1:45p Moti's Group Delivery at Ohev (1:45p for A-M, 2:00p for N-Z), please be prompt. 5:00p Weekly D'var Torah with Rabbi Herzfeld via FacebookLive 5:45p Layning of the Parsha by Saul Weinreb join here 6:30p Minchajoin here 6:45p Kabbalat Shabbat led by guest Chazzan Shulem Lemmer via Zoom or streaming viaFacebook Live with a D'var Torah from Maharat Friedman 7:56p Candlelighting
Mazal Tov to Rabbi Ben Berger! YCT is recognizing the achievements of our own Rabbi Ben Berger this Sunday, May 17. See more information below. Thank you to all our virtual learning sponsors from this past week! Michael Import, Switkes-Fienberg family, the Jewish prisoners and Chaplains at Western Correctional Institution, and Brian Miretzky. If you are interested in sponsoring a day of virtual learning for $54, please email Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
Friday's Virtual Learning is sponsored by Brian Miretzky in honor of all the clergy, staff, and members, wishing good health to all.
Saturday Night's Virtual Learning is sponsored by Bill Edelman in memory of his mother, Sandra Edelman z"l.
Tzeitchem l'shalom to Julie, Josh, Jack, Emory, and Madeline Schenker. We will miss you!
Layning of the Parsha by Saul Weinreb: Saul has been deployed for the last two months with the US Army to treat coronavirus in a NY hospital. We appreciate him taking a few of his precious free moments to read the Torah for us.
Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat with Shulem Lemmer! To see a message to Ohev from Shulem,click here
Spotlight On........Kabbalat Shabbat Led by Shulem Lemmer!
This Sunday: Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Event
Order for Shavuot from Pastries by Randolph!
Upcoming Events and Community Resources
Changing Realities: COVID-19 and The Jewish Community of Greater Washington The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting every person in our community, and every organization in Jewish Greater Washington and beyond. Please join the Beltway Vaad and Jewish Federation of Greater Washington CEO, Gil Preuss, for a conversation about our community’s needs and the actions Federation is taking to protect vulnerable individuals and vital institutions. Wednesday, May 20 at 12:00-12:45 pm, Click to register in advance for this meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The discussion will focus on what Federation is doing to navigate our community’s rapidly changing reality, from our emergency fundraising response effort to the many ways we are working to keep our community connected even as we are physically distancing. Together, we must ensure that we can weather the crisis of today and still have a strong and vibrant Jewish community tomorrow. Join us to learn how you can play a crucial role in making that happen.
Save the Date:Kids Cooking Class- Shavuot Edition! Cheesecakes on Shavuot are the best! Join Gabri Kurtzer-Ellenbogen on Wednesday, May 27, in a Shavuot special cooking class geared for middle and elementary schoolers! Make some delicious, simple, and no-bake mini lemon cheesecakes, and test your Shavuot knowledge as well in a post-class Kahoot game! The class will be a step-by-step, follow along tutorial, and an ingredient list (with substitution ideas) will be sent out in the coming weeks, so you can be prepared with everything you will need! More details on timing will also be sent out shortly. Hope to see you all there!
Free Kosher Meals for all Children Under 18 Yad Yehuda is pleased to announce the launch of daily kosher meal distribution through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. We will distribute breakfast and lunch simultaneously each day.
Distribution began this week and will continue Monday through Friday each week, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, at E. Brooke Lee Middle School, 11800 Monticello Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902. There is no charge for these meals. All households with children age 18 and under are eligible to participate in this USDA program. Due to the current health emergency, the income eligibility and residency requirements have been waived.
Visit http://moco.covidgw.com for further instructions and to place your order for the coming week. It is very important that you pre-order so our vendors (Ben Yehuda Pizza and Shalom Kosher) will know how many meals to prepare. Meals will be available for those who do not pre-order but we urge you to assist us by using the pre-order process.
Shopping Angels DC is seeking volunteers and service recipients! Shopping Angels is a program designed to provide services to those populations deemed especially at-risk for the COVID-19 virus. To help ease the uncertainty, anxiety, and fear surrounding this pandemic, we are volunteering to personally deliver groceries or other necessities to those who may need to stay home. Shopping Angels is a free service. To receive services visit: https://shoppingangelsglobal.org/order To volunteer visit: https://shoppingangelsglobal.org/volunteer
Mayor Bowser has charged the ReOpen DC Advisory Group with providing big ideas and recommendations about how we can reopen in line with our values, as well as expert advice and proposed guidelines for specific sectors. We are trying to make sure all communities within the District are heard and are able to contribute to our reopening posture. Please find information for a survey and feedback mechanisms below:
On Tuesday night, Rabbi Avi Weiss provided words of inspiration and song in honor of Lag B'Omer. A recording can be foundhere.
