TORAH READING FOR 8 IYAR 5786 April 24-25, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM April 24, 2026
Iyar: Ani Adonai Rofécha – I am the Eternal who heals you.
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.98
SIM SHALOM tovah uv’rachah, chën vachésed v’rachamim, alëinu v’al kōl Yisraël ‘amécha, [v’al kōl yoshvëi tëvël, v’imru: Amën.]
GRANT PEACE, goodness and blessing, grace, kindness, and mercy, to us and to all Your people Israel [and all who inhabit the earth, and let us say: Amen.]
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/acharei-mot-kdoshim
Acharei Mot – K’doshim (אַחֲרֵי מוֹת – קְדֹשִׁים — After the Death [of the Two Sons of Aaron] / [You Shall Be] Holy or Holy Ones) – Leviticus 16:1-20:27
The Eternal One spoke to Moses after the death the two sons of Aaron who died when they drew too close to the presence of the Eternal. – Leviticus 16:1 The Eternal One spoke to Moses saying: “Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” – Leviticus 19:1-2
SUMMARY
- The duties that the head kohein must perform on Yom Kippur are delineated and the ceremony of the scapegoat is outlined. (16:1-28)
- Moses instructs Aaron about the Yom Kippur laws for fasting and atonement. (16:29-34)
- Warnings are issued against the offering of sacrifices outside the Sanctuary and the consumption of blood. (17:1-16)
- Moses condemns the sexual practices of some neighboring peoples. Certain forms of sexual relations are prohibited. (18:1-30)
- God issues a variety of commandments, instructing the Israelites on how to be a holy people. (19:1-37)
- Various sex offenses are discussed and punishments for them are presented. (20:1-27)
HAFTARAH
Ashkenazi: Amos 9:7–15 and Sephardi: Ezekiel 20:2–20
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 double Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.16.1-20.27, and Haftarot at https://www.sefaria.org/Amos.9.7-15 or https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.20.2-20.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/acharei-mot-kdoshim
Aiming Higher for a Life of Human Holiness
By: Rabbi David A. Lyon
SEFIRAT HA’ÓMER (Counting of the Omer) – April 2-May 21
We are in the 49-day period of Counting the ‘Ómer, which this year started Thursday evening, April 2 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 21 May 2026. [The ‘Ómer is counted each evening.]
Today, Friday, day 23 begins this evening at sundown. Before the ‘Alëinu, after stating that one is ready to count the ‘Ómer, the following blessing is said:
Baruch atah Adonai Elohëinu Mélech ha’olam, asher kid’shánu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivánu ‘al S’firat Ha‘Ómer.
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to count the ‘Ómer.
After the first six days, one also includes the number of weeks that one has counted:
“Hayom sh’loshah v‘esrim yom, shehëm sh’loshah shavu’ot ushnëi yamim la‘Ómer/ba‘Ómer.”
“Today is 23 days, which is three weeks and two days of/in the ‘Ómer.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-count-the-omer/ and other websites have more detailed information on Counting the ‘Ómer. Some emphasize the Kabbalistic and mystical aspects of this practice.
PIRKË AVOT – Ethics of the Fathers
From Pesach to Shavuot on each Shabbat some study a chapter a week from Pirkë Avot. Following are a few selections from the fourth chapter.
From Sefaria.org https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.4
1: Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99).
3: {Ben Azzai} used to say: do not despise any man, and do not discriminate against anything, for there is no man that has not his hour, and there is no thing that has not its place.
15: Rabbi Yannai said: it is not in our hands [to explain the reason] either of the security of the wicked, or even of the afflictions of the righteous.
PESACH SHENI 2026 / פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי 5786
Second Passover, one month after Passover
Pesach Sheni for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Thursday, 30 April 2026 and ends at nightfall on Friday, 1 May 2026.
Second Passover, one month after Passover.
Read more from 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.
PRAYER FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL p.552
O HEAVENLY ONE, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel which marks the dawning of hope for all who seek peace. Shield it beneath the wings of your love; spread over it the canopy of Your peace; send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with Your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. 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, 8 Iyar through 14 Iyar, we lovingly remember:
Betty Reith
First Yahrzeit – friend of Jane Kolber
Jill Alexander
TKH Memorial Board, sister of Holly Sickles
Shane Kissinger
Grandson of TKH founding member Harvey Ross z”l
Yitzhak ben Levy
Maternal grandfather of Ruben Gomez
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, April 24, 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
Time: April 24, 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.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through June 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
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]