By Rabbi Alicia Magal
The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom.
Erev Shabbat services begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, March 14, including songs to usher in the Sabbath, prayers of healing for loved ones, and Kaddish, the Mourner’s prayer in memory of those who have passed away recently or around this date in past years. The Torah reading is Ki Tissa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) telling of the Children of Israel, fearing that Moses would not return, they built a gold calf. When Moses came down the mountain and saw that idol, he smashed the tablets of the Ten Commandments. He then received forgiveness and a second chance from God who instructed him to carve two more tablets of stone upon which a second set of the Ten Commandments would be written and given to the Israelites. This teaches about repentance and forgiveness as an important principle.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on March 19 at 4:00 pm on zoom. Participants are led in a guided meditation based on sacred phrases, texts, or elements from the current Torah portion each week.
Torah study will meet on Thursday, March 20, to discuss Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1 – 38:30), with details about the building of the Mishkan, the portable Tabernacle in the desert and the appointing of Bezalel and Oholiab as chief craftsmen in charge of building the Sanctuary. The sacredness of the Sabbath day is also described. Thus, in this portion there are descriptions of both sacred space and sacred time.
The Social Action Committee is collecting cans or boxes of non-perishable foods, as well as infant formula and feminine hygiene products, for the local Sedona food pantry. This is also the season for collection of Summer Survival Kits, including bug spray, small tents, hats, sunscreen, sleeping bags, or other items to be donated to the Cottonwood Old Town Mission to be distributed to clients without a residence. Please drop off your donations in the bin provided for collections located at the bottom of the stairs in the parking lot.
The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Synagogue website – www.jcsvv.org
