Big Jewish Community READ event planned for Oct. 15 is canceled

The Tuesday, Oct. 15 Big Jewish Community READ event (announced in a news brief in the Sept. 4 edition of the Light and listed in last week’s Chai Lights calendar) has been canceled.

The second Big Jewish Community READ event planned to include “Jews and Words” co-authors Amos Oz and Fania Oz-Salzberger on Friday, Nov. 15 during the 35th annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival will still take place as planned. That event, featuring a presentation by the authors, an audience Q&A and book-signing, will take place at Shaare Emeth Congregation, 11645 Ladue Road. Light breakfast refreshments will be served at 8 a.m. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. The event is free to Festival Series and Series PLUS Ticket holders. Individual tickets are $15. 

For more information, visit the Jewish Book Festival website, www.stljewishbookfestival.org or call Festival Hotline at 314-442-3299. To purchase a copy of the book, call 314-442-3299 to charge by phone.

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Kol Rinah begins lecture series with talk on Evolution and Judaism

Kol Rinah’s Adult Education Committee is offering a special lecture series focusing on the interface of modern life and the religious beliefs of Judaism, the rationality and value of Judaism in today’s world.

Dr. Alan Templeton will speak from 10  a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 27 at Kol Rinah, 829 N. Hanley Road in University City on the topic of “Evolution and Judaism.” Templeton is a world-renowned scientist who has published in many areas, focusing on the role of evolution as it impacts on biodiversity as well as issues in human health. He is an American geneticist and statistician from Washington University, where he holds the Charles Rebstock professorship in biology, emeritus.

In addition, he is a visiting researcher at the Rappaport Institute in Haifa, and a part-time Professor at the Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology at the University of Haifa.  He applies genomics and statistical population genetics to a variety of basic and applied problems in evolutionary biology, the genetics of complex diseases, bioinformatics and conservation biology.

On Sunday, Oct. 13, Kol Rinah will host a “Book Club” session designed to prepare for Dr. Templeton’s presentation.

For more information, call Kol Rinah at 314-727-1747 or visit kolrinahstl.org.

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Medical Equipment Collection Drive

The Social Action Committees of Congregation B’nai Amoona, Congregation Temple Israel, Congregation Shaare Emeth, United Hebrew Congregation, Temple Emanuel and Kol Rinah are working together to support an area-wide Medical Equipment Drive for the St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program (HELP). The Equipment Drive will be Sunday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Congregation B’nai Amoona parking lot, 324 South Mason Road in Creve Coeur.

St. Louis HELP accepts donations of new and used home medical equipment. The equipment is cleaned and refurbished then loaned to individuals in need at no cost or fee. Items include manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, canes, crutches, walkers, shower chairs/benches/stools, grab bars, portable commodes, seating cushions, back supports, van lifts, hospital beds and ramps. Equipment donations are tax-deductible.

For more information or to donate equipment, call 314-567-4700 or contact [email protected]. For more information on the organization, visit www.stlhelp.org.