Weekly Message 07.03.2026 Parashat Pinchas
- jccwestpasco
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Parashat Pinchas (Aaron's grandson) Numbers 25:10 - 30:1
HafTorah Jeremiah 1:1 -2:3
Dear friends,
Chris and I have returned from our wonderful journey to Delaware and look forward to seeing you all at our religious services and community activities. Now that it is summer and the children of residents at Metropolitan Ministries are home from school, our assistance is needed more than ever to feed so many who are in need, so please consider volunteering with us at our next session on July 28th. Details and the sign-up link can be found below in the upcoming events section.
This Shabbat, we continue our reading and studying of the firsts triennial section of the portion of Pinchas in the Book of Bamidbar (25:10-26:51). The portion that we will read is a complex and somewhat controversial one. We are introduced to Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, and the great nephew of Moses and Miriam, and thus he is in line for the title of the High Priesthood or Cohane Gadol and will serve in that capacity in the Holy Land. But it is an act of violence that earns him this status and that of a covenant of peace. So how does violence (murder in this case) lead to peace? The Children of Israel are suffering from a plague and are simultaneously engaged in battle with the Midianites. In the midst of this, Pinchas encounters an Israelite (Zimri) cohabiting with a Midianite woman (Cozbi) and slays them. Pinchas was filled with what he considered to be righteous zealotry and a defender of the faith. However, in our day and age, religious zealotry and fervor have led to hatred, war, and discord. We must keep in mind that peace is a right for all people on earth and that in fact, Hashem lifts the plague and rewards Pinchas with the covenant of peace in his future role as Cohane Gadol when he has the opportunity to use his position to bless rather than curse and promote peace rather than violence.
As we are now in the three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av, a period of semi-mourning for the destruction of the Temple and other calamities, we read the first of the three Haftorahs of Rebuke. In this week's reading, the Prophet Jeremiah (1:1-2:3) who lived through that dark period and was deported from the Holy Land. He warns of the consequences of not following the mitzvot and immoral behavior towards others. Ultimately, he composes the Book of Lamentations (Eicha) that we will chant in Hebrew and English on Tisha B'Av, July 23rd at 9 am.
Please join me this evening at 7 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am in-person or virtually on Zoom as we pray and study together as a minyan. And please see the summer and early fall schedule below.
Shabbat Shalom
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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COMING EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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.
Saturday, July 11 Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Thursday, July 23 We will observe Tisha B'Av with the reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha) 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
Saturday, August 8 Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
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HIGH HOLY DAYS SCHEDULE
Selichot Saturday, September 5, 2026
Social hour 7 pm
Havdalah and Selichot services 8 pm
Cemetery Visitations, Sunday, September 6, 2026
Beit Olam Cemetery in Trinity 10 am
Grace Memorial Cemetery in Hudson 11:30 am
Erev Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 11, 2026
Services followed by community dinner 6:30 pm
Rosh Hashanah, first day, Saturday, September 12, 2026
Morning services 9:30 am
Mincha/Maariv services 6:30 pm
Rosh Hashanah, second day, Sunday, September 13, 2026
Morning services 9:30 am
Tashlikh at the Cotee River on Grand Blvd between Vermont and Kentucky Aves 3 pm
Erev Shabbat Shuva, Friday, September 18, 2026
Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services 7 pm
Shabbat Shuva, Saturday, September 19, 2026
Services followed by luncheon honoring adult B'nai Mitzvah anniversary 9:30 am
Community Sukkah decoration, Sunday, September 20, 2026, 10 am
Kol Nidre, Sunday, September 20, 2026
Kol Nidre and Erev Yom Kippur services 6:30 pm
Yom Kippur, Monday, September 21, 2026
Morning services 9:30 am
Mincha service 6 pm
Yizkor service 7 pm
Neila service 7:20 pm
Havdalah followed by community break-the-fast meal 8 pm
Erev Sukkot, Friday, September 25, 2026
Services followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah 7pm
Sukkot, Tuesday, Saturday, September 26, 2026
Services followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah 9:30 am
Hashanah Rabbah, Friday, October 2, 2026
Services 9:30 am followed by community brunch at Panera's
Erev Shemini Atzeret, Friday October 2, 2026
Services 7 pm
Shemini Atzeret, Saturday, October 3, 2026
Services 9:30 am including the Yizkor memorial service
Simchat Torah, Saturday, October 3, 2026
Social hour 7 pm
Services 8 pm
Saturday, October 10, 2026, Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
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