TORAH READING FOR 21 TEVET 5786 Jan 9-10, 2026 SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Jan 9, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Jan 9, 2026
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who frees the captives.
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/shmot
Sh’mot (שְׁמוֹת — Hebrew for “names”) – Ex. 1:1-6:1
These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each coming with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. – Exodus 1:1-4
SUMMARY:
- The new king of Egypt makes slaves of the Hebrews and orders their male children to be drowned in the Nile River. (1:1-22)
- A Levite woman places her son, Moses, in a basket on the Nile, where he is found by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised in Pharaoh’s house. (2:1-10)
- Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian. (2:11-15)
- Moses marries Zipporah, the daughter of Midian’s priest. They have a son named Gershom. (2:16-22)
- God calls Moses from a burning bush and commissions him to free the Israelites from Egypt. (3:1-4:17)
- Moses and Aaron request permission from Pharaoh for the Israelites to celebrate a festival in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and makes life even harder for the Israelites. (5:1-23)
HAFTARAH
Ashkenazim: Isaiah 27:6–28:13 and 29:22–23
Sephardim: Jeremiah 1:1–2:3
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom schedule below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.1.1-6.1 and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.27.6-28.13, https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.29.22-23, or https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.1.1-2.3.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/shmot
https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/torah-commentary/pharaohs-mirror
By: James Loeffler
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
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.
A PRAYER FOR ISRAEL
Anat Hoffman – https://reformjudaism.org/beliefs-practices/prayers-blessings/prayer-israel
My God אלי
In this sacred moment, give us hope for Israel and her future.
Renew our wonder at the miracle of the Jewish State.
In the name of the pioneers who made the deserts bloom – give us the tools to cultivate a diversity of Jewish expression in Israel.
In the name of our fallen soldiers – give us courage to stand up to the words and ways of zealots. Those in our own midst and those among our neighbors.
In the name of Israeli inventors who have amazed the world with their innovations – help us apply the same ingenuity to finding a path to peace.
In the name of all these individuals – grant us the strength to conquer doubt and despair in Israel.
Replacing doubt with action.
Replacing despair with hope.
And let us say: 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, 21 Tevet through 27 Tevet, we lovingly remember:
Rebecca Bielaz-Sklar
Family relative of Jane Kolber
Alan Chan
Friend of Ben Caron
Miriam bat Yosef Gomez
Grandmother of Ruben Gomez
María de Lourdes Mena de Morales
Mother of Connie Powell
Henia Rymar-Sznejder
TKH Memorial Board
Theresa Sanchez
Relative of Mary Caron
Syd E. Simons
TKH Memorial Board
Roger Weins
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, Friday, January 9, 2026. Please see the Shazoom schedule 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: Jan 9, 2026 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.
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Lev. 19:33
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – Schedule through February 2026 for Shazoom (Arizona Time Zone):
January 9, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
January 16, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[January 18-19, Sun-Mon, Rosh Chodesh Shevat]
January 23, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
January 30, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[January 30-31, Fri-Sat, Shabbat Shirah – Sabbath of Song]
[February 1-2, Sun-Mon, Tu B’Shevat – New Year of the Trees]
February 6, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
February 13, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[February 14, Sat, Valentine’s Day]
[February 17-18, Tues-Wed, Rosh Chodesh Adar]
February 20, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
February 27, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[March 2-3, Mon-Tues, Purim]
[March 3-4, Tues-Wed, Shushan Purim]