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 18, 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 regarding the Exodus story, celebrated at Passover. The Oneg refreshments are sponsored by Rabbi Magal in honor of Itzhak Magal’s birthday, and by Michael Shapiro and Elaine Fox in honor of Elaine’s birthday.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, April 23, 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 April 24 at 4:00 pm on zoom will offer discussion on the portion of the week, 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.
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
