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Shabbat and Candlelighting  
for Friday, July 23, 2021 / 15 Av 5781

 Light Shabbat candles at 7:16 p.m.
  
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Dear Congregation Kehillah and Friends,

Our parasha this week is Va-etchanan, which means "And I pleaded", referring to Moses' plea to God to be allowed to enter the Land of Israel with the people. The "Shema", which means "listen" or "hear" is introduced in this parasha! The prayer we refer to as 'the Ve-ahavta' follows. It is actually part of the Shema.
 
Parashat Va-etchanan continues Moses' farewell address to the Jewish people as he describes the events which took place at Mount Sinai some 40 years earlier, and then repeats for them the Ten Commandments*, words which were spoken by God at that time. Why the repetition? The generation who stood at Mount Sinai and heard God's words, that generation who originally received the Ten Commandments, was no longer alive, except for Moses, Joshua and Caleb. And so, Moses repeated these commandments for the benefit of a new generation of Israelites; the ones who were about to enter into the Promised Land.
 
This Shabbat is also called Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Consolation, as it is the Shabbat immediately following Tisha B'Av, and is another Jewish holiday - Tu B'Av, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av - Jewish love day! It goes back to the time of the Mishna (over 2,000 years ago). Today in Israel it is being rediscovered as a day not unlike February 14th here. In case you are asking (as the singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg did): 'how do you make love stay', a Jewish answer would be: be kind, be considerate, be a bit selfless, go out of your way to do things, small and big that make your partner happy, create rituals to celebrate your life together and honor them, connect to your synagogue community, committing to something bigger than 'just us'.   
 


A kavannah for candlelighting on Shabbat Va-etchanan

Shema! Dear God, Holy One of Blessing, my prayer this week is that my eyes, ears and heart be open and learn to listen, really listen, to hear the messages of those who are crying out (some cry aloud, some silently) for my attention, my compassion, my understanding and my love; and may I also be blessed with the same from others, that I, and my needs, be heard and understood. May I be blessed to give and receive the deepest love from others and from You. 



* The wording is generally the same, with some slight differences. For example, in Exodus the commandment regarding Shabbat begins with the word zachor ("remember"). This week the commandment regarding Shabbat begins with the word shamor ("guard"). Jewish tradition teaches that God said both words at the same time (shamor v'zachor b'dibber echad). This is the first verse of the Friday tight hymn Lecha Dodi.


Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman 

Congregation Kehillah
602-369-7667
info@congregationkehillah.org   |   congregationkehillah.org
Mailing Address: 21001 N.Tatum Blvd., Ste 1630, #439, Phoenix AZ 85050 
Physical Address: 5858 E. Dynamite Blvd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331
(Please note that no mail is received at this address.)