THE TORAH READING FOR 25 ADAR 5786 MARCH 13-14, 2026 – SHABBAT HA-CHODESH and REFUGEE SHABBAT
SHAZOOM 6:30 PM March 13, 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
From ReformJudaism.org https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayakheil-pkudei
Vayak’heil – P’kudei (וַיַּקְהֵל – פְקוּדֵי — [Moses] Assembled / [The] Records [of the Tabernacle]) – Exodus 35:1-40:38
These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses’ bidding– the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. – Exodus 38:21 Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: “These are the things that the Eternal has commanded you to do.” – Exodus 35:1
SUMMARY:
- Moses teaches the rules of Shabbat. (35:1-3)
- Moses asks the Israelites for a donation of gifts and those who are skilled help build the Mishkan [Tabernacle] under the direction of Bezalel and Oholiab. (35:4-38:20)
- A statistical summary of the materials used for the Tabernacle and an account of producing the priestly vestments are recorded. Moses blesses the Israelites for the work they did. (38:21-39:42)
- Upon God’s instruction, Moses sets up the Mishkan and the priests are anointed and consecrated. (40:1-33)
- A description is given of a cloud that covers the Mishkan by day and a fire that burns by night, indicating God’s Presence therein. (40:33-38) [The Book of Exodus ends here.]
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.”)
This Shabbat, Shabbat HaChodesh (announcing the new month of Nisan), is one of the four specially designated Shabbatot before Passover. Purim, Purim lano, Pesach a la mano!
HAFTARAH – Shabbat HaChodesh
Ashkenazim: Ezekiel 45:16-25 [historic: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18]
Sefardim: Ezekiel 45:16-46:15
From Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayakhel#Parashah_Vayakhel%E2%80%93Pekudei
On Shabbat HaChodesh, Jews read Exodus 12:1–20, in which God commands that “This month [Nissan] shall be the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year,” and in which God issued the commandments of Passover. Similarly, the haftarah in Ezekiel 45:21–25 discusses Passover. In both the special reading and the haftarah, God instructs the Israelites to apply blood to doorposts. [In the Reform Movement the haftarah is Ezekiel 45:16-25.]
Shabbat HaChodesh 2026 / שַׁבַּת הַחֹדֶשׁ 5786
Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan
Shabbat HaChodesh for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 13 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 14 March 2026. This corresponds to Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei.
Shabbat HaChodesh (“Sabbath [of the] month” שבת החודש) precedes the first of the Hebrew month of Nisan during which Passover is celebrated. Exodus 12:1-20 and the laws of Passover. On the first day of Nisan, G-d presented the first commandment of how to “sanctify the new moon” (kiddush hachodesh) for the onset of Rosh Chodesh and thus Nisan becomes the first month of the Jewish year (counting by months.).
Read more from ou.org or Wikipedia
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayakheil-pkudei
By: Rabbi Allie Fischman
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2026 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.35.1-40.38, the maftir portion https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.12.1-20, and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.45.16-46.18.
ROSH CHODESH NISAN 2026 / רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן 5786
Start of month of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar
Rosh Chodesh Nisan for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 19 March 2026.
Start of month of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. נִיסָן (transliterated Nisan or Nissan) is the 7th month of the civil Hebrew year (8th on leap years) and the 1st month of the biblical Hebrew year. It has 30 days and corresponds to March or April on the Gregorian calendar. רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ, transliterated Rosh Chodesh or Rosh Hodesh, is a minor holiday that occurs at the beginning of every month in the Hebrew calendar. It is marked by the birth of a new moon.
Read more from ou.org
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
ROSH CHODESH – FOR THE NEW MONTH p.519
Our God and God of our ancestors, may the new month bring us goodness and blessing. May we have long life, peace, prosperity, a life exalted by love of Torah and reverence for the divine; a life in which the longings of our hearts are fulfilled for good.
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 [from HIAS for Refugee Shabbat]
We, as Jews from across the United States, share a vision for our country that values the contributions of immigrants, welcomes refugees, and upholds the safety and dignity of all those forced to flee their homes.
In a culture increasingly defined by xenophobia, fear, and misinformation, we pledge to stand firmly in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers and to advocate for their rights and safety.
We call on all leaders to reject the politics of hatred and fear, to reject the impulse to seal our borders and turn on our own neighbors and community members. The challenges facing our country can instead be met with common-sense solutions. It’s time to embrace welcome, safety, and opportunity, and it’s time for action.
Our most sacred Jewish texts, which recount our community’s history of persecution and migration, emphasize the importance of treating newcomers with kindness. In a moment when violent rhetoric against immigrants, Jews, and other populations is being used as a political tool, we know that the safety of all communities is intertwined, that our futures are connected. We were welcomed, we welcome others, and we will always stand for welcome.
May it be so.
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 brutality, abuse, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, violence, and war; for all those at home alone; 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, disease, natural disasters, war and violence.
This coming week, 25 Adar through 2 Nisan, we lovingly remember:
Marilyn Bernstein
TKH Memorial Board, Mother of Elizabeth Bernstein
Mario Fabela
Father of Ida Farmer
Richie Green
Friend of the Caron Family
Paul J. Jogun III
Godson of Peggy Patz
Andrea Kemp
Sister of TKH President, Dr. Sam Caron
Harry Levy
Father-in-law of TKH Member Iris Adler
Lillian Leah Salomon
Mother of Barbara Jo Salomon
Joseph Schwartz
TKH Memorial Board, Husband of Enid Schwartz z”l
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, March 13, 2026. Please see the Shazoom and Observances Schedule through June 2026 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 – Shabbat HaChodesh
Time: Mar 13, 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.
PASSOVER SEDER
Temple Kol Hamidbar will have an in-person community Seder in Sierra Vista, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, starting at 6:30 pm. Please refer to the emails from Dr. Sam Caron, Congregational President.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through June 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
March 13, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[March 13-14, Shabbat HaChodesh – Shabbat of the Month (precedes 1 Nisan)]
[HIAS – Refugee Shabbat https://hias.org/refugee-shabbat-resources/
[March 18-19, Rosh Chodesh Nisan]
March 20, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
March 27, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[March 27-28 – Shabbat HaGadol – the Great Shabbat]
[March 28-29, Yom HaAliyah – Aliyah Day]
[April 1 – Erev Pesach; Temple Kol Hamidbar Community Seder 6:30 pm, Sierra Vista]
[April 2-8 (9), Pesach, in Israel and in the Reform Movement]
[April 2 pm-May 21 pm, Days of the ‘Omer (7 weeks)]
April 3, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[April 3-4, Pesach III; ‘Ómer 2]
April 10, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[April 13-14, Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day]
April 17, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 16-17, Rosh Chodesh Iyar]
[April 20-21, Yom HaZikaron – Israeli Memorial Day]
[April 21-22, Yom Ha’Atzma’ut – Israeli Independence Day]
April 24, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 30-May 1, Pesach Shëni (Second Passover)]
May 1, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 4-5, Lag Ba’Ómer – 33rd Day of Counting of the ‘Ómer]
[May 5-6, LaD B’Ómer – Sefardic 34th Day of the ‘Ómer]
May 8, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
May 15, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 14-15, Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day]
[May 16-17, Rosh Chodesh Sivan]
[May 21, Erev Shavuot]
May 22, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 22-23, Shavuot – Festival of Weeks]
May 29, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 5, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 12, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[June 14-16, Rosh Chodesh Tamuz]
June 19, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 26, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[July 2, Tzom Tamuz – Fast of Tamuz]
TBD – Sam and Mary Caron will lead services; meeting Link, ID and Passcode pending