Kol Rinah is planning to welcome Rabbi Noah Arnow as the congregation’s new spiritual leader with two weekends of welcome events in August. Arnow, 35, has signed a three-year contract with the congregation. 

Arnow, a Scarsdale, N.Y. native, is a public-policy graduate of Brown University who was ordained in 2010 by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He later gained recognition for his rebranding efforts within the Young Families Group at Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, N.J., where he serves as associate rabbi. 

The congregation will hold a family picnic as a kickoff event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17 at Irv Zeid Park, 9100 Old Bonhomme Road. Guests will be able to greet Arnow, his wife, Tammy (a St. Louis native), their son Caleb, 7, and daughters Hallel, 4, and Avra, 21 months. Guests should bring dinner for their family – Kol Rinah will provide a cool milchig (dairy) dessert. 

Welcome events continue Friday, Aug. 22 and Saturday, Aug. 23, beginning with Friday night Shabbat services and dinner and culminate in a wonderful welcome party on Saturday night after Shabbat. 

At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, the congregation invites the community to “schmooze” and enjoy appetizers while preparing for Shabbat. At 6 p.m. Kol Rinah invites the community to experience its Kabbalat Shabbat musical service with the Kol Rinah Band. Shabbat dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. (the cost for dinner is $75 for patron-level guests, $36 for adults and $10 for children under age 13. Dinner proceeds will support the Irvin and Dolores Rubin Music Fund.  

Kol Rinah’s Shabbat morning services begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Following morning services, the community will have another opportunity to visit informally with Rabbi Arnow and enjoy a delectable Kiddush prepared by the Kol Rinah Sisterhood.

After a Havdalah service Saturday evening, the community is invited to Kol Rinah’s Welcome Celebration Party, at 9 p.m. Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band will play dance music and entertain partygoers. The band uses its musicians’ backgrounds in classical, jazz and folk music to create a contemporary perspective on traditional Jewish music. Complimentary beer, wine, cocktails, pick up food and desserts will be available.

All events, except the Aug. 22 Shabbat dinner, are free and all are open to the community.  For questions or RSVPs for the Shabbat dinner, contact Kol Rinah at  [email protected] or 314-727-1747.