TORAH READING FOR 5 IYAR 5785 May 2-3, 2025
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM May 2, 2025
Iyar: Ani Adonai Rofécha – I am the God who heals you.
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.178
SHALOM RAV al Yisraël amcha tasim l’olam, v’al kol yoshvëi tëvël, v’imru. Amen.
GRANT ABUNDANT PEACE to Israel Your people forever, [and all who inhabit the earth. Amen.]
MAY BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Mazal Tov – Mazal Bueno to all those celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or significant event during the Month of May. If we were together at Temple Kol Hamidbar, we would extend a Tallit over you, say a special prayer for you, and recite the following blessing (cf Num. 6:24-26):
o May the Eternal One bless you and protect you!
o May the Eternal One deal kindly and graciously with you!
o May the Eternal One bestow favor upon you and grant you peace!
KËIN YEHI RATZON (Let it be so!)
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/tazria-mtzora
Tazria – M’tzora (תַזְרִיעַ – מְצֹרָע — Bearing Seed / A Leper) – Leviticus 12:1-15:33
The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be impure seven days; she shall be impure as at the time of her condition of menstrual separation.” – Leviticus 12:1-2
The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: “This shall be the ritual for a leper at the time of being purified .” – Leviticus 14:1-2
SUMMARY
- God describes the rituals of purification for a woman after childbirth. (12:1-8)
- God sets forth the methods for diagnosing and treating a variety of skin diseases, including tzara-at (a leprous affection), as well as those for purifying clothing. (13:1-59)
- Priestly rituals to cure tzara-at when it afflicts humans are described. (14:1-32)
- Rituals to rid dwelling places of tzara-at are presented. (14:33-57)
- The parashah denotes male impurities resulting from a penile discharge or seminal emission. (15:1-18)
- The parashah concludes with accounts of female impurities caused by a discharge of blood. (15:19-33)
HAFTARAH
II Kings 7:3-20
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 double Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.12.1-15.33, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.7.3-20.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/tazria-mtzora
By: Rabbi Andy Gordon
SEFIRAT HA’ÓMER (Counting of the Omer) – April 13-June 1
We are in the 49-day period of Counting the ‘Ómer, which this year began Sunday evening, April 13 and continues until Shavuot (Festival of Weeks), which starts the evening of Sunday, 1 June and ends at nightfall on Monday, 2 June 2025. [The ‘Ómer is counted each evening.]
Today, Friday, day 20 begins this evening at sundown. Before the ‘Alëinu, after stating that one is ready to count the ‘Ómer, the following blessing is said:
Baruch atah Adonai Elohëinu Mélech ha’olam, asher kid’shánu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivánu ‘al S’firat Ha‘Ómer.
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to count the ‘Ómer.
After the first six days, one also includes the number of weeks that one has counted:
“Hayom ‘esrim yom, shehëm sh’nëi shavua’ v’shishah yamim la‘Ómer/ba‘Ómer.”
“Today is 20 days, which is two weeks and six days of/in the ‘Ómer.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-count-the-omer/ and other websites have more detailed information on Counting the ‘Ómer. Some emphasize the Kabbalistic and mystical aspects of this practice.
PIRKË AVOT – Ethics of the Fathers
From Pesach to Shavuot on each Shabbat some study a chapter a week from Pirkë Avot. Following are some selections from the second chapter.
From Sefaria https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.2
3: [Rabban Gamaliel the son of Rabbi Judah Hanasi said:] Be careful [in your dealings] with the ruling authorities for they do not befriend a person except for their own needs; they seem like friends when it is to their own interest, but they do not stand by a man in the hour of his distress.
5: [Rabban Gamaliel the son of Rabbi Judah Hanasi said:] He used to say: A brute is not sin-fearing, nor is an ignorant person pious; nor can a timid person learn, nor can an impatient person teach; nor will someone who engages too much in business become wise. In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.
8: Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai received [the oral tradition] from Hillel and Shammai. He used to say: if you have learned much Torah, do not claim credit for yourself, because for such a purpose were you created.
10: [Rabbi Eliezer said:] Let the honor of your friend be as dear to you as your own; And be not easily provoked to anger; And repent one day before your death.
16: He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it….
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
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, 5 Iyar through 11 Iyar, we lovingly remember:
Shane Kissinger
Grandson of TKH Founding Member Harvey Ross z”l
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, May 2, 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: May 2, 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.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
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