Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, March 1-7

By Rabbi Alicia Magal

The JCSVV offers services and classes which are life-affirming and soul enriching. All are listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Visitors are welcome to attend services after security check. People who cannot attend or who live far away can attend through zoom. Several classes, events and holidays are coming up in March and April. Check the website and plan to join us!

Erev Shabbat services led by Rabbi Alicia Magal will be held on Friday evening, February March 1, 2024 beginning at 5:30 pm in person and on Zoom. Rabbi will offer Shabbat prayers to bring in the Sabbath sense of calm and peace, as well as healing blessings for those who are ill, a mazal tov for Simchas (happy occasions), and Kaddish, mourner’s prayer, recited for loved ones who have passed away. Everyone is invited to stay after services for refreshments and socializing.

Shabbat Across the World is an opportunity to offer a traditional Saturday morning service with many participants. The service will begin on Saturday morning, March 2 at 10:00 a.m.. The Torah reading is from Ki Tissa (Exodus 30:11- 34:35), with instructions to Moses for taking a census of male Israelites over twenty for defense of all the tribes. In this portion are more details about the Sanctuary. The chief craftsmen are appointed, Bezalel and Oholiab. No work is to be on on the Sabbath. The incident of worshiping the Golden Calf leads Moses to smash the first set of tablets containing the Law given on Mt. Sinai. Then he pleads with God to forgive the people and have a renewal of the Covenant. Moses makes a second set of tablets, and the people are warned never again to turn to false gods. Everyone is welcome to stay for the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

On Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. we offer a morning minyan on Zoom, with traditional prayers sung or read in Hebrew and English. Join through the website link to support each other needing a minyan to say Kaddish for a loved one.

Meditation class will meet on Wednesday, March 6, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal on zoom, focusing on a particular theme in this week’s Torah portion or other uplifting texts.

Torah study will be held on Thursday, March 7, at 4:00 pm on zoom, led by Rabbi Magal. The portion for that week is Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1 – 38:20) emphasizing the importance of resting on the Sabbath day as it is sacred. Details about the building of Israel’s first House of Worship was constructed with materials donated by the people with enthusiasm as a demonstration of the people’s loyalty to God.

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 bottom of the stairs leading to the synagogue sanctuary. We encourage people to donate generously.

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.