TORAH READING FOR 13 SHEVAT 5786 Jan 30-31, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Jan 30, 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.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.
PARSHA – Shabbat Shirah
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/bshalach
B’shalach (בְּשַׁלַּח — Hebrew for “Now When [Pharaoh] Let [the People] Go”) – Exodus 13:17-17:16
Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.” – Exodus 13:17
SUMMARY:
- The Children of Israel escape across the Sea of Reeds from Pharaoh and his army, who drown when God drives back the sea. (13:17-14:31)
- Moses and the Israelites sing a song praising Adonai. (15:1-21)
- In the wilderness, God provides the grumbling Israelites with quails and manna. God instructs the Israelites to gather and prepare on the sixth day food needed for Shabbat. (15:22-16:36)
- The people complain about the lack of water. Moses hits a rock with his rod and brings forth water. (17:1-7)
- Israel defeats Amalek, Israel’s eternal enemy. God vows to blot out the memory of Amalek from the world. (17:8-16)
HAFTARAH – Shabbat Shirah
For Ashkenazi Jews: Judges 4:4–5:31 (the longest of the year)
For Sephardi Jews: Judges 5:1–31
SHABBAT SHIRAH / שַׁבַּת שִׁירָה – Shabbat of Song
Shabbat Shirah for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 30 January 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 31 January 2026.
Shabbat Shirah (“Sabbath [of] song” שבת שירה) is the name given to the Shabbat that includes Parsha Beshalach. The Torah reading of the week contains the Song of the sea (Exodus 15:1–18). This was the song by the Children of Israel after the Passage of the Red Sea.
Read more from ou.org or Wikipedia
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.13.17-17.16 and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.4.4-5.31.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/bshalach
By: James Loeffler
TU BISHVAT 2026 / ט״וּ בִּשְׁבָט 5786 – New Year for Trees
Tu BiShvat for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Sunday, 1 February 2026 and ends at nightfall on Monday, 2 February 2026.
Tu BiShvat or Tu B’Shevat or Tu B’Shvat (Hebrew: ט״ו בשבט) is a minor Jewish holiday, occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called “The New Year of the Trees” or (Hebrew: ראש השנה לאילנות, Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot). Tu BiShvat is one of four “New Years” mentioned in the Mishnah.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
Temple Kol Hamidbar will hold an online Tu B’Shevat Seder on Sunday, February 1, 2026 starting at 6:30 PM. The following link, meeting id and passcode are only for joining the Seder online.
Topic: Tu B’Shevat Seder
Time: Feb 1, 2026 06:30 PM Arizona
To join the Tu B’Shevat Seder click on the following distinct link [you may need to copy it into your browser] or use the Meeting ID and Passcode provided [this is different from the meeting ID, passcode and link for the regular Friday evening Shazoom]:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3885401743?pwd=NTJNVGJvZVBqa1RZU3AvZ3Uxd0pYQT09&omn=84406565445
Meeting ID: 388 540 1743
Passcode: Shalom
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, 13 Shevat through 19 Shevat, we lovingly remember:
Chuck Ross
First Yahrzeit – Friend of Ruben Gomez
Jacqueline Sanders-van Maarsen
First Yahrzeit – Am Yisrael – Friend of Anne Frank
Benjamin Caron
TKH Memorial Board, Father of Dr. Sam Caron, Temple President
Flory Jagoda
Am Yisrael – promoter and composer of Sephardic-Ladino Music
Jacob Joseph
Holocaust Survivor, relative of Ruben Gomez
Susan Rohbach
Friend of Various TKH members and friends
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 30, 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 30, 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 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]
[TKH online Tu B’Shevat Seder Sun, Feb 1 at 6:30 pm]
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]