Parashat VZot HaBerachah - (and this is the blessing) Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12, Genesis 1:1 - 23; 2nd Torah Simchat Torah, Numbers 29:35 - 30:1
HafTorah - Joshua 1:1 - 18
Dear friends,
Now that Sukkot is coming to an end with Hoshana Rabbah, we celebrate the final festivals of the High Holy Day season this Shabbat with Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. First, thanks again to all who made the Sukkot holiday so beautiful and meaningful from decorating our beautiful synagogue's Sukkah, to attending and participating in our Shabbat/Sukkot/Hoshana Rabbah services. The Suncoast News has covered our celebration in its latest edition:
https://www.suncoastnews.com/news/pasco/jcc-congregation-beth-tefillah-wrapping-up-holiday-season/article_c84dee72-5e12-11ee-8b8b-d341e0bfd0dc.html
Our Shabbat/Shmini Atzeret Services begin tonight at 7:30 pm and continue tomorrow morning at 9:30 am and include the annual prayer for rain and the Yizkor prayer—last chance to chant the Yizkor (memorial) prayers until Passover. All services are held in-person and virtually on Zoom (see Zoom links below).
This will be followed by our annual "ice cream social hour" tomorrow evening at 6 pm, Havdallah and the celebration of Simchat Torah at 7 pm! Simchat Torah festivities will be available virtually on Zoom as well as in-person. Please come if you possibly can, to meet and greet congregants and friends and to then sing and dance with our Torahs as we complete the reading of the Torah with the last portion (V'zot HaBracha) of Deuteronomy and immediately begin anew with the first portion (Bereshit) of Genesis. Each year, we complete the reading of the entire Torah with our triennial portions and hopefully, each year as we continue with life's experiences, we glean new meaning to these words of wisdom and spirituality.
Also, please mark your calendars for Wednesday October 25th at 10 am in the Spigelman Room when we will be hosting the Nature Coast Interfaith Council's monthly meeting and you will have an opportunity to meet congregants and clergy from many denominations and help plan our future activities.
And speaking of future activities, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 8th at 9 am in the Spigelman Room when we will be hosting Mental Health First Aid Training sponsored by Live Tampa Bay. I have completed the one day course and can vouch for its critical importance.
And finally, please sign up to accompany us in our volunteer efforts for a couple of hours at Metropolitan Ministries on Tuesday, November 21st and Thursday, December 21st both days at 11 am. The need for helping to volunteer distributing groceries, personal needs, and toys to those in need. The JCC has been involved in this effort for several years and we hope to have a record turnout this year. If your schedule doesn't permit volunteering on those particular two days, please let me know when you can donate some time and I will sign you up and try to join you.
Please let me know if you will be attending any of the above fall activities and let me know if you need any further information. Chag Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Sameach!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting
Topic: Friday, 10/06/2023 Shmini Atzeret/Shabbat 7:30 pm
Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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SATURDAY:
Topic: Saturday, 10/07/2023 Shabbat//Shemini Atzeret/Yizkor 9:30 am and Simchat Torah 7:00 pm
Time: Oct 7, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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