Erev Shabbat, April 3 (Nisan 9) 11:15a Zoom class on anxiety By Emily Kahanjoin here 5:00p Weekly D'var Torah with Rabbi Herzfeld via Facebook Live 5:30p The Shabbat Torah Reading (from a tikkun) led by Yoni Friedman join here 6:00p Minchajoin here 6:15p Kabbalat Shabbat with a D'var Torah by Maharat Friedmanjoin here 7:16p Candle Lighting
Shabbat, April 4 (Nisan 10) 8:18p Havdalah join here 9:00p Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld join here
We are saddened to announce the passing of - Dr. Judah Goldwasser, for more information regarding the (virtual) shiva email Ethel at ethelsmail@juno.com - Donny Hain, brother of David Hain, brother-in-law of Ariele Mortkowitz, and uncle to Tara, Azi and Aeli Hain. For more information regarding the (virtual) shiva click here - Lynn Robinson Rosenfeld, sister of Ellen Epstein. May the Epstein and Rosenfeld family be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.Please click here to see the letter from Ellen
Sale of Chametz deadline Monday (April 6): This year's sale of chametz will be done only online; forms can be found here Online Form | Download/Print Form. Please note all chametz products can be sold and do not need to be disposed of.
Class on the Haggadah by Rabbi Herzfeld, from Wednesday, April 1 recording here
Pre-Pesach cooking class with Lea Mendelson from Wednesday - April 1, recording here PowerPoint link here
If you would like to volunteer to call and check in on members of the community during our shelter-at-home period, please contact Pesha Rubenstein, the Secretary of the OSTNS Board of Directors, at peshalit9555@yahoo.com.
If you are interested in serving on Ohev's Board of Directors, please contact the chair of this year's Nominating Committee, Desmond Lachman, at deslachman@gmail.com.
DC Kosher locations are NOT Kosher for Passover (except for cider from Anxo Cidery). No food should be purchased from any DC Kosher establishment (aside from Anxo cider) beginning on Pesach eve after 10:00 AM until one hour after the conclusion of Pesach (4/8/20 - 4/16/20). If you have any questions please contact Maharat Friedman at MaharatRuth@ostns.org
Spotlight On......
Pre-Pesach Learning and Reflection with Maharat Friedman: Dayeinu: Do We Really Mean it? Cultivating Awareness and Gratitude During Times of Crisis - Sunday, April 5 @ 8:20 pm https://zoom.us/j/7681031270 or 301-715-8592, 7681031270# Kahoot Game on Pesach this Sunday, April 5 at 5 PM This Sunday, Ohev will try a massive open online game for everyone in our community, a Pesach "Kahoot" created by Roey Herzfeld. Kids who are now home-schooling due to the pandemic should be familiar with Kahoot. YouTube has lots of videos on how to set one up -- but all anyone will need to play is the PIN that Roey will send out via the listserv on Sunday.
The Pesach Kahoot--for kids and adults-- will begin 5 PM on Sunday. You'll go to https://kahoot.it/ and put in the PIN number and voila! You'll be ready to play, answering the questions that Roey has made up to test our knowledge on Pesach...just in time for our most unusual Pesach this year.
Reserve about 20 minutes this Sunday at 5 PM. Turn off the vacuum cleaner and stop cleaning for Pesach to take a break with some well-earned fun.
Remember -- stay tuned to get that PIN on Sunday!
OHEV'S VIRTUAL VIDEO OMER COUNTER This year, Ohev's Omer Counter will be a Virtual Video Project. Families will sign up to make a 1-3 minute video for a certain, assigned day of the Omer, and send it to me in advance. Each day, everyone will receive a video reminder to count the Omer from a different family. If 49 families agree to participate, this video reminder could be a great way to bring our community together right now! To participate, email me at youth@ostns.org Instructions and Guidelinesclick here
Rabbi Herzfeld will teach a class on the Haggadah on Monday, April 6 at 12:30 pm https://zoom.us/j/427064286 or 646-558-8656, 427064286#
Model Seder with Rabbi Herzfeld and his family - Wednesday, April 8 at 5:45pm Followed by mincha at 6:45 pm. https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 or via phone at 646-558-8656, 3127816941#
Friends of Judah Goldwasser z”l are studying Mishnah in his memory. To participate sign up here
Comments on the Weekly Portion, Haftorah, Morning Prayers and Passover Readings Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This week's parsha,Tzav, contains the procedures for the inauguration of the Kohanim and the regulations for the bringing of sacrifices.
