TORAH READING FOR 11 ADAR 5786 Feb 27-28, 2026
PUZOOM 6:30 PM Friday, Feb 27, 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.
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY and JEWISH DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/ttzaveh
T’tzaveh (תְּצַוֶּה — [You] Shall Further Instruct) – Exodus 27:20−30:10
You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly. – Exodus 27:20
SUMMARY:
- The children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil for the ner tamid “a constantly burning light,” above the sanctuary. (27:20-21)
- Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, are chosen to serve as priests. (28:1)
- God instructs Moses to make special clothes for the priests. (28:2-43)
- Aaron and his sons are ordained in a seven-day ceremony. (29:1-29:46)
- Aaron is commanded to burn incense on an acacia altar every morning and evening. (30:1-10)
HAFTARAH – Shabbat Zachor
Ashkenazim: Esther 7:1-10; 8:15-17 [historic: I Samuel 15:2-34]
Sefardim: I Samuel 15:1-34
SHABBAT ZACHOR 2026 / שַׁבַּת זָכוֹר 5786
Shabbat of Remembrance
Shabbat Zachor for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 27 February 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 28 February 2026. This corresponds to Parashat Tetzaveh.
Shabbat Zachor (“Sabbath [of] remembrance שבת זכור) is the Shabbat immediately preceding Purim. Deuteronomy 25:17-19, describing the attack by Amalek, is recounted. There is a tradition from the Talmud that Haman, the antagonist of the Purim story, was descended from Amalek. The portion that is read includes a commandment to remember the attack by Amalek, and therefore at this public reading both men and women make a special effort to hear the reading.
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.27.20-30.10, and the Haftarot at https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.7.1-10 and https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.8.15-17 or https://www.sefaria.org/I_Samuel.15.1-15.34.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/ttzaveh
Projecting Purpose and Building Belonging with Clothes
By: Rabbi Allie Fischman
PURIM 2026 / פּוּרִים 5786
Celebration of Jewish deliverance as told by Megilat Esther [We will meet for Shazoom and a pre-Purim celebration this evening, February 27, 2026, at 6:30 pm. Attendees are welcome to wear Purim costumes.]
Purim for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Monday, 2 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
Purim (Hebrew: פּוּרִים, Pûrîm “lots”, from the word פור pur, also called the Festival of Lots) is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman in the ancient Persian Empire, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Esther).
SHUSHAN PURIM 2026 / שׁוּשָׁן פּוּרִים 5786
Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities
Shushan Purim for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
Shushan Purim falls on Adar 15 and is the day on which Jews in Jerusalem celebrate Purim.
Read more from reformjudaism.org or Wikipedia
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur” CCAR, New York 2007
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, 11 Adar through 17 Adar, we lovingly remember:
Raúl Grijalva
First Yahrzeit – US Representative
Alan K. Simpson
First Yahrzeit – US Senator
Irma Fabela
Aunt of Ida Farmer
Linda Downs Gomez
Sister-in-Law of Ruben Gomez
Lucy H. Gomez
Aunt of Ruben Gomez
Edmund Burke Harris
Husband of Tarciana z”l and father of Rachel Harris
Mabel Manuelito
Friend of Jane Kolber
Levy ben Yitzchak
Uncle of Ruben Gomez
Chaim Topol
Am Yisrael – Israeli Actor
Those victims of the Sho’ah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.
“ZICHRONAM LIV’RACHAH” – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR BLESSING.
PUZOOM
We will meet for Shazoom and a pre-Purim celebration this coming Friday evening, February 27, 2026, at 6:30 pm. Attendees are welcome to wear Purim costumes.
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.
Puzoom – Erev Shabbat Service and Purim Celebration
Time: Feb 27, 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 – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through February 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
February 27, 2026 – Puzoom at 6:30 pm [TKH Erev Shabbat & Purim Celebration]
[February 27-28, Fri-Sat, Shabbat Zachor – Sabbath of Remembrance]
[March 2, Mon, Ta’anit Esther (Fast of Esther) – Erev Purim]
[March 2-3, Mon-Tues, Purim]
[March 3-4, Tues-Wed, Shushan Purim]