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, 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 July 18, lay-led by Meri Thomason, 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 focus this evening will be on Torah portion, Pinchas (Numbers 25:10 – 20:1), telling of Aaron’s grandson Pinchas who takes action to prevent immorality between an Israelite with a Midianite woman. In this portion is also the story of the Daughters of Zelophechad who request the right to inherit the land from their father since there were no sons. The ruling is in their favor. Moses goes up to Mt. Abarim to view the Promised Land since he would not cross over into it. He appoints Joshua in a public ceremony as his successor to the leadership of Israel. Kiddush and Motzi (blessings over the wine/juice and challah) and socializing follow the service.
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, will meet on Wednesday, July 23, at 4:00 pm on zoom, focusing on sacred seasons or texts to add a deeper dimension to our encounter with Jewish traditional teachings.
Thursday’s Torah study, led by Anita Rosenfield on July 24 at 4:00 pm on zoom, will focus on that week’s double Torah portion, Mattot-Masei (Numbers 30:2 – 32:42, and Numbers 33:1 – 36:13), bringing the Israelite tribes near the end of their wandering up to the east of the Jordan. There is a summary of all the 42 encampments they had made during the 40 years of their wandering since the Exodus from Egypt. Each name of each stopping place has a deeper meaning relating to the challenge or lesson of each place. Metaphorically it also refers to the many stops each of us makes in our own life journey.
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.
We wish all our members, guests, and neighbors a sense of wholeness and peace, included in the word Shalom.
www.jcsvv.org
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.
