By Rabbi Alicia Magal
Shalom and greetings from the Rabbi, Board of Directors, and congregation of the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley.
All the services, classes, and programs are listed on the synagogue website.
Come join us either in person or online. See jcsvv.org for instructions to register for in-person services.
On Friday, April 29, a Friday evening service, led by Rabbi Alicia Magal, begins at 5:30 pm both in person and on Zoom, and livestreamed for members and their invitees. Congregants participate by lighting candles, doing a reading, or having an Aliyah for the Torah service. Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on April 28th this year, will be observed with special readings and music at the Erev Shabbat service. The Torah reading is from Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30) telling of the High Priest’s preparation for Yom Kippur, along with the personal ritual acts required by all Israelites as they fasted and atoned for sins. Together the High Priest and all of Israel sought to achieve forgiveness. Blessings for those who are ill and a Mazal Tov for those celebrating a birthday or anniversary will be offered. Kaddish, the Mourner’s prayer, will be recited in memory of those who passed away either recently or at this time in past years. Shabbat offers a time out from work and worry, an opportunity to be grateful for our lives and the bounty with which we are blessed.
Wednesday morning minyan begins at 8:30 a.m. on May 4 on zoom. Join the group to offer healing prayers, and to support those saying the mourner’s prayer, Kaddish, for a loved one who has passed away. Every person counts and is needed!
At 4:00 pm Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal will lead a class on Jewish meditation on Zoom. Each session focuses on a different tool or aspect of Jewish meditation practices.
On Thursday, May 5, at 4:00 pm, Torah study, led by Rabbi Magal, will be held on Zoom. We will review the Counting of the Omer, the 49-day journey between Passover and Shavuot; that is, between the Exodus from slavery and the arrival at Mt. Sinai when the Israelites received the Torah. The Torah portion of this week is Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:1 – 20:17), summarizing the most important ethical teachings of the Torah, including regard for parents, sanctifying the Sabbath, providing for the poor, timely payment of workers, kindness for the deaf and blind, compassion for the elderly, fair treatment of the stranger, and avoiding gossip. Most of these teachings are contained in the verse: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself!”
The Social Action Committee is continuing to collect food for the local Sedona food pantry, and summer supplies for the homeless to be donated to Cottonwood Old Town Mission. Please drop of cans or boxes of non-perishable foods, or items like sunscreen, hats, and other hot weather supplies in the bin outside the lower level parking lot entrance to the synagogue.
The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadow Lark 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. Messages to the office telephone at 928 204-1286 will be answered during the week. Updated information is available on the synagogue website – www.jcsvv.org.