SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM May 8, 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.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.
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, Wednesday, is day 34, and day 35 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 chamishah ush’loshim yom, shehëm chamishah shavu’ot la‘Ómer/ba‘Ómer.”
“Today is 35 days, which is five weeks 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.
SHAZOOM ONLY
We will meet for Shazoom ONLY this coming Friday evening, May 8, 2026. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2026 below.
Read this week’s double Torah Portion, Behar-Bechukotai (“On the Mountain” – “In My Laws”) at https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.25.1-27.34, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.16.19-17.14.
Zoom continues updating its security and performance features. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this coming Friday evening:
Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service
Time: May 8, 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.
YAHRZEITS/ANYOS
This coming week, 22 Iyar through 28 Iyar, we lovingly remember:
Marshall Feinstein
First Yahrzeit – Father of Marsha Cassel
Yaron Lichinsky
First Yahrzeit – Am Yisrael
Sara Milgrim
First Yahrzeit – Am Yisrael
Ysabel bat Efraim v’Rut
Great-grandmother of Ruben Gomez
Maria Sphicas
Friend 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.
L’shalom,
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through June 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
[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]