By Rabbi Alicia Magal
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, concerts, 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.
All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on Friday, May 15 at 5:30 pm. Join in singing songs to usher in the Sabbath, prayers of healing for loved ones, congratulations for those celebrating a birthday or anniversary, and Kaddish, the Mourner’s prayer in memory of those who have passed away recently or around this date in past years. The Torah portion is the opening of the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar 1:1– 4:20), focusing on preparations for the journey to the Promised Land, including a census, the arrangement of the camps with the Tabernacle of the Covenant in the center, the role of the Levites, and the organization and duties of each tribe. Stay to enjoy refreshments and socializing after the service.
All are invited to the Red Rocks Music Festival coming on Saturday May 16 at 7:00 pm at the synagogue offering a concert: From Bach to Gypsy and Beyond. Tickets on the website.
Egalitarian, participatory Morning Minyan meets on zoom every Wednesday at 8:30 am with traditional morning blessings, healing prayers, and Kaddish, the mourner’s prayer. Come be counted in our minyan! Link on the website.
Meditation class, led by Rosalie Malter and Rabbi Magal, will meet on Wednesday, May 20 at 4:00 pm on zoom. The focus will be on the counting of the Omer, a practice which continues from Passover to Shavuot, a seven-week spiritual journey of preparation that begins with the Exodus and culminates at Mt. Sinai with the giving of the Torah.
Torah study group, led by Rabbi Magal, will meet on Thursday, May 21 at 4:00 on zoom with a special focus on the festival of Shavuot, the Ten Commandments, the Book of Ruth, and other facets of this ancient festival that has many layers and applications for our day.
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 lot. People continue to need sustenance. Let’s keep them in mind.
Looking ahead: This year there will be a special Saturday evening program on May 23 beginning at 6:00 pm with Yizkor – a brief memorial service that comes at the end of each of the major festivals; an interactive session on the characters of the Book of Ruth; and a culminating Havdalah service for ending Shabbat. Cheesecake, blintzes and other traditional treats of the Shavuot holiday will be served.
We wish all our members, guests, and neighbors a sense of wholeness and peace, included in the word Shalom
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.