TORAH READING FOR 10 NISAN 5786 Mar 27-28, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Mar 27, 2026
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT
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 Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/tzav
Tzav (צַו — Command [Aaron and His Sons]) – Leviticus 6:1-8:36
The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: “Command Aaron and his sons thus: This is the ritual of the burnt offering: The burnt offering itself shall remain where it is burned upon the altar all night until morning, while the fire on the altar is kept going on it.” – Leviticus 6:1-2
SUMMARY:
- The five sacrifices that the priests are to perform are described. (6:1-7:38)
- Limitations on the consumption of meat are delineated. (7:17-27)
- Details about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests and the preparation of the Tabernacle as a holy place are given. (8:1-36)
HAFTARAH – Shabbat HaGadol
Malachi 3:4-24
SHABBAT HAGADOL 2026 / שַׁבַּת הַגָּדוֹל 5786
Shabbat before Pesach (The Great Shabbat)
Shabbat HaGadol for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 27 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 28 March 2026. This corresponds to Parashat Tzav.
Shabbat HaGadol (“Great Shabbat” שבת הגדול) is the Shabbat immediately before Passover. There is a special Haftarah reading on this Shabbat of the book of Malachi. Traditionally a lengthy and expansive sermon is given to the general community in the afternoon.
Read more from Wikipedia
YOM HAALIYAH 2026 / יוֹם הַעֲלִיָּה 5786
Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel
Yom HaAliyah for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 27 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 28 March 2026.
Yom HaAliyah (Aliyah Day) (Hebrew: יום העליה) is an Israeli national holiday celebrated annually on the tenth of the Hebrew month of Nisan to commemorate the Jewish people entering the Land of Israel as written in the Hebrew Bible. The holiday was established to acknowledge Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish state, as a core value of the State of Israel, and honor the ongoing contributions of Olim to Israeli society.
Read more from amyisraelfoundation.org or Wikipedia
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/Leviticus.6.1-8.36, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Malachi.3.4-24.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/tzav
Commandments and Commander: How Do We Hear and Respond?
By: Rabbi David A. Lyon
TA’ANIT BECHOROT 2026 / תַּעֲנִית בְּכוֹרוֹת 5786
Fast of the First Born
Ta’anit Bechorot for Hebrew Year 5786 occurs at dawn on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
Fast of the Firstborn (Hebrew: תענית בכורות, Ta’anit B’khorot or תענית בכורים, Ta’anit B’khorim); is a unique fast day in Judaism which usually falls on the day before Passover. Usually, the fast is broken at a siyum celebration (typically made at the conclusion of the morning services), which, according to prevailing custom, creates an atmosphere of rejoicing that overrides the requirement to continue the fast. Unlike most Jewish fast days, only firstborns are required to fast on the Fast of the Firstborn.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
PESACH 2026 / פֶּסַח 5786
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Pesach for Hebrew Year 5786 begins in Israel [and the Reform Movement] at sundown on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
Pesach for Hebrew Year 5786 begins in the Diaspora [as observed by other traditions] at sundown on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
Passover (Hebrew: פֶּסַח Pesach) commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which is in spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and is celebrated for seven or eight days. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
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.
DAYS OF THE OMER / סְפִירַת הָעוֹמֶר
7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the day before Shavuot
Days of the Omer for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Thursday, 2 April 2026 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
Counting of the Omer (or Sefirat Ha’omer, Hebrew: ספירת העומר) is a verbal counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot. This mitzvah derives from the Torah commandment to count forty-nine days beginning from the day on which the Omer, a sacrifice containing an omer-measure of barley, was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem, up until the day before an offering of wheat was brought to the Temple on Shavuot. The Counting of the Omer begins on the second day of Passover (the 16th of Nisan) for Rabbinic Jews, and after the weekly Shabbat during Passover for Karaite Jews, and ends the day before the holiday of Shavuot, the ‘fiftieth day.’.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
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.
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, 10 Nisan through 16 Nisan, we lovingly remember:
Jerry Weinman
First Yahrzeit – husband of Jane Kolber’s cousin
Sally Behrstock
Mother of Bob Behrstock
Renate Korrell
Friend of TKH Member Iris Adler
The following week, 17 Nisan through 23 Nisan, we lovingly remember:
Efraim ben Efraim Gomez
Grandfather of Ruben Gomez
Ella Rosenblatt
Mother of Simon Rosenblatt, founding member
Harvey Ross
TKH founding member
Ignacio “Nash” Espinoza
Brother of Mary Caron
Nancy Tafoya
Aunt of Mary Caron
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 27, 2026. Dr. Sam and Mary Caron will lead the service. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2026 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: Mar 27, 2026 06:30 PM Arizona
To join Shazoom please see the meeting link, ID and passcode provided by Dr. Sam Caron.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
And an early Chag Pesach Sameach – Paskue Dulce – Zissen Pesach!
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through June 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
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
APRIL BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Mazal Tov – Mazal Bueno to all those celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or significant event during the Month of April. If we were together at Temple Kol Hamidbar, we would extend a Tallit over you, say a special prayer for you, and recite the following blessing (cf Num. 6:24-26):
o May the Eternal One bless you and protect you!
o May the Eternal One deal kindly and graciously with you!
o May the Eternal One bestow favor upon you and grant you peace!
KËIN YEHI RATZON (Let it be so!)