Comments on the Portion and Haftorah Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This Shabbos, once again we have two parshiyos: Behar and Bechukotei. With the reading of these parshiyot, we conclude the Book of Vayikra. Chazak, Chazak, Ve'nischazek, Let us be strong together, now more than ever. Next Shabbos, we begin the Book of Bamidbar, the story of the Jews in the desert.
Parshas Behar opens with the laws of Shmita, the seventh year, during which the land may not be cultivated. The Torah says that God spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai,. "al har Sinai", and told him the laws of Shmitta.(Vayikra, 25:1) The rabbis ask the famous question, "Mah inyan shmita etzel har Sinai?" What is the connection between shmita and Har Sinai; why does the Torah make the special point of saying where the laws of shmita were told to Moshe? The rabbis answer the question by saying that it was not just the laws of shmita that were told to Moshe in detail on Mount Sinai. All the laws of the Torah were given in detail there, even if the Torah does not say so explicitly.
The phrase "Ma inyan shmita etzel Har Sinai" has become proverbial in the Jewish tradiition. For instance, two individuals might be arguing, and one might make a point, comparing two situations. If the other person thinks that the two situations are not at all comparable, he or she might respond with the rabbinical words, "Ma inyan Shmita etzel Har Sinai?" We hear this saying even today.
The parsha continues with the laws of Yovel, the Jubilee year, when property which has been sold is returned to the original owner. (The price of property sold takes into account the number of years between the transaction and the next Yovel year.)
The Torah says that during the Yovel year, a shofar is sounded on Yom Kippur, proclaiming the sanctity of the Yovel. The Torah says, "And you shall ... proclaim liberty throughout the land and to the inhabitants in the land." (Vayikra 25:10) This proclamation, famously inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Constitution Hall in Philadelphia, symbolizes Americas' commitment to freedom. The well-known crack in the Liberty Bell occurred when it was first sounded. We may understand this to be a message to us that the United States has not yet achieved "freedom" for all its inhabitants. Further details are unnecessary,
This week's haftorah is from Yermiyahu (Jeremiah) (16:19-17:14). "The Lord is my strength and stronghold my refuge in a time of trouble."
Lylah Messinger Marci Klugman Nir Buchler Rachel Loeffler Rhona Gordon Azi Hain Leora Auerbach Carol Miaskoff Alena Kranzberg Miranda Neusner Nava Feldman Amit Alon Perel Ari Laufer Dov Grossman Eliana Auerbach Erin Gris Josie Reich Richard Furchtgott
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Members Observing Yahrzeits
Thursday Baruch Roth for mother Esther Hadassah Roth
Sunday Chester Katz for mother Rose Katz Leon Kass for father Samuel Kass
Monday David Feinsilber for step-father Bertram Freedman George Johnson for mother Jessie Johnson
Tuesday Jerome Netter for mother Madeline Netter Maureen Stone for father Jules Joseph Sullam
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April Donations
Annual Giving Plan Members Ronald & Anne Abramson Anthony & Leone Abroms Yoni & Emily Appelbaum David & Naomi Balto Naomi Brodsky Eric Brown & Aliza Levine Jeffrey & Sandra Burt Belle Davis Kira Epstein Begal & William Begal Ellen & David Epstein Douglas Feith & Pamela Auerbach Sarah & David Feith Sarah Fertig Trauben & Steven Trauben Yoni & Ruth Friedman Harold & Diana Furchtgott-Roth Carl & Laurie Gershman Shmuel & Rhanni Herzfeld Amos Hochstein & Rae Ringel James & Deborah Karesh David & Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen Wendy & Desmond Lachman Steven & Chani Laufer Nathan Lesser & Chani Bloom Steven & Sharon Lieberman James & Rachel Loeffler Joseph & Carol Low Jeffrey & Lea Mendelsohn Shaanan Meyerstein & Rachel Engelhart Michael Morse & Miriam Achtenberg Jerome Netter & Leora Klapper Robert Parker & Mona Charen Matthew & Rebecca Price Baruch & Rachel Roth Yaakov & Arielle Roth Justin & Jessica Rubin Franklin Rubinstein & Nicole Goldstein Thomas & Jill Sacks Joseph & Claudia Saka Joshua Schenker & Julie Rapoport Schenker Susan Schutz Joshua Segal & Jennifer Geetter Starr & William Stixrud Samuel & Thera Swersky Daniel & Cheryl Troy Michael & Avril Weisman Ben & Rachel Wildavsky Ariel & Andrea Wolf Reuven & Tamar Zakheim
