TORAH READING FOR 20 SHEVAT 5786 Feb 6-7, 2026

SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM Feb 6, 2026

 

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who frees the captives.

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.]

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY and JEWISH DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH

PARSHA

From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/yitro

Yitro (יִתְרוֹ — Jethro) – Exodus 18:1-20:23

Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, God’s people, how the Eternal had brought Israel out from Egypt. – Exodus 18:1

SUMMARY:

• Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses. (18:1-12)
• Moses follows Yitro’s advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27)
• The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai. Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, “All that God has spoken we will do.” (19:1-8)
• After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25)
• God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14)
• Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them. Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18)

In some traditions it is customary for listeners to stand while the reader chants the Ten Commandments in the synagogue, as if the listeners were themselves receiving the revelation at Sinai. This parashah is the shortest of the weekly Torah portions in the Book of Exodus.

HAFTARAH

Ashkenazim: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6 and Sefardim: Isaiah 6:1-13

STRUGGLING WITH TORAH

Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom schedule below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.18.1-20.23 and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.6.1-7.6 and https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.9.5-6.

RECOMMENDED READING

From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/yitro

Fear, Authority, and the Limits of Power

By: Rabbi Kelly Whitehead

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.

A PRAYER FOR ISRAEL

Anat Hoffman – https://reformjudaism.org/beliefs-practices/prayers-blessings/prayer-israel

My God ‫אלי

In this sacred moment, give us hope for Israel and her future.

Renew our wonder at the miracle of the Jewish State.

In the name of the pioneers who made the deserts bloom – give us the tools to cultivate a diversity of Jewish expression in Israel.

In the name of our fallen soldiers – give us courage to stand up to the words and ways of zealots. Those in our own midst and those among our neighbors.

In the name of Israeli inventors who have amazed the world with their innovations – help us apply the same ingenuity to finding a path to peace.

In the name of all these individuals – grant us the strength to conquer doubt and despair in Israel.

Replacing doubt with action.

Replacing despair with hope.

And let us say: 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, 20 Shevat through 26 Shevat, we lovingly remember:

Rose Girone

First Yahrzeit – Am Yisrael – Oldest Holocaust Survivor

Gay Turner

First Yahrzeit – Wife of Chuck Turner, Friend of Ruben Gomez

Joe Cannon

Friend of Bob Behrstock

Dorothy Cash

Donor of the Organ to Temple Kol Hamidbar

Richard Gomez

Cousin of TKH Member Ruben Gomez

Jacque Krol

Friend of Temple Kol Hamidbar member

Daniel McCarthy

Friend of Jane Kolber

Laura Stone

Temple Kol Hamidbar Memorial Board and an early Member

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, February 6, 2026. Please see the Shazoom schedule 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: Feb 6, 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.

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”    Lev. 19:33

Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos

-Ruben

PS – Schedule through February 2026 for Shazoom (Arizona Time Zone):

February 6, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

February 13, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

[February 13-14, Fri-Sat, Shabbat Shekalim – Sabbath of the Shekel]

[February 14, Sat, Valentine’s Day]

[February 17-18, Tues-Wed, Rosh Chodesh Adar]

February 20, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

February 27, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

[February 27-28, Fri-Sat, Shabbat Zachor – Sabbath of Remembrance]

[March 2, Mon, Ta’anit Esther – Fast of Esther – Erev Purim]

[March 2-3, Mon-Tues, Purim]

[March 3-4, Tues-Wed, Shushan Purim]