Weekly Message 05.16.2025 Parashat Emor
- jccwestpasco
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Parashat Emor (speak) Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23
HafTorah Ezekiel 44:15-31
Dear friends,
Happy Lag B'Omer!
Today is a special one on the Hebrew calendar as in the midst of the serous, reflective period of the counting of the Omer, we take a break on this, the 33rd day of the counting to celebrate a day of festivities and joy marked by bonfires, parades, weddings, etc. which would otherwise be prohibited during the Omer period between Passover and Shavuot. So, however way you are marking it, I hope you are having a great day!
That said, I now need to bring us back to the reality that your synagogue is having very serious financial problems. With declining and aging membership and lower bingo income, we are simply no longer able to pay our substantial utility and repair invoices for our physical facility. The synagogue's budget has been cut to the bone and nearly all of the work of the shul is being done by volunteers. Whether you are a member or attendee at services and other events, please reach down deep and make a generous contribution of whatever you can afford so that we can keep the doors open and continue to serve you and the Jewish community. Your attention to this plea is very much appreciated and will result in our continuing to be a presence here in Pasco County.
This Shabbat, we continue reading from the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra). Our triennial reading of the last third of the portion of Emor (23:23-24:23) consists of detailed instructions on the observance of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and all of the festival days (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot). And coincidentally, the commandment to count the Omer is found earlier in this week's portion (23:15). Services will take place as usual at 7:30 pm tonight and 9:30 am tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Now that we have reached Lag B'Omer, we know that Shavuot is just a little over two weeks away. We will be celebrating the holiday with our Tikkun Leil Shvuot (details and login information below) on Sunday, June 1st at 7 pm and with religious services on Monday, June 2nd at 9:30 am which will include the Yizkor Memorial Service (last chance for Yizkor until Yom Kippur), the inspirational Book of Ruth, and the beautiful poem Akdamut.
Please mark your calendars for Thursday, May 29th as we continue our montlly volunteering at Metropolitan Ministries in Holiday, FL. Please help us meet our quota by signing up to volunteeer whether you have done so in the past or for the first time! It meets a critical need for many county residents and is guaranteed to make you feel good! You can sign up at this link
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
indicated above, on erev Shavuot, Sunday, June 1st at 7 pm, we will be joining our friends at Temple Beth David in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot , a centuries old tradition of studying together as part of our preparation for the holiday of Shavuot which among other things, celebrates our receipt of the Torah. Members of both synagogues will be delivering short talks on religious, historical, and cultural themes as we learn together from our own homes as we will all participate on Zoom. Last year, Eileen Hochstadt and I both presented, and we encourage all to tune in again this year for what promises to be a great opportunity to learn from each other. I will be speaking on the significance of the Puglia region in the boot of Italy to the Jewish people from the expulsion from the Holy Land by the Romans after the destruction of the Second Temple to the establishment of displaced person camps after the Holocaust which served as a springboard to emigration (both legal and illegal) back to the land Israel. I sincerely wish for us to have great participation in this important event on our calendar. As we will all be on Zoom, here is the link:
Topic: Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Time: Jun 1, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 5087 2429
Passcode: 955823
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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ZOOM LINK FOR FRI AND SAT
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services 05/16 @ 7:30 pm & 05/17 @ 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet Fri and Sat
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA