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 2, 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, Vayetze (Genesis 28:10 – 32:3), tells of Jacob’s dream of angels ascending and descending, giving him hope for the future as he flees the anger of his twin Esau. Jacob meets Rachel at the well, and spends twenty years working for his father-in-law for the marriage of both sisters, Rachel and Leah. 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.
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 7, at 4:00 on zoom.
On Thursday, December 8, Torah study, led by Rabbi Magal, will focus on the Torah portion of that week: Vayishlach, Genesis 32:4 – 36:43, telling of the return of Jacob to his home in Canaan after more than twenty years. The night before his encounter with his bother Esau, he wrestles with an angel (or perhaps his own conscience?) and receives a new spiritual name of Israel, meaning “He who strives with God.” The explanation is…” For you have struggled with God and with men, and you have endured.”
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.
Register for the Hanukkah celebration by December 8. There will be candle lighting, songs, latkes (potato pancakes) and a whole menu listed on the website along with the from to reserve your space. The gathering is on the first night of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 18 at 4 pm at the synagogue. Bring a menorah and two candles.
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.