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.
We offer support in times of sorrow, and celebrate together in times of joy. Since so many of our members live far from their relatives, the congregation serves as an extended family – “Mishpacha” in Hebrew.
All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on Friday, June 12 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. A selection will be chanted from this week’s Torah portion: Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1-15:41). In this Torah portion, Moses sends 12 scouts to explore the Land of Israel. Ten of them convince the people that it will be too difficult to conquer the land. As a result, the people will endure 40 years of wandering in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land with Joshua. Stay to enjoy Kiddush and Motzi (wine and challah), refreshments, and socializing after the service.
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, June 17 at 4:00 pm on zoom. The focus will be on themes of the current week’s Torah portion, including sacred phrases in Hebrew.
Torah study group, led by Rabbi Magal, will meet on Thursday, June 18 at 4:00 on zoom, focusing on the Torah portion of that week: Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32, in which Korach and his followers accuse Moses and Aaron of taking power and prestige for themselves. Korach and his followers are punished by God since Moses is humble, not arrogant or seeking power, and both he and Aaron were called to their position of authority. The teaching is that one is encouraged to argue “for the sake of heaven,” that is, for a worthy cause, but not for ego or self-aggrandizement as Korach did.
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.
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.