TORAH READING FOR 18 ADAR 5786 Mar 6-7, 2026
SHAZOOM 6:30 PM Mar 6, 2026 – Shabbat Parah
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.496
ADONAI, ADONAI, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and granting pardon. Ex. 34:6-7
PARSHA
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/ki-tisa
Ki Tisa (כִּי תִשָּׂא — When You Take a Census) – Exodus 30:11-34:35
The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: “When you take a census of the Israelite men according to their army enrollment, each shall pay the Eternal a ransom for himself on being enrolled, that no plague may come upon them through their being enrolled.” – Exodus 30:11-12
SUMMARY:
- Moses takes a census of the Israelites and collects a half-shekel from each person (30:11-16)
- God tells Moses to construct a water basin and to prepare anointing oil and incense for the ordination of the priests. Bezalel and Oholiab, skilled artisans, are assigned to make objects for the priests and the Tabernacle. (30:17-31:11)
- The Israelites are instructed to keep Shabbat as a sign of their covenant with God. God gives Moses the two tablets of the Pact. (31:12-18)
- The Israelites ask Aaron to build them a Golden Calf. Moses implores God not to destroy the people and then breaks the two tablets of the Pact on which the Ten Commandments are written when he sees the idol. God punishes the Israelites by means of a plague. (32:1-35)
- Moses goes up the mountain with a blank set of tablets for another 40 days so that God will again inscribe the Ten Commandments. Other laws, including the edict to observe the Pilgrimage Festivals, are also revealed. (34:1-28)
- Moses comes down from the mountain with a radiant face. (34:29-35)
HAFTARAH Shabbat Parah
Ashkenazim: Ezekiel 36:22-36 [historic: Ezekiel 36:16-38]
Sefardim: Ezekiel 36:16-36
SHABBAT PARAH 2026 / שַׁבַּת פָּרָה 5786
Shabbat of the Red Heifer
Shabbat Parah for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 6 March 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 7 March 2026. This corresponds to Parashat Ki Tisa.
Shabbat Parah (“Sabbath [of the] red heifer” שבת פרה) takes place on the Shabbat before Shabbat HaChodesh, in preparation for Passover. Numbers 19:1-22 describes the parah adumah (“red heifer”) in the Jewish temple as part of the manner in which the kohanim and the Jewish people purified themselves so that they would be ready (“pure”) to sacrifice the korban Pesach.
Read more from ou.org or Wikipedia
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through June 2026 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.30.11-34.35 and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.36.16-38.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/ki-tisa
Your One Wild and Precious Life
By: Rabbi Allie Fischman
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.
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, 18 Adar through 24 Adar, we lovingly remember:
Madeleine Albright
Am Yisrael – US Ambassador
Samuel J. Alexander
TKH Memorial Board – father of Holly Sickles
Gershom ben Efraim Gomez
Uncle of Ruben Gomez
Hilda Klein
TKH Memorial List – mother of Bill Klein
Doris Leiber
Temple Sinai – mother of Laurie Leiber, friend of Ruben Gomez
Paul Libanti
Temple Sinai – friend of Ruben Gomez
Sara bat Yitzchak
Aunt of Ruben Gomez
Yitzchak ben Yitzchak
Husband of Ruben Gomez’s cousin Irene bat Gershom Gomez z”l
Joseph Schwartz
TKH Memorial Board – husband of Enid Schwartz z”l
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, March 6, 2026. Please see the Shazoom and Observances 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: Mar 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.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through June 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
March 6, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[March 6-7, Shabbat Parah – Shabbat of the Red Heifer]
[March 8, Sun, International Women’s Day]
March 13, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[March 13-14, Shabbat HaChodesh – Shabbat of the Month (precedes 1 Nisan)]
[March 18-19, Rosh Chodesh Nisan]
March 20, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
March 27, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[March 27-28 – Shabbat HaGadol – the Great Shabbat]
[March 28-29, Yom HaAliyah – Aliyah Day]
[April 1 – Erev Pesach; 6:30 pm Temple Kol Hamidbar Community Seder, Sierra Vista]
[April 2-8 (9), Pesach, in Israel and in the Reform Movement]
[April 2 pm-May 21 pm, Days of the ‘Omer (7 weeks)]
April 3, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[April 3-4, Pesach III; ‘Ómer 2]
April 10, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm TBD
[April 13-14, Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day]
April 17, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 16-17, Rosh Chodesh Iyar]
[April 20-21, Yom HaZikaron – Israeli Memorial Day]
[April 21-22, Yom Ha’Atzma’ut – Israeli Independence Day]
April 24, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[April 30-May 1, Pesach Shëni (Second Passover)]
May 1, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 4-5, Lag Ba’Ómer – 33rd Day of Counting of the ‘Ómer]
[May 5-6, LaD B’Ómer – Sefardic 34th Day of the ‘Ómer]
May 8, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
May 15, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 14-15, Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day]
[May 16-17, Rosh Chodesh Sivan]
[May 21, Erev Shavuot]
May 22, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[May 22-23, Shavuot – Festival of Weeks]
May 29, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 5, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 12, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[June 14-16, Rosh Chodesh Tamuz]
June 19, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
June 26, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[July 2, Tzom Tamuz – Fast of Tamuz]
TBD – Sam and Mary Caron will lead services; meeting Link, ID and Passcode pending