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 or online links. Visitors are welcome to attend services.
On Friday, August 5, a Friday evening Erev Shabbat 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. Verses from the Torah portion will be chanted: Devarim, Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22, containing the first of Moses’ farewells to Israel at the end of his long years as their leader. He recalls both the difficulties they encountered and the miracles they observed. He urged them to keep their faith strong. 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.
Erev Tisha B’av will be observed on Saturday evening at 7:30 pm with the chanting of Eicha, Lamentations, as well as poetry and songs recalling the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE and the Second Temple in 70 CE. See the website jcsvv.org for details.
Wednesday morning minyan begins at 8:30 a.m. on August 10 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!
On Wednesday 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, August 11, at 4:00 pm, Torah study, led by Anita Rosenfield, will be held on Zoom. The Torah reading for that week is Va-etchanan (Deuteronomy 3: 23- 7:11), a continuation of the first of Moses’ three farewell talks to Israel before his death. Here is a review of the Ten Commandments as well as the central “Shema Israel” affirmation stating that Israel must hear that there is but One God and have a deep love for God, to study and live by God’s teachings.
The Social Action Committee is continuing to collect food for the local Sedona food pantry. Please drop of cans or boxes of non-perishable foods 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.