TORAH READING FOR 1 TISHREI 5787 September 11-12, 2026 – ROSH HASHANAH
NO SHAZOOM
L’SHANAH TOVAH TIKATËVU V’TËCHATËMU – May you be written and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year!
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.
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism
Yom Rishon shel Rosh HaShanah
יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה
1st Day of the New Year
TORAH
Holidays Genesis 22:1-19
After these things, God tested Abraham, saying to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”. – Genesis 22:1
SUMMARY:
Rosh HaShanah Morning, Day 1 (Genesis 21)
(Many Reform congregations omit this portion, and read Genesis 22 on Rosh HaShanah, Day 1.)
Sarah, who has longed for a child for many years, conceives a child with Abraham and gives birth to Isaac, meaning “one who laughs.” Isaac’s birth fulfills Gods promise that they will bear a son who will grow to be a generation. As Isaac grows into his boyhood, Sarah is conflicted by the presence of her servant Hagar and her son Ishmael that she conceived with Abraham and Hagar is banished from the home. God visits Hagar in the wilderness her, promises that Ishmael will also grow into a great nation, and tenderly provides water for the mother and son. Ishmael grows to adulthood and is married. This portion is a reminder that God’s promises are kept, and God’s compassion extends beyond the tents of our people.
English Translation of Genesis 21 (in Vayeira)
Rosh HaShanah Morning, Day 2 (Genesis 22)
(Many Reform congregations read this portion on Rosh HaShanah, Day 1.)
This portion is commonly known as The Akeidah, or “the binding.” In these terse and tense verses, the subject matter touches upon God, the nature of faith, and the demands faith may make of us. God calls upon Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a supreme test of faith. Abraham, God’s loyal servant, agrees. Just as Abraham is about to offer his son up as a sacrifice, an angel calls out to him, instructing him not to harm the boy, and Abraham sacrifices a ram in place of his son. For the ancient reader this may have served as a rejection of human sacrifice, a practice of ancient Israel’s neighbors. For the modern reader, perhaps one is called upon to consider one’s own tests and sacrifices.
English Translation of Genesis 22 (in Vayeira)
Haftarah
I Samuel 1:1-2:10; Jeremiah 31:2-20 [in some traditions, Jeremiah 31:1-19]
The haftarah (1 Samuel 1:1-2:10)
Tells the story how Hannah prayed to God for a child, and how her prayer was answered with subsequent birth of Samuel.
[The haftarah (Jeremiah 31:2-20)
Is a message of comfort, divine mercy, and the future redemption and return of the Jewish people from exile.]
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism Yom Rishon shel Rosh HaShanah
Hear Their Cries: This Year, May We Listen to Those Who Cry Out
By: Rabbi Max Chaiken
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH and REFLECTION
Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 2026 below. Read this week’s Parshot at https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.21.1-19, https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.22.1-24; and Haftarot at https://www.sefaria.org/I_Samuel.1.1-2.10, https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.31.2-20.
ROSH HASHANA 2026 / רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה 5787
The Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashana for Hebrew Year 5787 begins at sundown on Friday, 11 September 2026 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 13 September 2026. [Mostly one day in the Reform Movement.]
Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה), literally “head of the year,” is the Jewish New Year.
According to Jewish tradition, the holiday commemorates the creation of humanity and serves as a day of divine judgment. It is the first of the High Holy Days and begins the Ten Days of Repentance, culminating in Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. The central ritual is the sounding of the shofar (a ram’s horn), and festive meals feature symbolic foods representing hopes for a sweet new year.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
TZOM GEDALIAH 2026 / צוֹם גְּדַלְיָה 5787
Fast of the Seventh Month [observed by some traditions]
Tzom Gedaliah for Hebrew Year 5787 occurs at dawn on Monday, 14 September 2026.
The Fast of Gedalia (Hebrew: צוֹם גְּדַלְיָּה), also spelled Gedaliah, is a minor Jewish fast day from dawn until dusk to lament the assassination of Gedaliah, the Jewish governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar II to oversee the remaining Jewish population in the land of Israel following the destruction of the First Temple. His murder by Yishmael ben Netaniah, reportedly at the instigation of the King of Ammon, ended the last vestige of Jewish autonomy in the land and prompted the surviving community to flee to Egypt. Like other minor fasts, Tzom Gedaliah begins at dawn and ends at nightfall.
Read more from aish.com or Wikipedia
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
BLESSING OF THE YEARS בִּרְכַּת הַשָּׁנִים p. 86
BLESS this our year and its abundant harvest for good.
Grant blessing throughout the earth
and satisfy us with Your goodness.
Blessed are You, Adonai, who blesses the years.
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, 1 Tishrei through 7 Tishrei, we lovingly remember:
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Am Yisrael
Roger Surrette
Past Member of Temple Kol Hamidbar
Jesse Way
Father of Diana Turner
Those victims of the Sho’ah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.
“ZICHRONAM LIV’RACHAH” – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR BLESSING.
NO SHAZOOM
We will NOT meet for Shazoom again until Friday, September 18, 2026, Erev Shabbat Shuvah. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 2026 below.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos!
Shanah Tovah – Anyada Buena!
-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 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]