Erev Shabbat, June 5 (Day 13 of Sivan): 4:50p D'var Torah with Rabbi Herzfeld via Facebook Live 5:00 p - 16th St Vigil Against Racism. Join Maharat Friedman on 16th Street in front of Ohev Sholom, or join Rabbi Herzfeld for his broadcast of the vigil from the 19th Street Baptist Church via Zoom here 6:00p Laining of the Torah Reading by Brian Miretzky join here 6:30p Minchajoin here 6:45p Kabbalat Shabbat led by Dr. Josh Milner! join here 8:12p Candlelighting Shabbat, June 6 (Day 14 of Sivan): 9:14p Havdalah join here
Starting today! Shorashim B'Kayitz at 4:00 pm via Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/983873001 Meeting ID: 983 873 001
Tomorrow! June 5 at 5:00 pm: 16th St Vigil Against Racism. Join Maharat Friedman on 16th Street in front of Ohev Sholom, or join Rabbi Herzfeld for his broadcast of the vigil from the 19th Street Baptist Church, where he will be joining Reverend Roberts via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 or via phone at 646-558-8656, 3127816941# Social distancing will be observed and all participants must wear masks. Tuesday June 9, from 9 - 9:30 pm: Class in memory of Bradley Fields, z”l on the occasion of his shloshim. Rabbi Herzfeld will teach a class on Harry Houdini and the Rambam via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/427064286 or 646-558-8656, 427064286#
Free Produce for Families in Need We are working with community groups to acquire fresh produce for shul families and individuals who might not have the means to access it at this time. Please fill out this form by sundown Friday so we can coordinate with the community groups.
Friday's Virtual Learning is sponsored by Jeff Mendelsohn in honor of his father’s 13th yarzheit.
Spotlight On.............Webinar Tonight!
This Friday! Kabbalat Shabbat led by Dr. Josh Milner
New Class! June 9 at 9pm via Zoom
Community Resources
Free Kosher Meals for all Children Under 18! Yad Yehuda has started a daily kosher meal distribution through the USDA Summer Food Service Program, distributing breakfast and lunch simultaneously each day.
Distribution takes place 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; income requirements have been waived during this time.
Visit http://moco.covidgw.com for further instructions and to place your orders 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.
FAQ: Q. If I live in DC, can I pick up meals for my family in Kemp Mill? A. Yes. Families living in any jurisdiction in the DC region can pick up meals at our distribution site; residency requirements have been waived at this time.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington COVID-19: Rabbi Emergency Fund. During this unprecedented time, congregations, their members, and the larger community are experiencing unbelievable challenges including significant financial instability. To assist congregations in meeting these increasing community needs, The Federation, through its COVID-19 Emergency Funds established the Rabbi Emergency Fund to provide financial support directly to congregations for emergency use to help community members in need. These funds, up to $1500 per household, can be used to meet individual and family needs (e.g., housing, utilities, food, medical, mental health, or other relevant emergency needs of individuals and families that may or may not be covered by the Federal Stimulus) and are to be paid to the service provider (i.e. utility company, mortgage company, drug store or health company.) If you are experiencing financial challenges and these funds can be of assistance please contact Rabbi Herzfeld or Maharat Friedman.
Yad Yehuda has a new website that includes a wide range of resources for the Greater Washington Jewish community. Please visitcovidgw.com.
Bikur Cholim of Greater Washington is working to pair volunteers with folks who would like a phone visit. If you would like to volunteer to make calls, or request a phone visit, please fill out this form here
Bikur Cholim also has funds available to help those in need to pay for medical expenses incurred during this time. Please contact Maharat Friedman or Audrey Siegal asiegel@bikurcholimgw.org to learn more.
Senior Planet is a program created and sponsored by national nonprofit Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) that harnesses technology to change the way we age. Our courses, programs, and activities help seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape, and make new friends. They have a robust schedule of daily zoom classes available here.
Comments on the Torah portion, haftorah, and Pirke Avos Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This week's parsha, Naso, describes in detail the gifts that the princes of the tribes gave for the dedication of the altar in the tabernacle (Chanukat Hamizbeach). It is the longest parsha in the Torah, and it was the bar mitzvah parsha of our son, Rabbi Adam. He leined the entire parsha, which was unusual in those days, but, at orthodox bar mitzvah services, not any more.
The parsha also contains the rules and regulations respecting a sotah, a woman whose husband suspects her of being unfaithful. The parsha provides a detailed procedure conducted by the Kohen to determine if the woman is to be believed in her assertion that she has not sinned. The Hebrew word "sotah" is defined as "one who strays." It is significant that the Hebrew letters for this word are identical to those in the word "shotah." The latter means "one who is foolish." The rabbis interpret that one does not stray from the proper path unless he or she is "foolish."
The parsha sets forth the Kohen's procedure to test the woman in question. To begin the procedure, the Kohen tells the woman being tested, "If you did not have unlawful relations with any man, you will be absolved from sin by this procedure." We understand this statement to establish that there is, from the start, a presumption that the woman has committed no sin and that she will be found to be blameless. Of course, a presumption of innocence in a criminal case is a principle we are familiar with from our own jurisprudence.
The haftorah brings us the story of the birth of Shimshon, Samson, whose life history appears in the Book of Judges (13:2-25). The haftorah connects with the parsha because Shimshon's parents were instructed that, from birth, Shimshon would be a "nazir",, a Nazirite, one who foregoes intoxicating drink and forms of uncleanliness. The parsha contains detailed rules of conduct respecting a Nazirite. The haftorah ends with Shimshon beginning his career fighting the Philistines. We know of his strength, his heroism and his tragic end.
PIRKE AVOS Perhaps the best known single statement in Pirke Avos is that of Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me; if I am only for myself, what am I, and if not now when?"(Pirke Avos, Chapter 1)
A Haftorah Video by Hal Brodsky z"l
A video about this week's can be viewed here: Judg.13:2-25
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.
Sponsor a day of virtual learning for a birthday for $54. If you're interested please contact Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
This Week's Birthdays
Charles Fingerhut Anna Levine Sheyn Binstock Andrew Marcus Julie Silverstein Sid Moskowitz David Schwartz Gabrielle Levine Joshua Appelbaum Joshua Milner Susan Wachtel Ayala Ernst Jeffrey Sherman Nathan Lesser
Don't see a birthday listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
Sponsor a day of virtual learning in memory of/Yahrtzeit for $54. If you're interested please contact Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
Members Observing Yahrzeits This Week
Friday Jeffrey Mendelsohn for father Les Mendelsohn Sidney Rosenheim for Pesha Miriam Rosenheim
Shabbat Jill Sacks for mother Sylvia Kravitz
Monday Ellen Reinach for mother Melita Lichtenstein Janice Epstein for uncle Solomon Rosenblatt
Wednesday Ralph Block for father Samuel Block
Thursday Jonathan Levine for father Daniel Seth Levine
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