in our Torah cycle, I give a needed shoutout and words of gratitude to all of our non-Jewish members of the Kol Ami family — all those who not only support their life partners in their Jewish journeys but also add so much to the life of Congregation Kol Ami.

Weekly Feature

Why Join a Synagogue?
By Ellen Karp

There is much discussion these days about how and why synagogue membership is not growing. As membership chair for Kol Ami, I am all for reversing the trend. Here’s why. 

• We stood at Mount Sinai to receive Torah, not as individuals but as a people. Judaism is a communal religion. Current events remind us of this daily.
• Synagogues are great places to connect with other Jews. You can meet people of all ages and backgrounds, and make friends who share your values and interests.
• Learning to be Jewish is a lifelong endeavor, whether Jewish by birth or by choice. It’s easier and more enjoyably done within community. 
• If you are a non-Jewish companion/partner/spouse, a welcoming synagogue makes you an instant insider and not an outsider.
• Synagogues are ways to connect with and support social-justice causes.
• Life and tsuris happen. A synagogue community is there for you in those moments that are the toughest.
• Life and simchas happen. A synagogue community is there for you in those moments when joy just has to be shared.
• Synagogues are voluntary communities. Any synagogue needs you to contribute your best unique self to the life of your congregation. And the satisfaction of being needed is the best gift.
• DIY religion is a pale substitute for the beauty and richness of Jewish tradition, ritual and worship. Synagogues nurture, evolve and grow that tradition and pass it along.

For those of you who are Jewish and have been riding alongside us here at Kol Ami for a while, we hope you will seriously consider officially making the synagogue your Jewish “home base” and joining the community as a full-fledged member. Feel free to reach out to me at Membership@kolamikc.org for details. Our Kol Ami family looks forward to welcoming you and yours.