For more information and details on how to sign-up for our limited outdoor in-person services, please visit ostns.org/reopening.
Reminder to Register for the Annual Meeting The meeting will take place on August 3 at 8:30 pm via Zoom. (Pre-registration is required). Click here to find instructions for how to register, log-in, participate, and vote. The optional test meeting will take place on July 27 at 8:30 pm (same link as annual meeting).
The Tisha B'Av Schedule can be found online here The text for Eicha can be found here. There are also print copies available on the front office door. Please email alejandra@ostns.org if you would like a printed copy but are unable to pick it up at the shul.
Teen Torah Class on the Parashat Hashavua by Rabbi Herzfeld - every Thursday at 4 - 4:30pm via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/427064286 or 646-558-8656, 427064286# All teens are welcome!
Tuesday, July 28 at 4:00 pm, AJC Washington will be hosting a very special panel entitled “How Do We Talk about Antisemitism Today?” For more information, click here.
Thank you to our virtual learning sponsors from this past week: Michael & Deborah Kopp. If you are interested in sponsoring a day of virtual learning for $54, please email Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
We are thrilled to announce PLNT Burger's new location at Whole Foods in 965 Florida Ave NW.
IMPORTANT! To understand the impact of the coronavirus crisis for individuals and households in our region, we are partnering with The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, in collaboration with Brandeis University researchers, to conduct the Jewish Community COVID-19 Impact Survey for Greater Washington. Your answers will help us best respond to our community's changing needs. Please take the survey (https://bit.ly/COVIDsurveysyn ), and help spread the word by sharing the link with your local friends and family. (All answers are confidential and no personally identifiable information will be shared with The Jewish Federation or other organizations.)
The Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) is working on a project to help make our community's roads safer. During the pandemic, many people have been going on more walks, bike rides, and runs throughout the neighborhood and have come in contact with dangerous areas for both pedestrians and drivers (these areas are called black spots). Our project's goal is to survey community members and find the larger and more dangerous blackspots and then work with local governments to fix the blackspots. We have created a survey that can be easily accessed and filled out by anyone in the area in order to gather all of the data on the area, issue, and possible solutions. To take the surveyclick here
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.
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.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, JSSA, and our network of local human service organizations are proud to introduce 703-J-CARING: The Jewish Community Support Line, serving residents of DC, MD, and Northern Virginia. With one call to 703-J-CARING (703-522-7464), you can connect with a professional case manager ready to assist you in finding the resources and support that are right for you. All calls are confidential. For more information visit: https://www.jssa.org/jcaring/
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.
Bikur Cholim of Greater Washington and the Jewish Council for the Aging are partnering to deliver free kosher meals and groceries to people over 60 years of age this summer. If you would like to participate please contact Audrey Siegel asiegel@bikurcholimgw.org. This current program is only for residents of Montgomery County. If you do not live in Montgomery County and would like to participate in a similar program please contact Audrey or Maharat Friedman.
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 Pirkei Avos Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
The parsha this Shabbos is Dvorim, and thus we begin the fifth and final book of the Torah, which, like its first parsha, is entitled Dvorim. In the tradition, It is also referred to as Mishneh Torah, the "second" Torah, because it retells a number of incidents in the journey of the Jewish people to the Promised Land that were first described in the earlier books of the Torah.
This Shabbos is Shabbos Chazon. "Chazon" means vision. That's the first word of the special haftorah read this Shabbos, because it precedes Tisha B'Av. which is to be observed this Thursday. The haftorah consists of most of the first chapter of the Book of Isaiah. In it, Isaiah describes in vivid language the sins of the Jewish people, and God's punishment -- the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish people to Babylon. In the memorable words of Isaiah, God says, "I have raised children and they have rebelled against me. An ox knows its master, and the donkey knows the one who provides it food. But Israel did not know, and my people refused to pay attention." (1:2,3)
Tisha B'Av is also marked by the chanting of Megillat Eicha, the Book of Lamentations on the eve of Tisha B'Av. The Book of Eicha vividly describes the destruction of the Temple and the resulting suffering of the Jewish people. "Eicha yashva badad ha'ir rabasi am . . ." How did it come about that the City (of Jerusalem), once home to a large population, now sits forlorn...the scene of destruction." The word "eicha" may be translated "how" or "how did it happen." The Book of Eicha was written by the prophet Yermiyahu (Jeremiah), who personally witnessed the destruction of the Temple,
The medrash points out that the word "eicha" appears in three texts that are recited during this period. First, it is found in the Torah portion, when Moshe says "eicha," how can I carry the burden of this quarrelsome people. The second use of the word "eicha" is in the haftorah of Shabbos Chazon, where Isaiah says, "Eicha haysa le'zona, kirya ne'ehmana," How has the faithful city become like a prostitute? Finally, it is the first word in Megillat Eicha. In all of these texts, the message is that the experiences of the Jewish people are inscrutable; the prophets try vainly to explain them.
On the day of Tisha B'Av itself, in the morning, a special haftorah from the Book of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) is read (8:13-9:23). "Thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in his wealth. But only in this should he glory: in his earnest devotion to Me, for I, God, act with kindness and justice (9:22,23) At Mincha, the usual haftorah for a fast day is recited. We may note that in this passage, the phrase "yad va'shem" is used, from which came the name of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem.
PIRKEI AVOS Chapter Two. Rabbi Elazar says: Be diligent in the study of Torah, and think carefully before you respond to a heretic.
A Haftorah Video by Hal Brodsky z"l
A video about this week's haftorah can be viewed here: Isa. 1:1-27
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.
Minyanim Week of 7/26 NEW - In person option available for: Shacharit (Sunday - Friday @ 8:00 AM) Mincha/Maariv ( Sunday - Wednesday @ 6:40 PM; Thursday @ 6:30 PM) Click here to register to attend in person. Non-Shabbat Services will continue to be available via Zoom. Daf Yomi via Zoom (Monday- Friday @ 7:00 AM)
All minyanim via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 or via phone at 646-558-8656, 3127816941#.
Classes & Shiurim To see a list of our current virtual classes please visit ostns.org/zoom For a step-by-step video guide on how to use zoom Click here
Lifecycles
Support our community and its members by making a donation dedicated in honor of (IHO) or in memory of (IMO) a loved one.
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
Anne Bergman Benjamin Paul Samuel Glassman Anne Abramson Donna Lawrence Noam Katz Stuart Leven Ruthie Sherman Tovah Berger Annabelle Braunstein Dov Schwartz Dov Tauber Simon Schwartz Naomi Heiligman Margaret Cottrell Samuel Balto Nadine Greenfield-Binstock
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
Thursday Jack Reiter for father Abraham Reiter Shmuel Herzfeld for grandfather Judah Reines
Shabbat Janice Epstein for mother Violet Levitt Sherri Vishner Glazer for Andrew Vishner
Sunday Robert Parker for brother Garry Parker
Monday Jerry Schaeffer for mother Sarah Schaeffer
Tuesday Judy Blumenthal for mother Geraldine Goldyn Blumenthal
Thursday Marjorie Yablon for step-father Max M. Schwartz
Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
