By Rabbi Alicia Magal
The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark 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.
The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom.
Note: Friday evening services on the First Friday of the month through October will begin at 7:00 pm, rather than 5:30 pm, to allow people who work or cannot get to the synagogue at the earlier hour a later start time once a month. The rest of the month, the Friday evening services will remain at 5:30 pm. Therefore on May 2, Erev Shabbat services, led by Rabbi Alicia Magal, will begin at 7:00 pm, including songs to usher in the Sabbath, prayers of healing for loved ones, and Kaddish, the Mourner’s prayer in memory of those who have passed away recently or around this date in past years. Israeli Independence Day will also be observed with songs and readings. The Shalom Singers Choir will offer special music throughout the service. The Torah reading is from a double portion: Tazria (Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59) and Metzora (Leviticus 14:1 – 15:32), both dealing with the physical and spiritual aspects of sickness and healing, Steve and Debi Heims are sponsoring the Oneg refreshments in honor of Israeli Independence Day.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, May 7, at 4:00 pm on zoom, focusing on sacred seasons or texts to add a deeper dimension to our encounter with Jewish traditional teachings. The mitzvah of Counting of the Omer during the 49 days of spiritual preparation leading up to the holiday of Shavuot will be observed.
Thursday’s Torah class, led by Rabbi Magal on May 8 at 4:00 pm on zoom will offer discussion on the double portion of that week, Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30) and Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27), summarizing the most important ethical teachings of the Torah including honoring parents, sanctifying the Sabbath, providing for the poor, paying workers fairly, compassion for the deaf and blind, respect for the elderly, fair treatment of the stranger, and avoiding gossip, all summarized by “You shall love your neighbor as yourself!”
The group will also consider the weekly kabbalistic theme during the seven weeks from Passover to Shavuot when Jews count the days and weeks leading up to the Giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. So, the Journey of Freedom does not end with escaping slavery and crossing the sea to freedom, but continues with spiritual preparation necessary to creating an ethical society of responsibility and laws for protecting those with less power or status.
The Social Action Committee is collecting non-perishable foods, as well as infant formula and feminine hygiene products, for the local Sedona food pantry. Please drop off your donations in the bin provided for collections located at the bottom of the stairs in the parking lot.
We wish all our members, guests, and neighbors a sense of wholeness and peace, included in the word Shalom.