Weekly Message 05.29.2026 Parashat Naso
- jccwestpasco
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Parashat Naso (Count) Numbers 4:21 - 7:89
HafTorah Judges 13:2-25
Dear friends,
What a wonderful Shavuot/Shabbat/Memorial Day weekend we had together!
From our Tikkun Leil Shavuot session to the reading of Akdamut and the Ten Commandments, to the reading of excerpts of the Book of Ruth prior to our Shabbat/Yom Tov dinner, to the gathering for the Yizkor service, and finally through our volunteering efforts at Metropolitan Ministries, we observed this sanctified period as a community. Thanks to all who made everything go so well!
This week, I met with Stephen Pasquale who since October has served our community as Live Tampa Bay as the faith community liaison to our region. He is an ordained minister and chaplain and before coming to Live Tampa Bay he served as the mental health and substance use resource coordinator for the Hernando County Board of Commissioners. He has a passion for advancing behavioral health and recovery initiatives across our region. He reminded me that the Narcan that was provided to us designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency has likely expired and provided us with new 2-dose nasal spray devices which are effective through August 2028. Stephen will also be attending a future congregational gathering to talk about the work of Live Tampa Bay in supporting the mental health of all in our region.
This Shabbat, we continue our summer season reading of the Book of Bamidbar with Nasso, the longest portion of the Torah. Our triennial cycle reading and study will cover 4:21-5:10 which includes a census and delineates the responsibilities of the Levites as they continue the journey through the wilderness that will lead the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. Our Haftorah (Judges 13:2-25) details the birth of Samson, the Nazarite, and the foretelling of his future and that of the prohibitions contained in the Nazarite vow which is ultimately both inspirational and tragic. We will be reading more about his life and that of Israel's conflict with the Philistines later in the summer.
Please join me this Shabbat, this evening at 7 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 am as we come together as a minyan to pray and study in-person or on Zoom. And see the calendar below for details on all the other services and activities. Looking forward to sharing this wonderful time of the year with you.
Please continue to join us and support our summer activities.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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ZOOM LINK FOR FRI AND SAT:
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Topic: JCC West Pasco Zoom Meeting
Time: 5/29 7:30 pm & Sat 5/30 9:30 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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COMING EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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!
Tuesday, June 30 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
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 23 We will observe Tisha B'Av with the reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eichah) composed by the Prophet Jeremiah at 9 am.
Tuesday, July 28 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
Stay tuned for the upcoming High Holy Day activities schedule from September 5th (Selichot) through October 4th (Simchat Torah)!
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