By Rabbi Alicia Magal
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, July 17 at 5:30 pm led by Anita Rosenfield, Marissa Luhman, and Yona Salberg since Rabbi Magal is on vacation. 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, Devarim (Deut. 1:1 – 3:22), consisting of Moses’ farewells to the Israelites, delivered at the end of his years as their leader. Moses recalls the long route of wandering which they had to take through the desert, and reminds the younger generation of the wonders perceived by their parents as well as the mistakes and failures the older generation had made. Stay to enjoy Kiddush and Motzi (wine and challah), refreshments, and socializing after the service.
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, will not meet on Wednesday, July 22 because of the Tisha B’Av service.
Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av, commemorating the destruction of the first and second Temple in Jerusalem, will be observed with chanting from Eicha, The Book of Lamentations, beginning at 7:00 pm. What begins with mourning, does end with hope and healing.
Torah study group, led by Rabbi Magal, will meet on Thursday, July 23 at 4:00 on zoom, focusing on Ve’etchanan, (Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11) continuing Moses’ farewell messages, including a review of the Ten Commandments and the great Shema message: Israel must hear that there is but One God, and with deep love, the people should study God’s teachings and live by them.
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.

