By Rabbi Alicia Magal
Everyone loves the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service, held at different houses of worship in Sedona. This year’s service will take place at the Methodist Church at 110 Indian Cliffs Rd on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 pm. All are invited to bring a can or box of non-perishable food which will be donated to the local food pantry.
Mussar is a Jewish practice of personal character refinement and offers one lens for studying each Torah portion of the week during the cycle of yearly readings. This year in our weekly Torah study sessions we are viewing our sacred texts through this lens of Mussar, the Jewish tradition of ethical and spiritual growth. Rooted in centuries of Jewish wisdom, Mussar invites us to look inward with honesty, humility, and compassion, cultivating qualities such as gratitude, patience, generosity, and kindness.
Each week, alongside our exploration of the Torah portion, we will reflect on a specific middah (soul trait), asking how the ancient stories and teachings speak to our own character, choices, and relationships. Mussar transforms Torah study from an intellectual exercise into a spiritual practice, helping us bridge the gap between what we know and how we live. Through the wisdom of Torah and the guidance of Mussar, we seek not only to understand our tradition more deeply, but to become the people we are meant to be.
Everyone is welcome to join us with our Torah study as we learn, reflect, and grow together on Thursdays at 4:00 pm MST on zoom.
Our congregation’s Social Action Committee encourages everyone to contribute to the local Sedona food pantry. Items include non-perishable foods, infant formula, and personal care products for individuals and families in need. Donations may be placed in the collection bin located at the bottom of the stairs in the parking lot.
All are invited to Erev Shabbat services on Friday, November 13 at 5:30 pm led by Rabbi Magal in person and virtually. Torah reading is Toldot (Genesis 25:19 – 28:9) including the story of the twins, Jacob and Esau, born to Rebecca and Isaac. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check.
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. Classes, services, programs, zoom links, and archived videos are listed on our website: jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286.
Rabbi Alicia Magal
Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, Arizona, USA
www.jcsvv.org
Office: 928 204-1286
“A Jewel of a Shul”
Mission Statement:
The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley 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. We choose to remain unaffiliated in order to respect and serve the rich diversity of our members and visitors.
