TORAH READING FOR 23 ELUL 5786 September 4-5, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM
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” 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, and let us say: Amen.
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism Nitzavim – Vayeilech | Reform Judaism
Nitzavim – Vayëlech (נִצָּבִים – וַיֵּלֶךְ Hebrew for “You Stand [This Day]”/ “[Moses] went”)
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20, 31:1-30
You stand this day, all of you, before the Eternal your God–you tribal heads, you elders, and you officials, all of the men of Israel, you children, you women, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water drawer… – Deuteronomy 29:9-10 Moses went and spoke these things to all Israel. He said to them: “I am now one hundred and twenty years old, I can no longer be active. Moreover, the Eternal has said to me, ‘You shall not go across yonder Jordan.'” – Deuteronomy 31:1-2
SUMMARY
- Moses tells the assembled people that God’s covenant speaks to them and to all of the generations who will follow. (29:9–14)
- God warns the Israelites that they will be punished if they act idolatrously, the way the inhabitants of the other nations do. (29:15–28)
- Moses reassures the people that God will not forsake them and that they can attain blessings by following God’s commandments. (30:1–20)
- Moses prepares the people for his death and announces that Joshua will succeed him. (31:1–8)
- Moses instructs the priests and the elders regarding the importance of reading the Torah. (31:9–13)
- God informs Moses that upon his death, the people will commit idolatry and “many evils and troubles shall befall them.” God tells Moses to teach the people a poem that will “be My witness.” (31:14–30)
HAFTARAH
Isaiah 61:10-63:9
Selichot is observed
This haftarah concludes the cycle of seven haftarot of consolation after Tisha B’Av, leading up to Rosh Hashanah and the Yamim Nora’im (Days of Awe). It features God’s salvation, redemption, mercies and compassion. This year Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which this year begins the evening of Friday, September 11, 2026. This haftarah corresponds to Parashat Nitzavim-Vayëlech.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism Nitzavim – Vayeilech | Reform Judaism
How to Stand Proudly, Not Perfectly
Author not cited.
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH and REFLECTION
Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 2026 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.29.9-31.30, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.61.10-63.9.
HIGH HOLY DAYS – 2026/5787 – Shanah Tovah uMetukah – Anyada Buena i Dulce!
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
Leil Selichot 2026 / סְלִיחוֹת 5786
Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays
Leil Selichot for Hebrew Year 5786 occurs after nightfall on Saturday, 5 September 2026.
Selichot or slichot (Hebrew: סליחות) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays and on fast days. In Sephardic communities, recitation begins at the start of the Hebrew month of Elul. In the Ashkenazic tradition, Selichot begin on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah — or, if the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday or Tuesday, on the Saturday night of the preceding week — to ensure that Selichot are recited at least four times before the holiday.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
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, 23 Elul through 29 Elul, we lovingly remember:
Rita Zwerdling
First Yahrzeit – Temple Sinai friend of Ruben Gomez
Ed Gemigniani
Cousin of Ruben Gomez
Hakim Monsour
Friend of Jane Kolber
David Rosenblatt
Father of Temple Kol Hamidbar Founding member Simon Rosenblatt
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, September 4, 2026. Dr. Sam and Mary Caron will lead the service. Please see the NEW Shazoom schedule below. During Elul, Mary Caron will sound the Shofar before the start of Shazoom.
Zoom regularly updates its security and performance features. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this Friday evening with wine/grape juice for Kiddush and Challah for Motzi.
Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service
Time: Sep 4, 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.
Ketivah Vechatima Tovah – A Good Writing and Sealing!
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos!
-Ruben
PS – Some High Holy Day Greetings besides Shanah Tovah and Chag Samëach:
Tizkú Leshaním Rabbót (“May you merit many years”),
to which the answer is Ne’imót VeTovót (“pleasant and good ones”)
or
Muchos Anyos (“many years”) to which the answer is I Muchos Mas (“and many more”) or Dulces i Buenos (“sweet and good [ones])
PPS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through September 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
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 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[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]