Shabbat Service We celebrate Shabbat at 6:45 p.m. Friday, February 7, at All Souls, as we come together in community for prayer and connection. Oneg Shabbat — Shabbat joy — follows the service.
Shabbat Study Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, February 8, at the home of Fay and Rabbi Doug, we continue our meaningful study and discussion of why we pray what we pray. If attending in person, RSVP to rabbidoug@kolamikc.org. If participating via Zoom, click here.
Social Justice Event
Donations for Strawberry Week We are collecting feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads and liners) for Strawberry Week Society, a local nonprofit that improves access to menstrual products in underserved communities. Please bring tampons, pads and liners to our in-person Shabbat services this Friday, February 7, and again on February 14. For more information, visit their website by clicking here. For questions about donations, contact Lee Merrill at lacmerrill@gmail.com. — Lee Merrill
Yahrzeits This Week February 3 Hyman Jaben – father of Lynne Bratcher
February 5 Morris Begun – father of Wynne Begun
February 11 Robert Rosin – father of Elizabeth Rosin
We Wish Mi Shebeirach A complete healing of mind, body and spirit:
Robert Clinton Kenneth Dantzler Alan Dietchman Renée Dietchman Judy Krugman Yale Krugman Carol Ann Parker Steve Sackin Micha ben Sarah Jean Shifrin Melvin Michael Slater Serena Verden
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
Recently, there have been moves afoot, both executive and legislative, that claim, in the interest of fighting antisemitism, to seek out those who would harass or commit violence against Jews. While, on its face, this might seem like a good thing for us — I worry about violent acts of antisemitism — these present efforts are cynically broad in that they could (and are arguably intended) to attack free speech and the right of protest that have ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion Parashat Beshalach (Shemot/Exodus 13:17-17:16)
We read this week about the Amalekites who sought to destroy us as we made our exodus from Egypt. We are simultaneously commanded to blot out the memory of their heinous attack and to not forget. They are deemed to be our perpetual enemy throughout human history.
The question raised for us: Who would be the modern-day Amalekites? Or, maybe a better question: What are the characteristics of an Amalekite? The great 20th-century commentator Nehama Leibowitz describes Amalek as one who does not believe that each human being is created in G-d’s image. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch observed that Amalekites seek renown and power by force, seek fame through the power of arms and military might.
For us, as we decide who is or who is not the next Amalekite, we must fight against those who exhibit traits of the Amalekites.
Upcoming Kol Ami Events
Mah Jongg Club Kol Ami's Mah Jongg Club meets two Monday evenings a month at 7 p.m. Interested in playing? Email office@kolamikc.org.
Resting in Mindfulness Classes Julia Billquist convenes mindfulness classesSaturday, March 8; Saturday, April 5; and Saturday, May 10. These beginner-friendly sessions start at 11 a.m. at All Souls and consist of an hour of such practices as gentle movement; guided meditations; and ways to self-connect and access a grounded, rested nervous system. Register for any/all classes by clicking here.
Book Club Kol Ami’s book club meets at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, to discuss Temim Fruchter's debut novel, City of Laughter. Email haleycferguson@gmail.com for more information.
Upcoming Community Event
Artists Talk at JCCC’s Nerman Museum Learn about Katherine Bernhardt and Jeremy Scott’s approaches to art and fashion at a free artists talk they’re giving from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, February 6, followed by a reception from 7 to 8 p.m., in Hudson Auditorium at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (12345 College Blvd., Overland Park). For more information about the event, click here.
Our mailing address is: Congregation Kol Ami 4501 Walnut Street ℅ All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Kansas City, MO 64111