Day of Virtual Learning (Zoom) Pesha Rubinstein Nina & Peter Tarley
General Gifts and Donations Roy Ackerman Alexandra & Daniel Alhadeff Benevity Community Impact Fund Andrew Binstock & Nadine Greenfield-Binstock Lowell Brazin Aviv Foundation, Inc. David Kahan Martin Katz Michael & Deborah Kopp Yelena Lazdun & Rashi Abramov Stephanie Mazal Brian Miretzky Joshua & Mira Resnick Cynthia Rosen Pesha Rubinstein Thomas & Jill Sacks Samuel & Thera Swersky
In Honor Of Michael Import in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld Michael & Avril Weisman IHO Rabbi Shmuel, for all he does especially during the shutdown Michael & Avril Weisman IHO David Balto and his work with the Maryland Prison and as a Hospital Chaplain Michael & Avril Weisman, Thank you to Maharat Ruth for her leadership during the shutdown Marjorie Yablon
Yahrzeits/In Memory Of Monty Bennett Yahrzeit of Mary Sfreddo Ralph & Sylvia Block Yahrzeit of Sylvia Block Phyllis Clark Yahrzeit of Jennie Dennison Hilda Cohen Yahrzeit of Sadie Cohen, Leon Simon and George Cohen William Edelman in memory of my mother, Sandra Edelman Harold & Rena Fruchter Yahrzeit of Rena's mother, Lea Troy a'h, 12th of Nisan Rhona Gordon Chester & Linda Katz in memory of my father, Irving Torchinsky Lewis Kest Yahrzeit of Sydney Horwitz, Diana Foer and Tillie Mushinsky Wright Klein, Ken Jonathan Kopp & Charlotte Rest Michael & Barbara Ledeen in memory of my mother, Norma Joyce Davidson Schlacter Michael & Barbara Ledeen Alan & Agnes Leshner Yahrzeit of Martha Schmidt Leshner Claire Mosenthal Yahrzeit of Helen Beiser Sandra Rozof in memory of my mother-in-law, Helen Rozof Stanley & Wilma Schwartz in memory of my mother, Sarah Rebecca Schwartz Samuel & Thera Swersky Samuel & Thera Swersky in memory of my beloved parents, Nettie and Nathaniel Swersky Nina & Peter Tarley Yahrzeit of my father Moshe Ben Gershon Breslav Michael & Avril Weisman in Memory of Lynn Robinson Rosenfeld, Sister of Ellen Epstein Michael & Avril Weisman in Memory the 6th Yahrzeit of Philip Rodkin, son of Avril and Michael Weisman Michael & Avril Weisman, sponsorship of day of learning, 6 Iyar; Thursday, April 29, for Philip Rodkin, son of Avril & Michael Weisman Rivka Yerushalmi Yahrzeit of Ida Kozatch
Purim - Matanot l’Evyonim Naomi Brodsky Howard & Elaine Jacobson
Pesach - Maot Chittim Roy Ackerman Benjamin Berger, & Rachel Weiss-Berger Joseph & Carolyn Bonnett Elizabeth Chipkin Andrew & Sara Dauber David & Ellen Feinsilber Carl & Laurie Gershman Judith Gerstenblith Stefan & Wilhelmina Gottschalk David Hartman Kenneth Josovitz & Sindy Udell Noam Katz & Karen Hauptman Joshua & Adena Kirstein Jonathan Kopp & Charlotte Rest Daniel & Sheila Kurtzer Yelena Lazdun & Rashi Abramov Janet Lipman Jeffrey & Lea Mendelsohn Philip Pasternak Douglas & Mirna Pinsky Joshua & Mira Resnick Yaakov & Arielle Roth Pesha Rubinstein Daniel & Alisa Schwartz Joshua Segal & Jennifer Geetter Shmuel Shoham & Ruth Polk Esther Silberstein Yehuda & Leah Sugarman Samuel & Thera Swersky Nina & Peter Tarley Daniel & Cheryl Troy Sherri Vishner Glazer & Ilan Glazer Ann Werner
Sale of Chametz Donations David & Anne Bergman Ralph & Sylvia Block Sarah Breger Gil Ehrenkranz Stefan & Wilhelmina Gottschalk Leonard & Adele Green Michael & Deborah Kopp Walter & Tova Reich Samuel & Thera Swersky
Synagogue Office info@ostns.org (202) 882-7225 Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld RabbiShmuel@ostns.org (202) 812-8900 Maharat Ruth Balinsky Friedman MaharatRuth@ostns.org (202) 882-7225, ext. 107 Monica Wolfe, Executive Director Monica.Wolfe@ostns.org (202) 882-7225, etx. 103 Lisa Redisch, Director of Youth & Family Programs youth@ostns.org (202) 882-7225, ext. 105 Board of Directors board@ostns.org Hospitality & Welcome Committee BeOurGuest@ostns.org Mikvah Chaim mikvahchaim.org attendant@mikvahchaim.org Cemetery Information cemetery@ostns.org (202) 882-7225
Please reach out! Our clergy and staff are here for you during this challenging time. If you need help with Zoom or accessing our content or if you require a volunteer for delivery assistance, please reach out to our Office Manager, Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org. If you are in need of financial assistance or would simply like to connect, our clergy are accessible via email, by phone, or by video conference.
Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue 1600 Jonquil Street NW Washington, DC 20012
