TORAH READING FOR 5 Tishri 5786 September 26-27, 2025
NO SHAZOOM until October 10, 2025
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.
PSALM 27
- 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/vayeilech
Vayëlech (וַיֵּלֶךְ — Hebrew for “[Moses] went”)
Deuteronomy 31:1-30
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 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 – Shabbat Shuvah
Ashkenazim: Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27
Sefardim: Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2025 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.31.1-30, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.14.2-10, https://www.sefaria.org/Micah.7.18-20, and https://www.sefaria.org/Joel.2.15-27.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayeilech
By: Rebecca Good
HIGH HOLY DAYS 2025/5786 – Tizkú Leshaním Rabbót – Muchos Anyos Dulces i Buenos!
This year 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
SHABBAT SHUVA 2025 / שַׁבַּת שׁוּבָה 5786
Shabbat of Returning
Shabbat Shuva for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 26 September 2025 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 27 September 2025. This corresponds to Parashat Vayeilech.
Shabbat Shuvah (“Sabbath [of] Return” שבת שובה) refers to the Shabbat that occurs during the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Only one Shabbat can occur between these dates. This Shabbat is named after the first word of the Haftarah (Hosea 14:2-10) and literally means “Return!” It is perhaps a play on, but not to be confused with, the word Teshuvah (the word for repentance).
Read more from chabad.org or Wikipedia
We are in the midst of the Yamim Nora’im – the Days of Awe. Some apply this label only to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Others apply it to the two as well as the whole ten-day period they encompass. These are also known as the Ten Days of Repentance.
YOM KIPPUR 2025 / יוֹם כִּפּוּר 5786
Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 2 October 2025.
Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים), Also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes “the Days of Awe”).
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
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, 5 Tishri through 11 Tishri, we lovingly remember:
Jonna Levine
Aunt of Elizabeth Bernstein
Carol Petesch
Friend of Iris Adler
Gertrude Schwartz
Mother of Joe Schwartz z”l
Roger Surrette
Husband of Iris Surrette, past TKH members
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
G’mar Chatimah Tovah – May you be sealed for good (in the Book of Life)
Tzom Kal – An Easy Fast
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2025 (Arizona Time Zone):
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]