TORAH READING FOR 1 AV 5785 July 25-26, 2025
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM July 25, 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.161
Baruch atah, Adonai, haporës sukat shalom alëinu v’al kōl amo Yisraël v’al Yerushaláyim.
GIVE US A PLACE TO REST, Adonai, our God. Bring us into shelter…. Spread over us Your shelter of peace, over all we love – over our Jerusalem and Yours.
DOUBLE PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/matot-masei
Matot – Mas’ei (מַטּוֹת – מַסְעֵי The Tribes / The Marches of [the Israelites]) Numbers 30:2–36:13
Moses spoke to the heads of the Israelite tribes, saying: “This is what the Eternal has commanded: If a householder makes a vow to the Eternal or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.” – Numbers 30:2-3
SUMMARY
- Moses explains to the Israelites the laws concerning vows made by men and women. (30:2-17)
- Israel wages war against the Midianites. (31:1-18)
- The laws regarding the spoils of war are outlined. (31:19-54)
- The tribes of Reuben and Gad are granted permission to stay on the east bank of the Jordan River. (32:1-42)
- The itinerary of the Israelites through the wilderness from Egypt to Jordan is delineated. (33:1-49)
- Moses tells Israel to remove the current inhabitants of the land that God will give them and to destroy their gods. (33:50-56)
- The boundaries of the Land of Israel are defined, along with those of the Levitical cities and the cities of refuge. (34:1-35:15)
- God makes a precise distinction between murder and manslaughter. (35:16-34)
- The laws of inheritance as they apply to Israelite women are delineated. (36:1-13)
These Parashot end the Book of Numbers. 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 – ROSH CHODESH
Ashkenazi: Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4 [historic: include Isaiah 66:1; 66:23]
Sefardi: Jeremiah 2:4-28, 4:1-2 [historic: include Isaiah 66:1; 66:23]
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2025 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.30.2-36.13, and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.2.4-28, and https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.3.4, or https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.4.1-2.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/matot-masei
“Tell Me If You’ve Heard This One Before”
By: Cantor Jamie Marx
SHABBAT ROSH CHODESH AV 2025 / 578רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ אָב 5
Rosh Chodesh Av for Hebrew Year 5785 begins at sundown on Friday, 25 July 2025 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 26 July 2025. [It signals a period of preparation for Rosh Hashanah, which is two short months away.]
In some traditions, the first nine days are an intense period of mourning. The destruction of the first and second temples, the expulsion from Spain in 1492, and several other tragic and disastrous events in Jewish history are recalled. This period of mourning culminates with a full fast day and reading the Book of Lamentations, which the Gemara says was written by Jeremiah, on the 9 of Av (Tisha B’Av).
At least two other noteworthy observances take place during Av. The date of Aaron’s death, which is explicitly stated in Torah (Numbers 33:38), is commemorated on the first of Av. The 15 of Av (Tu B’Av) is a minor holiday celebrating love similar to Valentine’s Day and is considered a great day for weddings.
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
SHABBAT ROSH CHODESH AV – R’TZEI INSERT p.174
Our God and God of our fathers and mothers, on this first day of Av be mindful of us and all Your people Israel, for good, for love, for compassion, life and peace. Remember us for wellbeing. Amen. Visit us with blessing. Amen. Help us to a fuller life. Amen.
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, 1 Av through 7 Av, we lovingly remember:
Chaya (Ida) bat Yitzchak Gomez
Mother of TKH member Ruben Gomez
Jacob Sznejder
TKH Memorial Board
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, July 25, 2025. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 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: July 25, 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 December 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
July 25, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[July 25-26, Friday-Saturday – Rosh Chodesh Av]
August 1, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[August 2, Saturday – Shabbat Chazon – Shabbat of Vision]
[August 2, Saturday – Erev Tish’a B’av – Fast begins in the evening]
[August 3, Sunday – Tish’a B’av – Fast, Ninth of Av]
August 8, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[August 8-9, Friday-Saturday – Tu B’Av – minor Jewish holiday of love]
[August 9, Saturday – Shabbat Nachamu – Shabbat of Consolation]
August 15, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
August 22, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[August 24-25, Sunday-Monday – Rosh Chodesh Elul]
[August 25, Monday – Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot – New Year of the Animals]
August 29, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[September 1, Monday – Labor Day Observed]
September 5, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
September 12, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (TBD)
[September 13. Saturday nightfall – Leil Selichot – preparation for High Holy Days]
September 19, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (TBD)
[September 22, Monday PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah]
[September 23-24, Tuesday-Wednesday – Rosh Hashanah (one day in Reform)]
September 26, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (TBD)
[September 27, Saturday – Shabbat Shuva – Sabbath of Returning]
[October 1, Wednesday – Erev Yom Kippur – Kol Nidrë]
[October 2, Thursday – Yom Kippur]
October 3, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (TBD)
[October 6, Monday – Erev Sukkot]
[October 7 to 13, Tuesday-Monday – Sukkot]
October 10, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (TBD)
[October 11, Saturday – Shabbat in Sukkot]
[October 13, Monday – Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day]
[October 14, Tuesday – Shemini Atzéret and Simchat Torah (in Reform)]
October 17, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[October 22-23, Wednesday-Thursday – Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan]
October 24, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
October 31, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
November 7, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 11, Tuesday – Veterans Day]
November 14, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 27, Thursday – Thanksgiving Day]
November 21, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 21-22, Friday-Saturday – Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Kislev]
November 28, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
December 5, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
December 12, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[December 14, Sunday – Erev Chanukah, First Candle]
[December 15 to 22, Monday-Monday – Chanukah]
December 19, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (Chanukah Sixth Candle)
[December 19-20, Friday-Saturday – Chag HaBanot–North African Chanukah Festival of Daughters]
[December 20, Saturday – Shabbat in Chanukah]
[December 20-21, Saturday-Sunday – Rosh Chodesh Tevet]
[December 21, Sunday – Eighth Candle]
December 26, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[December 30, Tuesday – Asara B’Tevet – Fast, Siege of Jerusalem]
[December 31, Wednesday – Secular New Year’s Eve]
[January 1, Thursday – Secular New Year’s Day 2026]