TORAH READING FOR 4 SIVAN 5785 May 30-31, 2025
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM May 30, 2025
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT
From URJ https://urj.org/blog/prayer-jerusalem
This Shabbat we could all add a special prayer as we prepare for the festival of Shavuot – a pilgrimage holiday to Jerusalem. Let us say together:
Sha’alu sh’lom Y’rushaláyim yishláyu ohaváich:
Y’hi shalom b’chëilëch, shalvah b’armenotáich.
Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem; May those who love you be at peace. May there be well-being within your ramparts, peace in your citadels. Ps. 122:6-7
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/bmidbar
B’midbar (בְּמִדבַּר — Hebrew for “In the Wilderness”) – Numbers 1:1−4:20
On the first day of the second month, in the second year following the exodus from the land of Egypt, the Eternal One spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, saying: “Take a census of the whole Israelite company…” – Numbers 1:1-2
SUMMARY
- God commands Moses to take a census of all the Israelite males over the age of twenty. (1:1-46)
- The duties of the Levites, who are not included in the census, are detailed. (1:47-51)
- Each tribe is assigned specific places in the camp around the Tabernacle. (1:52-2:34)
- The sons of Levi are counted and their responsibilities are set forth. (3:1-3:39)
- A census of the firstborn males is taken and a special redemption tax is levied on them. (3:40-51)
- God instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the responsibilities of Aaron and his sons, and the duties assigned to the Kohathites. (4:1-20)
HAFTARAH
Hosea 2:1-22
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/Numbers.1.1-4.20, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.2.1-22
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/bmidbar
“How to Pack for a Long Journey”
By: Cantor Jamie Marx
SEFIRAT HA’ÓMER (Counting of the Omer) – April 13-June 1
We are reaching the end of 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 48 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 blessing, one recites the appropriate day of the count. If after the first six days, one also includes the number of weeks that one has counted. For example:
“Hayom sh’monah v’ar’ba’im yom, shehëm shishah shavu’ot v’shishah yamim la‘Ómer/ba‘Ómer.”
“Today is 48 days, which is six 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. The following are some selections from the sixth chapter.
From Sefaria.org https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.6
1: The sages taught in the language of the Mishnah. Blessed be He who chose them and their teaching. Rabbi Meir said: Whoever occupies himself with the Torah for its own sake, merits many things; not only that but he is worth the whole world. He is called beloved friend; one that loves God; one that loves humankind; one that gladdens God; one that gladdens humankind. And the Torah clothes him in humility and reverence, and equips him to be righteous, pious, upright and trustworthy; it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to merit. And people benefit from his counsel, sound knowledge, understanding and strength, as it is said, “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine” (Proverbs 8:14).
5: Do not seek greatness for yourself, and do not covet honor. Practice more than you learn. Do not yearn for the table of kings, for your table is greater than their table, and your crown is greater than their crown, and faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor.
SHAVUOT / שָׁבוּעוֹת
Festival of Weeks
Shavuot for Hebrew Year 5785 begins in the Diaspora at sundown on Sunday, 1 June 2025 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. [Shavuot is celebrated for one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora. Reform Judaism celebrates one day as in Israel.]
The festival of Shavuot (or Shavuos, in Ashkenazi usage; Shabhuʿoth in Classical and Mizrahi Hebrew Hebrew: שבועות, lit. “Weeks”) is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day G-d gave the Torah to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text. The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
Shavuot [שָׁבוּעוֹת] is known by several names: Chag HaShavuot (the Festival of Weeks), Chag HaBikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits), Z’man Matan Torateinu (the Time of the Giving of Our Torah), and Chag HaKatzir (the Festival of Reaping).
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/shavuot
Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as an ancient agricultural festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. In ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and the choice to participate actively in Jewish life.
THINGS TO DO
If you can, for Erev Shavuot, decorate your homes with freshly cut flowers and greens as well as an abundance of plants. (In my mother’s Judeo-Spanish tradition, roses are used to decorate the home and adorn the Torah Scrolls.) Read the Book of Ruth. Join an online Tikkun Lëyl Shavuot, e.g., URJ, My Jewish Learning, various temple websites.
YIZKOR/ASHKAVAH
In the Ashkenazi tradition Yizkor (Hebrew for “May he remember”) is recited for the dead during Synagogue services on Shavuot – on day 2 for those who observe two days. Among Sefardim, those called to the Torah may recite Ashkavah (אַשְׁכָּבָה “laying to rest”; the prayer is also known as Hashkavah) for their dead relatives.
We rejoice in the giving of the Torah, which is likened to milk and honey. We stand at Mount Sinai with all the generations of our people to receive 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, 4 Sivan through 10 Sivan, we lovingly remember:
Paul Miller
Friend of Dr. Sam and Mary Caron
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 30, 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 30, 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
Chag Shavuot Sameach – Dulce i Alegre Shabhu’ot – Gut Shavous
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
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