By Rabbi Alicia Magal
Sedona, AZ — 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. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, concerts, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom.
All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on Friday, June 19 at 5:30 pm. Join in singing songs to usher in the Sabbath, prayers of healing for loved ones, congratulations for those celebrating a birthday or anniversary, and Kaddish, the Mourner’s prayer in memory of those who have passed away recently or around this date in past years. A selection will be chanted from this week’s Torah portion: Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32, in which there is a threat to Moses’ leadership by Korach and his followers, who are punished for seeking power rather than wanting to serve the people humbly. The teaching is that one should have arguments but “for the sake of heaven,” and not for ego and self-aggrandizement. Stay to enjoy Kiddush and Motzi (wine and challah), refreshments, and socializing after the service. The Oneg will be sponsored by Rick and Rosalie Malter to celebrate their 65th anniversary.
Egalitarian, participatory Morning Minyan meets on zoom every Wednesday at 8:30 am with traditional morning blessings, healing prayers, and Kaddish, the mourner’s prayer. Come be counted in our minyan! Link on the website.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, June 24 at 4:00 pm on zoom. The focus will be on themes of the current week’s Torah portion, including sacred phrases in Hebrew.
Torah study group, led by Rabbi Magal, will meet on Thursday, June 25 at 4:00 on zoom, focusing on the Torah portion of that week which will be a double portion: Chukat and Balak. Chukat is found in Numbers 19:1-22:1. God instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the red heifer. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, dies. Moses hits a rock to bring forth water rather than speaking to it. At the end of the portion, Aaron dies. Balak, Numbers 22:2 – 25:9, presents the story of Balak, the king of Moab, who persuades the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. However, Balaam blesses the Children of Israel instead and prophesies that Israel’s enemies will be defeated. That curse-turned-to-blessing is recited in the morning prayers when entering the synagogue! “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling place, O Israel.”
The Social Action Committee is collecting non-perishable foods, as well as infant formula and feminine hygiene products, for the local Sedona food pantry. Please drop off your donations in the bin provided for collections located at the bottom of the stairs in the parking lot. People continue to need sustenance. Let’s keep them in mind.
We wish all our members, guests, and neighbors a sense of wholeness and peace, included in the word Shalom.
Rabbi Alicia Magal
Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, Arizona, USA
www.jcsvv.org
Office: 928 204-1286
“A Jewel of a Shul”
Mission Statement:
The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley 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. We choose to remain unaffiliated in order to respect and serve the rich diversity of our members and visitors.Numbers 19:1-22:1