TORAH READING FOR 13 CHESHVAN 5787 Oct 23-24, 2026
SHAZOOM 6:30 PM Oct 23, 2026
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT
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.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/lech-lcha
Lech L’cha (לָךְ-לְךָ – Go Forth) – Genesis 12:1-17:27
The Eternal said to Abram, “Go forth from your land, your birthplace, your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.” – Genesis 12:1
SUMMARY
- Abram, Sarai, and Lot go to Canaan. (12:1-9)
- Famine takes them to Egypt, where Abram identifies Sarai as his sister in order to save his life. (12:10-20)
- Abram and Lot separate. Lot is taken captive, and Abram rescues him. (13:1-14:24)
- Abram has a son, Ishmael, with his Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. (16:1-16)
- God establishes a covenant with Abram. The sign of this covenant is circumcision on the eighth day following a male baby’s birth. (17:1-27)
HAFTARAH
Isaiah 40:27-41:16 [attributed to Deutero- or Second Isaiah]
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
Until further notice, we will meet on Fridays for Shazoom only. Please see the NEW Shazoom schedule below. Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.12.1-17.27 and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.40.27-41.16.
RECOMMENDED READING
From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/lech-lcha
By: Rabbi Tori Greene
PRAYERS
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:
FOR OUR COUNTRY p.316
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, 13 Cheshvan through 19 Cheshvan, we lovingly remember:
Susan Robinson
First Yahrzeit
Friend of Mike Jackson
Robert E. Levine
Father of Lisa and Joe, husband of Diane Levine z”l
Judson Kaplan
Husband of Naomi Kaplan
Susan Mallitz
Mother of Cindy Mallitz 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
NOTE: ACCESS TO THE WEEKLY SHAZOOM MEETINGS HAS BEEN CHANGED.
Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service
Time: Oct 23, 2026 06:30 PM Arizona
“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 – Shazoom and Observances schedule through December 2026 (Arizona Time Zone):
October 23, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
October 30, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
November 6, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 8-9, Sunday-Monday – Sigd (Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur)]
[November 9-11, Monday-Wednesday – Rosh Chodesh Kislev]
[November 11, Wednesday – Veterans Day]
November 13, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
November 20, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[November 26, Thursday – Thanksgiving Day]
November 27, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
December 4, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (Erev Chanukah, First Candle)
[December 5, Friday – Chanukah on Shabbat]
[December 5 to 12, Saturday-Saturday – Chanukah]
[December 9-10, Wednesday-Thursday – Chag HaBanot–North African Chanukah Festival of Daughters]
[December 9-11, Wednesday-Friday – Rosh Chodesh Tevet]
December 11, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm (Chanukah Eighth Candle)
[December 12, Saturday – Chanukah on Shabbat]
December 18, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[December 20, Sunday – Asara B’Tevet – Fast, Siege of Jerusalem]
December 25, 2025 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[December 31, Thursday – Secular New Year’s Eve]
January 1, 2026 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm
[January 1, Friday – Secular New Year’s Day 2027]