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, led by Rabbi Alicia Magal, begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, April 25, 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. Yom HaShoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day, will also be observed with the lighting of six candles in memory of the Six Million Jews killed during the Holocaust. The Shalom Singers Choir will offer special music throughout the service. The Torah reading is from Shemini (Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47) dealing with ritual purity and rules governing the priests and rituals performed at the Mishkan, the Tabernacle in the desert while the Children of Israel were wandering on the way to the Promised Land. These laws concerning purity and holiness of the people of Israel remind each person of their relationship to the Holy One in all aspects of daily life.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, April 30, at 4:00 pm on zoom focusing on sacred seasons or texts to add a deeper dimension to our encounter with Jewish traditional teachings. The mitzvah of Counting of the Omer during the 49 days of spiritual preparation leading up to the holiday of Shavuot will be observed.
Thursday’s Torah class, led by Rabbi Magal on May 1 at 4:00 pm on zoom will offer discussion on the double portion of that week, Tazria (Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59) and Metzora (Leviticus 14:1 – 15:32) dealing with certain diseases, their treatment and healing. Why are there descriptions of illness in the Torah? To teach that how we live, what we eat, what we think, and how we act are all included in the religious life according to Judaism.
The group will also consider the weekly kabbalistic theme during the seven weeks from Passover to Shavuot when Jews count the days and weeks leading up to the Giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. So the Journey of Freedom does not end with escaping slavery and crossing the sea to freedom, but continues with spiritual preparation necessary to creating an ethical society of responsibility and laws for protecting those with less power or status.
The Social Action Committee is collecting 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