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 23, 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. The 6th candle of the 8-day Festival of Hanukkah will be lit at the very beginning of the service. The Shalom Singers under the direction of Katherine LaTorraca, will enhance the service with Hanukkah and Shabbat melodies. Verses from the Torah portion, Miketz (Genesis 41:1 – 44:17) will be chanted. This portion tells of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and predicting seven years of plenty followed by seven lean years. 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, will meet on Wednesday, December 28, at 4:00 on zoom.
On Thursday, December 29, Torah study, led by Anita Rosenfield, will focus on the Torah portion of that week: Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47.27), the third Torah reading about Joseph. He finally makes himself known to his brothers who had not recognized him up till now. He assures them that he bears no grudge and believes that God had sent him to Egypt ahead of the family to save them from famine. He urges them to bring their father Jacob to him. They all will settle in good grazing land. The entire family is reunited.
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. Winter coats and other warm clothing are also being collected.
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.
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