TORAH READING FOR 11 AV 5786 July 24-25, 2026
SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM July 24, 2026
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 https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/va-etchanan
Va-et’chanan (וָאֶתְחַנַּן – “[Moses] pleaded with the Eternal”) – Deuteronomy 3:23−7:11
I pleaded with the Eternal at that time, saying, “O Eternal God, You who let Your servant see the first works of Your greatness and Your mighty hand, You whose powerful deeds no god in heaven or on earth can equal! Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country, and the Lebanon.” – Deuteronomy 3:23-25
SUMMARY
- Moses pleads with God to let him enter the Land of Israel with the people, but God once more refuses his request. (3:23–28)
- Moses orders the Children of Israel to pay attention and follow the laws given by God in order to be worthy of the land they are about to receive. (4:1–40)
- Specific areas of the land are set aside to serve as cities of refuge. (4:41–43)
- The covenant at Sinai and the Ten Commandments are recalled. Once again, the people are exhorted to heed God’s commandments. (5:1–30)
- Moses speaks the words of the Sh’ma, the credo of Judaism, and commands Israel to show their love for Adonai and keep God’s laws and ordinances. (6:1–25)
- Moses warns the people not to commit idolatry by worshiping the gods of the nations they will conquer in Israel. (7:1–11)
HAFTARAH
Isaiah 40:1-26 Shabbat Nachamu
SHABBAT NACHAMU 2026 / שַׁבַּת נַחֲמוּ 5786
Shabbat after Tish’a B’Av (Shabbat of Consolation)
Shabbat Nachamu for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Friday, 24 July 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
Shabbat Nachamu (“Sabbath of comfort” שבת נחמו) takes its name from the haftarah from the Book of Isaiah 40:1-26 that speaks of comforting the Jewish people for their suffering. It is the first of seven haftarahs of consolation read over the seven weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Shabbat Nachamu falls immediately after Tisha B’Av, and communities traditionally celebrate with singing, dancing, and festive meals.
Read more from Judaism 101 or Wikipedia
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 2026 below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.3.23-7.11, and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.40.1-26.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/va-etchanan
By: Rebecca Good
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, 11 Av through 17 Av, we lovingly remember:
Danny Huber
Husband of Susie Morss
Betty Lou Shull
Mother of Keren Ginsburg
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, July 24, 2026. Please see the Shazoom and Observances schedule through September 2026 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: July 24, 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.
TU B’AV 2026 / ט״וּ בְּאָב 5786
Minor Jewish holiday of love
Tu B’Av for Hebrew Year 5786 begins at sundown on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
Tu B’Av (Hebrew: ט״ו באב, the fifteenth of the month of Av) is a minor Jewish holiday. In modern Israel, it is celebrated as a holiday of love (חג האהבה, Ḥag HaAhava), with couples exchanging romantic gestures and a popular occasion for weddings. Historically, during the Temple period, Tu B’Av marked the beginning of the grape harvest season, when unmarried women would dress in white garments and dance in vineyards — making it one of the most festive occasions in the ancient Jewish calendar.
Read more from Wikipedia
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos,
-Ruben
PS – Shazoom and Observances Schedule through September 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
July 24, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[July 25, Shabbat Nachamu – Sabbath of Consolation/Comfort]
[July 29, Tu B’Av, Minor Jewish Holiday of Love]
July 31, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
August 7, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[August 13-14, Rosh Chodesh Elul]
August 14, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[August 14, Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot – New Year of the Animals]
August 21, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
August 28, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
September 4, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[September 5, after nightfall, Leil Selichot]
[September 7, Labor Day US]
September 11, 2026 – Erev Rosh Hashanah (TBD)
[September 12-13 – Rosh Hashanah (mostly one day in Reform Movement)]
September 18, 2026 – Erev Shabbat Shuvah (TBD)
[September 19 – Shabbat Shuvah (Shabbat of Return)]
September 25, 2026 – Erev Sukkot (TBD)
[September 26-October 2 – 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]