TORAH READING FOR 19 Tishri 5786 October 10-11, 2025
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Oct 10, 2025
MOADIM L’SIMCHA – Joyous Festivals!
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur” CCAR, New York 2007, p.180
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom alëinu,
v’al kōl Yisraël, v’al kōl yoshvëi tëvël, v’imru. Amën.
May the One who makes peace in the high heavens
make peace for us, for all Israel and all who inhabit the earth. Amen.
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/chol-hamo-eid-sukkot
Chol HaMo-eid Sukkot – חוֹל הַמּוֹעֵד סֻכֹּת – Intermediate Days of Sukkot
Holidays Exodus 33:12-34:26 from Pasha Ki Tisa (כִּי תִשָּׂא — Hebrew for “when you take”)
Moses said to the Eternal, “See, You say to me, ‘Lead this people forward,’ but You have not made known to me whom You will send with me. Further, You have said, ‘I have singled you out by name, and you have, indeed, gained My favor.'”- Exodus 33:12
SUMMARY
On the Shabbat during Sukkot, we are reminded of the age-old desire to know God. Moses implores God to let him see God. While God will not allow Moses to see God’s face, God tells Moses, “I will make My goodness pass before you…” Perhaps we experience the divine presence through the goodness we create in the world. The Torah then sets forth the thirteen attributes of God, among them that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. By emulating these very attributes, we create the goodness which allows us to know God.
HAFTARAH – Shabbat during Sukkot
Ezekiel 38:18-39:7, [historic: 38:18-39:16], The Book of Ecclesiastes is Read
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/Exodus.33.12-34.26, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.38.18-39.-16.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/chol-hamo-eid-sukkot
Sukkot and the Shelter of the Body
By: Rabbi Minna Bromberg
SH’MINI ATZERET-SIMCHAT TORAH
Shmini Atzeret 2025 / שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת 5786
Eighth Day of Assembly
Shmini Atzeret for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Monday, 13 October 2025 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, 14 October 2025.
Shemini Atzeret (שמיני עצרת – “the Eighth [day] of Assembly”) is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (first month of calendar). In the Diaspora, an additional day is celebrated, the second day being separately referred to as Simchat Torah. In Israel and Reform Judaism, the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined into a single day and the names are used interchangeably.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
SIMCHAT TORAH 2025 / שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה 5786
Day of Celebrating the Torah
Simchat Torah for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, 15 October 2025 [this is one day later for the other Jewish movements in the Diaspora].
Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah (also Simkhes Toreh, Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תורָה, lit., “Rejoicing with/of the Torah,”) is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret (“Eighth Day of Assembly”), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar).
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
We are now approaching the end of the annual High Holy Days period which began with the preparations during the month of Elul and extends through Sukkot, the third and last of the “regalim” (pilgrimage festivals). Many think of the High Holy Days as being only Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and by extension the ten days of repentance/awe in between. However, we begin greeting each other with Shana Tovah at the S’lichot Service several days before Rosh Hashanah. In addition, tradition teaches that we may still repent and receive forgiveness for our mistakes, failings and errors through Hoshana Rabah (the great supplication), which takes place on the seventh day of Sukkot.
We then cap it all off with the holidays of Shemini Atzéret (eighth day of assembly) and Simchat Torah (rejoicing with/of the Torah) – in Israel and the Reform Movement, the two holidays are combined into one. The former is mandated in Torah and the latter, a Rabbinical holiday, probably originated during the middle ages.
Among other things, the Simchat Torah celebration involves singing to and “dancing” with all the Torah Scrolls seven times around the sanctuary and sometimes spilling out onto the street – the circuits are called hakafot. We also read the last portion of Devarim (Deuteronomy) and the first of Berëshit (Genesis), ending one and beginning another annual cycle of readings from the Torah with great fanfare and joy.
Whether we believe the Torah is God’s word written by Moses, or ancient literature that reflects the times and circumstances of its compilers and editors, it is the profound and rich story of the Jewish people. It contains valuable lessons to be learned from its triumphs and defeats, its lofty ideals and miserable failings, its strengths and foibles. It ultimately represents Jewish values and ethics, and how to be in the world and repair it.
The Jewish people and Torah are one – we live! So, as we celebrate, with the same fervor that we made our resolutions, may we fully implement what we resolved to improve in ourselves and repair the world. Seek peace and pursue it (Ps. 34:14).
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, 19 Tishri through 25 Tishri, we lovingly remember:
Dr. Eleanor Gould
First Yahrzeit – Friend of Judah Maccabee
Ira Jaffrey
Friend of Bob Behrstock
John McKinnon
Husband of Elizabeth Bernstein
Monte Surratt
Friend of Jane Kolber
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, Shabbat in Sukkot, Friday, October 10, 2025. Please see the NEW Shazoom schedule below.
Zoom regularly updates its security and performance features. 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: Oct 10, 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
Moadim l’Simcha!
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
October 10, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[October 11, Saturday – Shabbat in Sukkot – Mo’adim L’simchah]
[October 13, Monday – Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day]
[October 13, Monday – 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]