TORAH READING FOR 29 ADAR 5785 Mar 28-29, 2025
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Mar 28, 2025
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur” CCAR, New York 2007, p.60
BARUCH atah, Adonai Elohëinu, Mélech ha’olam,
yotzër ‘or uvorë chóshech, ‘oseh shalom uvorë et-hakol.
PRAISED ARE YOU, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe,
Creator of light and darkness, who makes peace and fashions all things.
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/pekudei
P’kudei (פְקוּדֵי — [The] Records [of the Tabernacle]) – Exodus 38:21-40:38
These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses’ bidding– the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. – Exodus 38:21
SUMMARY:
- A statistical summary of the materials used for the Tabernacle and an account of producing the priestly vestments are recorded. Moses blesses the Israelites for the work they did. (38:21-39:42)
- Upon God’s instruction, Moses sets up the Mishkan and the priests are anointed and consecrated. (40:1-33)
- A description is given of a cloud that covers the Mishkan by day and a fire that burns by night, indicating God’s Presence therein. (40:33-38) [The Book of Exodus ends here.]
Upon completing a book of Torah Ashkenazi Jews shout “Chazak! Chazak! Venit-chazëk” which is translated as “Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!” The Sephardic custom is to say “Chazak U’baruch” (“strength and blessing”) at the end of every single individual Torah reading; the response is “Chazak Ve’ematz” (“be strong and have courage” from Deut. 31:23) or “Baruch Tihiye” (“may you be blessed.”)
HAFTARAH – Shabbat HaChodesh
Ashkenazim: Ezekiel 45:16-25 [Historic: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18]
Sefardim: Ezekiel 45:16-46:15
This Shabbat, Shabbat HaChodesh (announcing the new month of Nisan), is one of the four specially designated Shabbatot before Passover. Purim, Purim lano, Pesach a la mano!
SHABBAT HACHODESH 2025 / שַׁבָּת הַחֹדֶשׁ 5785
Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan
Shabbat HaChodesh for Hebrew Year 5785 begins at sundown on Friday, 28 March 2025 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 29 March 2025. This corresponds to Parashat Pekudei.
Shabbat HaChodesh (“Sabbath [of the] month” שבת החודש) precedes the first of the Hebrew month of Nisan during which Passover is celebrated. Exodus 12:1-20 and the laws of Passover. On the first day of Nisan, G-d presented the first commandment of how to “sanctify the new moon” (kiddush hachodesh) for the onset of Rosh Chodesh and thus Nisan becomes the first month of the Jewish year (counting by months.)
Read more from ou.org or Wikipedia
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2025 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.38.21-40.38 and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.45.16-46.18.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/pekudei
Working for the World: Public Servants
By: Rabbi Jessica Kirschner
ROSH CHODESH NISAN 2025 / רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן 5785
Start of month of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar
Rosh Chodesh Nisan for Hebrew Year 5785 begins at sundown on Saturday, 29 March 2025 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 30 March 2025.
Start of month of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. נִיסָן (transliterated Nisan or Nissan) is the 1st month of the Hebrew year, has 30 days, and corresponds to March or April on the Gregorian calendar. רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ, transliterated Rosh Chodesh or Rosh Hodesh, is a minor holiday that occurs at the beginning of every month in the Hebrew calendar. It is marked by the birth of a new moon.
Read more from ou.org
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
ROSH CHODESH – FOR THE NEW MONTH p.519
Our God and God of our ancestors, may the new month bring us goodness and blessing. May we have long life, peace, prosperity, a life exalted by love of Torah and reverence for the divine; a life in which the longings of our hearts are fulfilled for good.
WEEKDAY T’FILAH – Al HaRishah – עַל הָרִשְׁעָה p.88
AND FOR WICKEDNESS, let there be no hope, and may all the errant return to You, and may the realm of wickedness be shattered. Blessed are You, Adonai, whose will it is that the wicked vanish from the earth. Amen.
