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, jcsvv.org. Visitors are welcome to attend services.
On Friday, December 16, 2022, a Friday evening Erev Shabbat service, led by Rabbi Alicia Magal, begins at 5:30 pm both in person and on Zoom, and live-streamed for members and their invitees. Verses from the Torah portion, Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1 – 40:23) will be chanted. This is the story of Joseph who is the favorite son of his father Jacob, who gives him a many-colored coat which causes jealousy among his brothers. Blessings for those who are ill, and a Mazal Tov for those celebrating a birthday or anniversary will be offered at the Kabbalat Shabbat service. 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.
Hanukkah begins on Sunday evening, December 18. There will be a celebration and candle lighting at the synagogue beginning at 4 pm for those with reservations.
Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. Rabbi Magal leads a morning minyan on Zoom, with traditional prayers sung or read in Hebrew and English by the participants. Join through the website link to support each other needing a minyan to say Kaddish for a loved one.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, December 21, at 4:00 on zoom.
On Thursday, December 22, Torah study, led by Rabbi Magal, will focus on the Torah portion of that week: Miketz (Genesis 41:1 – 44:17) in which Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream of seven prosperous years followed by seven lean years. when Joseph is presented with his brothers who come looking for food, he recognizes them but they do not recognize the brother they had sold into slavery years before. How will he treat them?
The Social Action Committee is continuing to collect food for the local Sedona food pantry. Please drop off cans or boxes of non-perishable foods in the bin provided for collections at the stairs leading to the synagogue sanctuary.
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.