TORAH READING FOR 2 ELUL 5786 August 14-15, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM August 14, 2026
KETIVAH VECHATIMA TOVAH – A GOOD WRITING AND SEALING!
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.180
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom alëinu,
v’al kōl Yisraël, v’al kōl yoshvëi tëvël, v’imru. Amën.
May the One who makes peace in the high heavens
make peace for us, for all Israel and all who inhabit the earth. Amen.
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/shoftim
Shof’tim [שֹׁפְטִים – Hebrew for “judges”]
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the Eternal your God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice. – Deuteronomy 16:18
SUMMARY
- Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8)
- The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22)
- God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13)
- Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9)
HAFTARAH
Isaiah 51:12-52:12
The fourth haftarah in the cycle of seven haftarot of consolation after Tisha B’Av, leading up to the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which this year begins the evening of Friday, September 11, 2026. This haftarah corresponds to Parashat Shoftim.
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 2026 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.16.18-21.9, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.51.12-52.12.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/shoftim
By: Rebecca Good
ROSH HASHANA LABEHEMOT 2026 / רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְמַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה 5786
New Year for Tithing Animals
Rosh Hashana LaBehemot for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Thursday, 13 August 2026 and ends at nightfall on Friday, 14 August 2026.
Rosh Hashanah L’Ma’sar Behemah (Hebrew: ראש השנה למעשר בהמה, “New Year for Tithing Animals”) or Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot (Hebrew: ראש השנה לבהמות, “New Year for Domesticated Animals”) is one of the four New Year’s day festivals (Rosh Hashanot) in the Jewish calendar, as indicated in the Mishnah. During the time of the Temple, this was a day on which shepherds determined which of their mature animals were to be tithed. Talmudic tradition records a dispute about the date: one view places it on Rosh Chodesh Elul, one month before Rosh Hashanah, while another view (Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Shimon) places it on Rosh Hashanah itself.
Read more from hazon.org or Wikipedia
Modern Day Reminder
From Hazon.org https://hazon.org/commit-to-change/holidays/new-year-animals/
Just as Tu B’Shvat has been revived as a Jewish Earth Day, Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot is a modern-day reminder of human relationships with animals. Animals provide humans with companionship, food, clothing and so much more. Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot is a time for us to honor our relationships with behemot, the animals in our lives.
BLESSING (animals)
Blessed are you, the Eternal One our God, sovereign of all creation who made the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, creeping things, and the animals of the earth, including us in your image and after your likeness. You command us to look after and take care of the earth and all her life. Blessed are you, the Eternal One, creator of every living thing that moves on the earth.
HIGH HOLY DAYS 2026/5787
This year Rosh Hashanah takes place beginning the evening of Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, 2026. The Reform Movement normally observes one day. Yom Kippur begins the evening of Sunday, September 20 (Kol Nidrë) through Monday, September 21, 2026. Temple Kol Hamidbar will NOT be holding High Holy Day services either in person or online.
Various congregations within the Reform Movement provide online resources to anyone interested in participating in services. In some cases, registration and/or a password is required. You may want to visit the following websites for their latest information on the High Holy Days and how to access them.
Kol Ami (formerly Temple Emanu-El and Congregation Or Chadash), Tucson, AZ
Temple office (520) 327-4501 or https://www.katucson.org/
Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA
High Holy Days 2026 | Or Ami or https://coa.livecontrol.tv/
Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA
Temple Office 510-451-3263
https://www.oaklandsinai.org or High Holy Days 5787 – Temple Sinai
The Union for Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/rosh-hashanah/how-find-high-holiday-community-wherever-you-are
PRAYERS
JEWISH PRAYERS FOR PETS (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לַבְּהֵמוֹת)
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends, the animals, especially for those who are suffering; for animals that are overworked, underfed, and cruelly treated; for all the wistful creatures in captivity, that beat their wings against bars; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted.
Adonai, Your faithfulness reaches to heaven; Your steadfastness to the sky; Your beneficence is like the high mountains; Your justice like the great deep; humanity and beast You deliver, Adonai. (Psalm 36:6-7)
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, Elul 2 through 8 Elul, we lovingly remember:
William “Buzzy” Smolak
First Yahrzeit – Cousin of Jane Kolber
Sonia W. Joseph
First Anyos – Cousin of Ruben Gomez
Anna Tu
First Yahrzeit – Daughter of Connie Jay, friend of Sam and Mary Caron
Gene Conners
Friend of Jane Kolber
Sonia W. Joseph
Cousin of Ruben Gomez
Georgia Mesches
Sister of Jane Kolber
Dylan Newlander
Son of Judy Hill, friend of Sam and Mary Caron
Gary Snyder
Friend of Sam and 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, August 14, 2026. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 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: Aug 14, 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.
ELUL CUSTOMS
For Elul we generally partake in 5 customs:
Blow the Shofar each weekday morning up to the day before Rosh Hashanah
Say special penitential prayers – such as S’lichot
Recite Psalm 27 everyday through Sukkot
Visit the graves of loved ones
Begin or end all letters written during Elul with wishes that the recipient have a good year
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos,
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through September 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
August 14, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[August 14, Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot – New Year of the Animals]
August 21, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
August 28, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
September 4, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[September 5, after nightfall, Leil Selichot]
[September 7, Labor Day US]
September 11, 2026 – NO Shazoom
September 11, 2026, Friday PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah
[September 12–13, Saturday-Sunday – Rosh Hashanah (mostly one day in Reform)]
September 18, 2026 – Erev Shabbat Shuvah (TBD)
[September 19 – Shabbat Shuvah (Shabbat of Return)]
[September 20, Sunday – Erev Yom Kippur – Kol Nidrë]
[September 21, Monday – Yom Kippur]
September 25, 2026 – Erev Sukkot (TBD)
[September 26-October 2, Saturday-Friday – Sukkot]
[October 2, 2026 – Erev Shabbat (TBD)
[October 2-3, Sh’mini Atzéret (Eight Day of Assembly) and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah); Reform Movement combines as in Israel]