FOR OUR COUNTRY p.376
THUS SAYS ADONAI, This is what I desire: to unlock the fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of lawlessness; to let the oppressed go free, to break off every yoke. Share your bread with the hungry, and take the wretched poor into your home. When you see the naked, give clothing, and do not ignore your own kin.
O GUARDIAN of life and liberty, may our nation always merit Your protection. Teach us to give thanks for what we have by sharing it with those who are in need. Keep our eyes open to the wonders of creation, and alert to the care of the earth. May we never be lazy in the work of peace; may we honor those who have [served, suffered or] died in defense of our ideals. Grant our leaders wisdom and forbearance. May they govern with justice and compassion. Help us all to appreciate one another, and to respect the many ways that we may serve You. May our homes be safe from affliction and strife, and our country be sound in body and spirit. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL p.552
O HEAVENLY ONE, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel which marks the dawning of hope for all who seek peace. Shield it beneath the wings of your love; spread over it the canopy of Your peace; send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with Your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. Amen.
FOR HEALING – El Na R’fa Na Lah!
We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of abuse, brutality, conflicts, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kinds especially directed at individuals and specific communities including us, and war; for all those at home alone or lonely; for all those in need of physical, emotional, and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!
YAHRZEITS/ANYOS
We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim (30 days since burial); those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of brutality, conflict, disease, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kinds, and war.
This coming week, 29 Adar through 6 Nisan, we lovingly remember:
Marilyn Bernstein
TKH Memorial Board, Mother of Elizabeth Bernstein
Lillian Leah Salomon
Mother of Barbara Jo Salomon
Those victims of the Sho’ah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.
“ZICHRONAM LIV’RACHAH” – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR BLESSING.
SHAZOOM ONLY
We will meet for Shazoom ONLY this evening, Friday, March 28, 2025. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2025 below.
Zoom regularly updates its security and performance features. If a screen pops up when you first join Shazoom asking permission for the Host to unmute you during the meeting, for everyone’s ease and comfort, click on Allow. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this evening with wine/grape juice for Kiddush and Challah for Motzi.
Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service
Time: Mar 28, 2025 06:30 PM Arizona
To join Shazoom click on the following link [you may need to copy it into your browser]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72510500854?pwd=Z3VQZWF4U1BBZytNYmh3aHFTWkFDZz09
Meeting ID: 725 1050 0854
Passcode: 4NrMk0
Hint: The last character of the password is the number zero.
PASSOVER SEDER
Temple Kol Hamidbar is holding an in-house, potluck, Passover Seder in Sierra Vista on Sunday, April 13, the second night of Pesach, at 6 pm. Donations are welcomed. Please see the emails sent on March 23-24, 2025, by Dr. Sam Caron, Congregational President, for more details.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
March 28, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[March 29, Shabbat HaChodesh]
[March 29-30, HaChodesh Nisan]
April 4, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 7-8, Yom HaAliyah]
April 11, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 12 – Shabbat HaGadol/Erev Pesach]
[April 13-19 (20) – Pesach]
[April 13 – Congregational Seder 6 pm]
[April 13 pm-June 1 pm, Days of the ‘Ómer (7 weeks)]
April 18, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[April 23-24, Yom HaShoah]
April 25, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 27-29, Rosh Chodesh Iyar]
[April 29-30, Yom HaZikaron – Israeli Memorial Day]
[April 30-May 1, Yom Ha’Atzma’ut – Israeli Independence Day]
May 2, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
May 9, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 11-12, Pesach Shëni (Second Passover)]
May 16, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 15-16, Lag Ba’Ómer]
[May 16-17, LaD B’Ómer – Sefardic]
May 23, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 25-26, Yom Yerushalayim]
[May 27-28, Rosh Chodesh Sivan]
May 30, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[June 1, Erev Shavuot]
[June 2-3, Shavuot]
June 6, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 13, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 20, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[June 25-27, Rosh Chodesh Tamuz]
June 27, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm