TORAH READING FOR 27 ELUL 5785 September 19-20, 2025
NO SHAZOOM until October 10, 2025
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.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.]
PSALM 27
- Show me Your way, O Eternal One,
and lead me on a level path because of my watchful foes.
- Do not subject me to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses and unjust accusers have appeared against me.
- Had I not the assurance that I would enjoy the goodness of the Eternal One
in the land of the living…
- Look to the Eternal One;
be strong and of good courage!
O look to the Eternal One!
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/nitzavim
Nitzavim (נִצָּבִים — Hebrew for “You Stand [This Day]”)
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20
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
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)
HAFTARAH
Isaiah 61:10-63:9
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 begins the evening of Monday, September 22, 2025. This haftarah corresponds to Parashat Nitzavim.
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
NOTE: Shazoom and the mid-week emails will be on hiatus until October 10, 2025. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2025 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.29.9-30.20, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.61.10-63.9.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/nitzavim
By: Rebecca Good
HIGH HOLY DAYS 2025/5786 – Shanah Tovah uMetukah – Anyada Buena i Dulce!
This year Rosh Hashanah takes place on the evening of Monday, September 22 to Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The Reform Movement normally observes one day. Yom Kippur begins the evening of Wednesday, October 1 (Kol Nidrë) through Thursday, October 2, 2025. Temple Kol Hamidbar will NOT be holding High Holy Day services either in person or online.
Various congregations within the Reform Movement, however, are still providing 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 https://www.katucson.org/
Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA https://orami.org/hhd/
Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA [please contact the Temple Office at 510-451-3263 for details] https://www.oaklandsinai.org
The Union for Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/rosh-hashanah/how-find-high-holiday-community-wherever-you-are
ROSH HASHANA 2025 / רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה 5786
The Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashana for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Monday, 22 September 2025 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, 24 September 2025.
Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה), (literally “head of the year”), is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”), celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as יום תרועה (Yom Teruah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]).
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
BENEDICTIONS
From Temple Sinai Machzor for the High Holy Days p.53
And now, at the beginning of a New Year, we pray for blessing:
The spirit of wisdom and understanding. Amen
The spirit of insight and courage. Amen
The spirit of knowledge and reverence. Amen
May we overcome trouble, pain, and sorrow. Amen
May our days and years increase. Amen
Eternal our God and God of our people, renew us for a good year: Amen and Amen.
PRAYERS
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, 27 Elul through 4 Tishri, we lovingly remember:
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, October 10, 2025. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2025 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 December 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
September 19, 2025 – NO Shazoom
[September 22, Monday PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah]
[September 23-24, Tuesday-Wednesday – Rosh Hashanah (one day in Reform)]
September 26, 2025 – NO Shazoom
[September 27, Saturday – Shabbat Shuvah – Sabbath of Returning]
[October 1, Wednesday – Erev Yom Kippur – Kol Nidrë]
[October 2, Thursday – Yom Kippur]
October 3, 2025 – NO Shazoom
[October 6, Monday – Erev Sukkot]
[October 7 to 13, Tuesday-Monday – Sukkot]
October 10, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[October 11, Saturday – Shabbat in Sukkot]
[October 13, Monday – Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day]
[October 14, Tuesday – Shemini Atzéret and Simchat Torah (in Reform)]
October 17, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[October 22-23, Wednesday-Thursday – Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan]
October 24, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
October 31, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
November 7, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 11, Tuesday – Veterans Day]
November 14, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 27, Thursday – Thanksgiving Day]
November 21, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 21-22, Friday-Saturday – Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Kislev]
November 28, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
December 5, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
December 12, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[December 14, Sunday – Erev Chanukah, First Candle]
[December 15 to 22, Monday-Monday – Chanukah]
December 19, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (Chanukah Sixth Candle)
[December 19-20, Friday-Saturday – Chag HaBanot–North African Chanukah Festival of Daughters]
[December 20, Saturday – Shabbat in Chanukah]
[December 20-21, Saturday-Sunday – Rosh Chodesh Tevet]
[December 21, Sunday – Eighth Candle]
December 26, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[December 30, Tuesday – Asara B’Tevet – Fast, Siege of Jerusalem]
[December 31, Wednesday – Secular New Year’s Eve]
[January 1, Thursday – Secular New Year’s Day 2026]