Weekly Message 08.27.2026 Parashat Ki Tavo
- jccwestpasco
- Aug 27
- 4 min read
Parashat KiTavo (When you come) Deuteronomy 26:1 -29:8
HafTorah Isaiah 60:1-22
Dear friends,
I hope you all had a pleasant week as we continue to quicken our preparations for the High Holy Days. This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with an old friend, the regional Baha'i community leader Tony Quinones. We were honored to host the Baha'i new year celebration of Naw Ruz a few years ago and rediscovered how much we have in common with that religious community. Tony donated a beautiful framed inspirational verse which I will bring to the synagogue to hang next to our other plaques and photos in the Spigelman Room. The text is as follows:
O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide by Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord. Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith.
I am fortunate to have cousins who lived in an apartment building located adjacent to the Baha'i headquarters and beautiful gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa. Visiting that shrine was the highlights of one of our trips to Israel.
I am looking forward to praying and studying with you and then sharing a delicious Mediterranean dinner with all who signed up. A reminder that religious services will begin a ½ hour earlier than usual at 6:30 pm.
Then tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 am we continue our reading of the Book of Deuteronomy with the first triennial reading of the portion of Ki Tavo (26:1-17:10). Now as our ancestors were poised to enter the Promised Land, these verses highlight Moses's instructions to the Israelites to express their gratitude to G-d for their bountiful harvests and freedom from slavery by tithing ten percent of their crops for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. These
powerful sentiments continue to guide us to this day. We may "tithe" a little differently, but we must continue to help others who need it any way we can including our participation in community charitable and volunteering endeavors. And speaking of which, thanks to all those who volunteered at Metropolitan Ministries on Thursday!
Our Haftorah is the next-to-last of the seven Haftorahs of Consolation given to us by the Prophet Isaiah (Chapter 60). The Haftorah ends with this beautiful sentiment:
לֹא־יָב֥וֹא עוֹד֙ שִׁמְשֵׁ֔ךְ וִירֵחֵ֖ךְ לֹ֣א יֵאָסֵ֑ף כִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה יִֽהְיֶה־לָּךְ֙ לְא֣וֹר עוֹלָ֔ם וְשָׁלְמ֖וּ יְמֵ֥י אֶבְלֵֽךְ
Your sun shall set no more. Your moon no longer withdraws. For Hashem shall be a light to you forever, and your days of mourning shall come to an end.
Hope to see you in shul and wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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And please check out the calendar below and participate in our many services and activities!
Friday, August 28, 2026 Services followed by community dinner, 6:30 pm
Sunday, August 30, 2026 Clean up day at the synagogue
Thursday, September 24, 2026 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, October 10, 2026, Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 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
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HIGH HOLY DAYS
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, Saturday, September 26, 2026
Services followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah 9:30 am
Hoshanah 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
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