KI Videos

In his Passover message, Rabbi Hamilton implores us all to expand our thinking and our conversations and to, most importantly, not forget the hostages held by Hamas for 18 agonizing months.

Sign up for Rabbi Hamilton's Daily Letters at: https://mailchi.mp/congki/israel-at-war-rabbi-hamiltons-daily-email

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Inspired by the cherubs guarding the Garden of Eden, this evocative poem explores themes of innocence, loss, and divine mystery. Imagery of the sacred garden, golden cherubs, and a charged, holy space invites readers to reflect on history, spirituality, and memory.

Dedicated to the memories of Ariel and Kfir Bibas and all cherubs who have guarded The Garden throughout history.

Read the full poem here: https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/two-golden-cherubs

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✡Since Hamas’ October 7 barbaric assault on the House of Israel, KI has mobilized and activated our community to meet the moment and support Israelis in need. Here’s a deeper look at our wide-ranging solidarity efforts: https://congki.org/ki-israel/

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Parshat Beshalach is the Parshah of miracles and music. Aside from the revelation at Sinai, it is one of the memorable and descriptive of the parshiyot. Probably the strangest thing about the crossing of the sea is that one might think that the experience might have been transformative to the people and they would arrive at the other side of the sea as nation, even a transformed nation, but that is not to be. Instead we find a nation of frightened complainers and the story of the wanderings begins.

The complaints we will leave for another day. For today we will imagine the crossing from the perspective of the clownfish and the sooty full, both species found in the ecosystem of the Red Sea.

With wishes for a Shabbat filled with song.

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As some of the hostages begin to come home, these are the reunions that show how much Israel and the Jewish people prioritizes life over death; light over darkness.

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A message from Leann relating to this week's poem:

I have a nickname for this week’s parsha, which is Passover in January. In Parshat Vaera we learn about most of the plagues issued in Egypt and find some of the sources for the Passover Haggadah. We watch as Gd aims to show Gd's power in a sort of competition with the magicians of Egypt, a competition that finds Gd, through Moses and Aaron, the clear winner. We watch Pharaoh's back and forth dance between granting permission to the Hebrews to leave to worship Gd and then hardening his heart again.


While reading this Parsha, which was rich in details of the horrors encountered by the citizens of Mitzrayim with each of the plagues, I wondered about the time frame for each of the plagues. Opinions differ, but it is thought that these plagues took place over the course of one year. We ask how the people reacted to the plagues and what they tried to do combat them. What did people caught up in Pharaoh's battle eat? Where did they live when their homes were destroyed? What did they use to help with their bug bites and boils? What was public sentiment toward Pharaoh and the Hebrews who worked nearby?

Was there a lot of blame being spread from neighborhood to neighborhood?


Of course, we can better understand the concept of plagues when most of Planet Earth experienced a plague which we began to hear about just about five years ago in January, 2020. The same terror experienced five years ago was surely felt by the Egyptians during that fateful time of the ten plagues. The following short piece is a connecting cord between two periods of plague, coming many centuries apart, but connected by the dread it created and its terrible impact upon society .

On Shabbat we saw the first of this group of hostages released. May the good news continue.

Kol Tuv,

Leann

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Leann Shamash, one of KI's gifted Torah teachers and learners, ties this week's Parsha to the art of mentoring and shares how we all have to power to spot gifts in others.

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Eitan Kantor Artist in Residency
Thursday, January 9th through Saturday, January 11th
Sign up at: https://congki.shulcloud.com/form/ekair

In partnership with CMT, join us and meet with our first Artist in Residency, Eitan Kantor! He is a musician, educator and composer based in Denver, and the Music Director of the Hebrew Educational Alliance.

🔵Thursday, January 9, 7:30PM Meet and Sing with Eitan
🔵Friday, January 10, 5:30PM Kabbalat Shabbat led by Eitan followed by Dinner
🔵Saturday, January 11. 9:00AM Shabbat Services led by Eitan and Ariel, 12:00 PM Kiddush, 12:30PM Talk with Eitan, 7:30PM Motzei Shabbat (Saturday Night) Havdalah and Concert featuring Eitan with Jacob's Ladder

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Thank you to the hundreds of you who attended our annual Hanukkah bash!

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