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.
On Friday, June 17, a Friday evening 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: Behaalotecha (Numbers 8:1 – 12:16), in which Moses’ sister Miriam criticized him and was punished with tzara’at (a white scaly affliction). Moses asks for God to heal his sister. This has formed the basis of healing blessings we offer today. 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.
Wednesday morning minyan begins at 8:30 a.m. on June 22 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 lead a class on Jewish meditation on Zoom. Each session focuses on a different tool or aspect of Jewish meditation practices.
On Thursday, June 23, at 4:00 pm, Torah study, led by Rabbi Magal, will be held on Zoom. The Torah portion for that week is Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1 – 15:41), telling the story of the scouts sent to survey the land of Canaan in preparation for entering the land. Ten of the men reported that they thought the Israelites could not conquer the fortified cities and “giants” who lived there, while two, Joshua and Caleb, had faith that they could succeed. the people lacked faith, and so God decreed that they were to continue to wander in the desert until nearly all of that generation died out. It would take a total of 40 years until the Children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua, would finally enter the Promised Land.
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.