Weekly Message 10.02.2026 Parashat V'Zot HaBerachah
Parashat V'Zot HaBerachah (and this is the Blessing) Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12; Genesis 1:1 - 2:3
2nd Torah Numbers 29:35 - 30:1
HafTorah 1:1 - 18
Dear friends,
We have reached the final weekend of this glorious holiday season with the holy day
of Hoshana Rabbah at our services tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9:30 am and the festivals of Shemini Atzeret Saturday at 9:30 am and Simchat Torah at 7 pm.
Hoshana Rabba marks the final day of Sukkot, the last time we take the lulav and etrog. However, it is a special holiday in itself as it signifies the finality of the Holy Days and the sealing of the heavenly judgement upon us all which began during the previous month of Elul and continued through Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
And the ritual is like no other. We walk around the sanctuary seven times while carrying the lulav/etrog and chanting petitions and pleas to Hashem for a good year ahead. Then at the end, we remove the willow branches and beat them until the willows fall off, thus signifying the disappearance of any sins that we have committed during the previous year. And as such, we are sealed in the Book of Life. It is a moving and beautiful ritual, and I hope that you will be able to join us. We will be hosting our friends from Temple Beth David, and we will have a celebratory brunch at Panera's after the service.
Then on Friday evening, we add to our Shabbat/Yom Tov service and begin the celebration of Shemini Atzeret by reciting selections from the book of Ecclesiastes (Kohelet). Attributed to King Solomon, Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life, reckoning with death, futility, and purpose. Solomon stresses the fleeting nature of materialism and the importance of finding real meaning of life apart from mundane. He states that "all is vanity” and “nothing is new under the sun,” but also concludes by asserting that life’s purpose can be found in fear of G-d and adherence to G-d’s laws. These words of wisdom stress the fleeting nature of materialism and the importance of finding real meaning of life apart from mundane. This is especially important as we embark on a new year in the Hebrew calendar.
Then on Saturday morning, we continue our observance of Shemini Atzeret with a special Torah reading from the Book of Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17 in which the sacrifices for all of the festivals are listed and a Haftorah from the first Book of Kings 8:54-66 which marks King Solomon's dedication of the Temple. We continue by chanting the Yizkor Memorial prayers in memory of all those relatives and friends who came before us and helped shape our own lives. This will be the final opportunity to observe Yizkor until Passover! Then we conclude with the crucial annual prayer for rain (Geshem) which is so essential for the sustenance of life which asks us to remember the importance of water throughout human history and concludes with the phrase that will be repeated in the Amidah prayers every day between Shemini Atzeret and Passover:
שַׁאֲתָּה הוּא ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוْرִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם
You, Hashem, cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall!
Then we conclude the holiday season on Saturday evening at 7 pm with a social hour, Havdalah, and then the joyous celebration of Simchat Torah when we will dance with our Torahs and conclude their reading with the final verses of Deuteronomy (Devarim) and then begin anew with the Book of Genesis (Bereshit) with another year of life's experience, learning, and wisdom under our belts.
I am looking forward to spending this very special Shabbat/Yom Tov weekend with you beginning on Friday at 9:30 am and concluding on Saturday night and to sharing the many activities throughout the rest of the year. See the calendar for October-December below, Ron
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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HIGH HOLY DAYS - CALENDAR
Hoshana 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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SOCIAL EVENTS - CALENDAR
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 BEFORE NOVEMBER 17TH to help at this link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Saturday, November 14, 2026, Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 We will volunteer at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent at Generations on 1540 Little Road in Trinity, 11:30 am-3 pm. Please sign up at https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Friday, December 4, 2026 We will enjoy a joyous Shabbat/erev Hanukkah dinner, 6:30 pm
Saturday, December 5, 2026 We will enjoy the annual holiday boat parade on the Banks of the Cotee River between Vermont and Kentucky Avenues in New Port Richey beginning with Havdalah and latkes, sufganyot (jelly donuts) and other Hanukkah treats while watching the decorated boats float by, 6 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2026 We will celebrate Hanukkah with the residents of the Trinity Place Assisted Living Center at 8684 Old Route 54 in New Port Richey, 1:30 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2026 We will enjoy a Hanukkah party, 5 pm
Saturday, December 12, 2026, Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 We will volunteer at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent at Generations on 1540 Little Road in Trinity, 11:30 am-3 pm. Please sign up BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH at https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Please join us in person or on Zoom starting Friday Morning at 9:30 am.
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ZOOM LINK - FRI MORNING, FRI EVENING, SATURDAY MORNING, SATURDAY EVENING
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