Sedona, AZ — 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.
Friday evening services on May 23, led by Rabbi Alicia Magal, will begin at 5:30 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. The Torah reading is from the double portion of that week, Behar (Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2) and Behukotai (Leviticus 26:3 – 27:34), the first portion dealing with the balance to be achieved between humans and the earth since “the earth is the Lord’s.” Man is only given the privilege of using it to sustain himself, and should never abuse the land. The calendar of Sabbatical years was established, with the 50th year proclaimed as the Jubilee year when the land would lie fallow and be returned to its original owners. Part of the verse in Leviticus 25:10 is inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” The second portion, Behukotai, includes lessons about choosing ethical laws as a basis for life, along with the tradition of generosity in sustaining houses of worship in communities wherever Jews would reside.
Rabbi Magal will lead the second in a series of 4 classes on zoom, on Tuesday, May 20, at 3:00 pm, about the prayers of the Erev Shabbat services with emphasis on how to organize a lay-led service. Registration through the office.
Morning minyan meets on zoom every Wednesday at 8:30 am with traditional morning blessings, healing prayers, and Kaddish, the mourner’s prayer. Link on the website.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, May 28, 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 (this year on Sunday evening, June1) will be observed. Focus will be on each week’s energy on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.
Thursday’s Torah class, led by Rabbi Magal on May 29 at 4:00 pm on zoom will offer discussion on the portion of that week, Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1 – 4:20) containing a census of the adult males among the tribes of the Israelites during their wandering toward the Promised Land.
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 l
We wish all our members, guests, and neighbors a sense of wholeness and peace, included in the word Shalom.