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 a security check. People who cannot attend or who live far away can access the service through zoom.
Erev Shabbat services begin on Friday evening, May 24, beginning at 5:30 pm in person and on Zoom led by Rabbi Alicia Magal. Rabbi Magal will chant from the portion for this week: Behukotai, (Leviticus 26:3 – 27:34), the last chapter in the book of Leviticus, dealing with voluntary contributions made for the upkeep of the ancient Sanctuary, a tradition continuing through the First and Second Temples in Ancient Jerusalem, and up till our day in support of synagogues around the world. Included in the service are also 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. Stay for refreshments and socializing 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, June 5, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal on zoom, focusing on the spiritual practice of counting the Omer, the 49 days’ journey between Passover and Shavuot, as we recall the Israelites’ journey from the Exodus to Mt. Sinai where they received the Ten Commandments. In our day, we take this journey as a spiritual practice of preparation and refinement of our personality traits.
Torah study will be held on Thursday, June 6 at 4:00 pm on zoom, led by Rabbi Magal. The portion for that week is Bemidbar, (Numbers 1:1 – 4:20), telling of taking a census of all adult males of Israel in the second year after their Exodus from Egypt. The people were arranged by their tribes in camps in a special order with the Tabernacle (Mishkan) always set in the center, with the tribe of Levi closest to the Tabernacle.
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 up to the synagogue sanctuary.
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.
