Weekly Message 05.15.2026 Parashat Bamidbar
- jccwestpasco
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Bamidbar (In The Desert) Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
HafTorah Samuel I 20:18 - 42
Dear friends,
As we wind down our spring season, today we celebrate the holiday of Yom Yerushalayim, which marks the unification of the city of Jerusalem in 1967, the fulfillment of the 2,000 year prayer to return to the Holy City .
And then a week later, the major festival of Shavuot will be held. Lots to look forward to!
And to help us prepare for the Shavuot Yom Tov, we will hold our Tikkun Leil Shavuot on Thursday, May 21st at 7 pm exclusively on Zoom as always. You are very welcome to lead a short study session which could be on a religious, cultural, historical, or any other related topic that you would like to share. Eileen will be teaching us the lessons of the Book of Job. I will be speaking about José Arturo Castellanos Contreras, an El Salvadorian diplomat who at great risk to himself rescued thousands of European Jews during the Holocaust including the family of our beloved "woman of distinction" Ana Calderon. It would be great if many in our shul can lead a short session, but even if you can't PLEASE log into the Zoom link provided below to support and participate in this time honored and inspirational tradition.
Link to the Tikkun Leil Shavuot on Thursday, May 21 at 7 pm!
And see the calendar below for details on all the other Shavuot services and activities. Looking forward to sharing this wonderful time of the year with you.
And of course, please join us for our regular Shabbat services this evening at 7 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 am as we begin the Book of Bamidbar (In the Wilderness), the fourth book of the Torah. After studying the many mitzvot commanded in the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus), we now return to the action in the wilderness. In Chapter 1, we read about the census that was taken of all Israelites over the age of 20 and the duties of the Levites. Although our ancestors didn't know it at the time, their journey was far from over. Due to a set of circumstances related to their inability to completely free their minds from the experiences of slavery, they would be doomed to wander for many more years resulting in with (only two exceptions) only those who were either babies upon leaving Egypt or born in the wilderness would live to enter the Promised Land. The multitude was clearly facing the unknown. We ourselves might have a much more comfortable and settled existence, but we too face a wilderness without the knowledge of where the paths eventually lead
As Rabbi Alex Kress, spiritual leader of Beth Shir Shalom in Santa Monica, CA expresses it, "each of us faces a wilderness, an unknown future with unexpected twists and turns, in which rational decisions may guide us, but faith has the power to sustain us. The question is: Will we let it?" So, let us go forward with faith and resolve to face life's challenges!
As this Shabbat is Machar Chodesh (the day before the new month of Sivan), we have a special Haftorah, the beautiful but ultimately tragic story of the friendship between David and Jonathan as told by the Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 20:18-42).
I am looking forward to sharing this Shabbat with you but will be doing so remotely on Zoom as I have been invited to travel to New Jersey to deliver a historical lecture celebrating Congregation Neve Shalom's 85th anniversary on Sunday morning. So I will see you on my computer screen tonight and tomorrow morning!
Please continue to join us and support our many spring and summer activities,
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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ZOOM LINK FRI & SAT:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services Fri 5/15 7:00 pm & Sat 5/16 9:30 am
Time: May 15, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS - UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, May 21 We will gather on Zoom for our Annual Erev Shavuot study night held jointly with Temple Beth David at 7 pm. Each presenter will speak for 10-15 minutes followed by discussion. Please consider leading a session on any religious, historical, or cultural topic. Zoom link to be provided.
Friday, May 22 We will observe the first day of Shavuot with Yom Tov services at 9:30 am including the chanting of the poem Akdamut followed by the reading of the Ten Commandments.
Friday, May 22 We will observe the evening of the holiday of Shavuot with Shabbat/Yom Tov services at 6:30 pm (note the earlier starting time) including excerpts from the Book of Ruth followed by a wonderful Shabbat/Yom Tov dinner. Stay tuned for further details!
Saturday, May 23 We will observe the second day of the holiday of Shavuot with Shabbat/Yom Tov services at 9:30 am including the Yizkor Memorial Service, the last one before Yom Kippur.
Tuesday, May 26 We will volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries bringing sustenance, clothing, and hope to those in need at the headquarters at 3216 US-19, Holiday, FL 34691, at 11am-2 pm. Please sign up to help at this link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Friday, June 19 We will have a Shabbat "Juneteenth" dinner after services which will begin at 6:30 pm (note the earlier starting time). Stay tuned for further details!
Wednesday, July 8 We will be participating in Jewish Heritage Night at Tropicana Field when the Rays take on the New York Yankees at 6:40 pm. We will be carpooling from the synagogue parking lot at 4:30 pm. In addition to the game and sitting with our Jewish friends from throughout our region, each participant will receive a commemorative jersey.
Thursday, July 16 We will observe Tisha B'Av with the reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eichah) composed by the Prophet Jeremiah at 9 am.