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,March 4, 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, Pekudei, describing the completion and dedication of the Mishkan, Israel’s first house of worship, the portable Tabernacle 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? What does it mean that a space is dedicated to a holy purpose? There is a sense of joy and solemnity to such a ritual. This portion brings to an end the Book of Exodus. 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.
The Adult Jewish Education Committee is offering a three-session course on Sephardic Cooking, led by Jaine Merliss. The first class on Tuesday, March 1, at 3:00 pm on zoom, focused on an appetizer. The second, on March 8, will present a main dish, and the last class, on March 15, will culminate with a dessert recipe. Sephardic cooking is known for its variety of colorful spices. Expand your culinary knowledge, and embrace a wider view of Jewish cooking around the world.
Wednesday morning minyan begins at 8:30 a.m. on March 9 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!
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, March 10, at 4:00 pm,Torah study, led by Rabbi Magal, will be held on Zoom. We will spend a moment briefly reviewing the Torah portion of the week, Vayikra at the beginning of the Book of Leviticus, but will be exploring the Book of Daniel from the Writings section of the Bible. Perhaps you’ve heard of “Daniel in the Lion’s Den” but haven’t ever heard the whole story. We will have a close reading of the original text with additional commentaries over the next few weeks.
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.