By Rabbi Alicia Magal
Sedona News – 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.
On Friday, February 25, Rabbi Magal will lead a service to welcome in Shabbat with candle lighting, songs, prayers, and a Torah reading from the portion of the week, Vayakhel, Exodus 35:1 – 38:20, containing the plans and details of the building of the Mishkan, portable Tabernacle, as the Children of Israel were wandering in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. It was built with donations of precious materials and created with the craftsmanship of the people, all offered with enthusiasm and love. The Erev Shabbat service will also include a healing blessing and a mazal tov to those with a birthday or anniversary. People who passed away recently, or at this time on the Hebrew calendar in years past, will be remembered as Kaddish, the Mourner’s Prayer, is recited. This is a time in the Hebrew calendar when blessings are given announcing the new month of Adar II which will begin on Friday, March 4. Whether blessings are offered to people for healing, or to mark a special event in someone’s life, or to take notice of an important date on the calendar, blessings have power, and are channeled from a higher source to reach people and touch their hearts. The power of prayer and blessing is beyond the physical plane, but can be as powerful a force as any concrete gift, nourishment, or healing.
Wednesday morning minyan begins at 8:30 a.m. on March 2 on zoom.
At 4:00 pm Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal lead a class on Jewish meditation through Zoom.
On Thursday, March, at 4:00 pm,Torah study, led by Rabbi Magal, will be held on Zoom. We will be discussing commentaries on the next week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, describing the completion and dedication of the MIshkan, Israel’s first house of worship, the portable mishkan erected in the desert, at the center of which is the Ark containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments. How do we dedicate dwellings, houses of worship, and other important buildings for special purposes. What does it mean that a space is dedicated to a holy purpose? This portion brings to an end the Book of Exodus. Starting next week, the group will be exploring the Book of Daniel.
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.