The parsha begins with "…Tzav et Aharon v’et banav…”-- "Command Aharon and his sons…” There follow the rules concerning the sacrifices. The word "tsav" is a strong word. The rabbis ask: Why is such a strong word utilized by God? Ordinarily, the Torah would say, "Tell Aharon." The rabbis explain: God is giving the regulations concerning the sacrifices that are to be brought by the Jews. The bringing of a sacrifice entails the expenditure of money, "chisaron kis." as the animal sacrificed is devoted to the sanctuary. The rabbis say that when a commandment involves the loss of money, extra exhortation is necessary.
The parsha concludes with the procedure for the dedication of Aharon and his sons to the work in the sanctuary. The Torah says that the Kohanim "shall not go outside the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting) for seven days, until the period of ordination is completed." (Vayikra 8:33). The Talmud Yerushalmi learns from this text, and from others, that the period of mourning for an individual is seven days. (Our word "shiva" is Hebrew for seven). The Talmud says, "Just as the Kohanim maintained the Lord's charge in the procedure for their ordination for seven days, so we, all the Jews, must maintain a period of seven days of remembrance for a deceased family member."
This Shabbos is Shabbos Hagadol, the "Great" Shabbos, which comes before the Pesach holiday. Traditionally, the leader of the community gives a special dvar torah on Shabbos Hagadol, and there is a special Haftorah, Malachi, 3:4-24: "I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the Lord." This verse concludes the Prophets section of the Hebrew Bible (Sefer Nevi'im). It is usually repeated by the congregation when the haftorah is read.
THE FIRST DAYS OF PESACH
This year, around the country and world, people will not be in their synagogue to pray together or to read from the Torah, just as seders this year will be small -- in many cases, consisting of one person at the table -- as we attempt to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Perhaps that makes it even more important, or at least as important, to contemplate the Torah readings we would have heard in any other year.
The first two days of the Pesach festival arrive during the coming week. The reading for the first day of Pesach is from parshas Bo. It describes the exodus from Egypt, which is the basis of the Pesach celebration. (Shmos 12:21-51). The Torah reading for the second day is from parshas Vayikra. It contains the laws concerning the celebration of Pesach (Vayikra 22:26 - 23:44)
The haftoros for the first two days of Pesach come from the book of Yehoshua (Joshua), Chapter 5, and Melachim Bet (2 Kings), Chapter 23, and deal with the celebration of Pesach in later times.
TFILOT From the daily Amida prayer -- Heal us, God, and we will be healed, save us, and we will be saved, for You are the object of our praise. O, grant us healing to all of our ailments, for You are a faithful and merciful God, King and Healer... Blessed are You O God, Healer of the sick of the People of Israel.
Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l and Also Featuring Haggadah
Illustrations …
A video about this week's Haftorah can be viewed here: Malachai 3:4-24
Upcoming Virtual Learning Opportunities
To see the schedule and links for upcoming virtual services and classes schedule, visit our website's zoom page, ostns.org/zoom.
David Loeffler Eliot (Eli) Loeffler Ruth Nadata Wendy Revel Charlie Shapiro Diana Furchtgott-Roth Alicia Oltuski Ariel Levine Deborah Kopp Sindy Udell Douglas Pinsky Ori Horowitz Desmond Lachman Leone Abroms Avril Weisman Johan Gottschalk Reuven Walder Ariella Klugman Leor Levisohn
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Members Observing Yahrzeits
Shabbat Claire Mosenthal for mother Helen Beiser Samuel Swersky for mother Nettie Swersky
Sunday Stephen Markowitz for paternal grandmother Feiga Markowitz
Monday Rena Fruchter for mother Leatrice Troy William Stixrud for father Hershel Jonah
Tuesday Carol Miaskoff for father Leonard Miaskoff David Feinsilber for aunt Sadie Rosenblum Stephen Markowitz for maternal grandmother Sylvia Levin Levit
Wednesday Robert Kott for father Jerome Kott
Thursday David Balto for father Irving Balto
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