Energize your week with Ohev Sholom August 20, 2020
Shabbat Times and Announcements
Erev Shabbat, August 21 (1 Elul - Rosh Chodesh Elul): 5:00p D'var Torah with Rabbi Herzfeld via Facebook Live 6:00p Laining of the Torah by David and Gabri Kurtzer-Ellenbogen join here 6:50p Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/D'var Torah (in person, advance registration requiredor via Zoom join here) 7:20p Maariv (in person only, advance registration required) 7:35p Candlelighting Shabbat Mevarchim Re'eh, August 22 (2 Elul) : 8:00a - 9:30a Shabbat Morning Services (in person, advance registration required) 7:35p Mincha/Maariv (in person,advance registration required)8:35p Havdalah via Zoom at 8:37p Join here
For more information and details on how to sign-up for our limited outdoor in-person services, please visit ostns.org/reopening.
High Holidays 5781 Seat reservations are now open; please visit https://www.ohevdc.org/highholidays5781 for more information and to register. Stay tuned for details about upcoming programs, both virtual and in-person.
The rental tent installed this week at Ohev has been generously sponsored in memory of Marda Brown by the Brown family.
Rabbi Herzfeld will be away 8/23-8/26; Daf Yomi at 7 am will still take place but all of his other classes during that time are cancelled.
Thank you to our virtual learning sponsor from this past week, Nina Tarley. If you are interested in sponsoring a day of virtual learning for $54, please email Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
Spotlight On......
Let’s gather on zoom to celebrate the 80th bar mitzvah of a man who has given so much to our community — Rabbi Ben Mintz. Friday, August 21 - Torah reading at 6:00 pm via Zoom here, followed by haftorah read by Rabbi Mintz.
Rabbi Mintz’ Bar Mitzvah took place in the summer of 1940. Just prior to his Bar Mitzvah the Nazis marched triumphantly through the streets of Paris. In the Haftorah (Isaiah 52:7), the Prophet consoled us then, as he does today, of a brighter future ahead :"How beautiful ascending the mountains are the footsteps of the herald making heard, 'Peace!" heralding, "Good! making heard, "Salvation!" saying unto Zion 'Your God has reigned!'"
Rabbi Mintz has inspired us by teaching countless classes to our community. This Friday he will once again inspire us by chanting a prophecy of hope and redemption.
Class in Memory of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz Update!
Sunflower Bakery Sweets of the Month (SOM) Subscription Program
Ohev Sholom is excited to partner this year in the Sunflower Bakery Sweets of the Month (SOM) subscription program. Ohev Sholom will receive 5% (for 6-8 month subscriptions) and 10% (for 9-12 month subscriptions) of total orders. Sunflower Bakery is a non-profit, pareve kosher bakery that provides employment training to young adults with learning differences. Participation is easy and benefits Ohev Sholom, Sunflower and YOU! You or your designated recipient will:
Receive a monthly package of delicious Sunflower desserts chosen by you from our SOM menu.
Provide necessary on-the-job training for Sunflower Pastry Arts & Hospitality Employment Training students.
Donate back to Ohev Sholom
Monthly Add-ons available.
Monthly orders will be delivered to your selected pick-up location on pre-selected monthly dates. Click here for more information to subscribe. When checking out select "Organizational pick-up location", then choose Ohev Sholom (Maharat's address).
Rosh Hashana Menu 2020 by Sunflower
Recordings
Class in Memory of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz On Tuesday evening, Rabbi Herzfeld taught the first of a four-part series teaching ideas from R. Steinsaltz' book, “A Dear Son to Me." A recording of the class can be viewedhere
Community Resources
2020 Census - DC is in trouble: The District is way behind where we were at this point in the 2010 Census and if we don't catch up quickly, we're at serious risk of losing out on a lot of federal funding moving forward. If you haven't completed the Census, you can do it onlinehere. For more information about Census 2020 clickhere. DC Mortgage Assistance Program, Mayor Bowser Announces Relaunch of DC Mortgage Assistance Program to Provide COVID-19 Relief. For more information clickhere
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. Visithttp://moco.covidgw.comfor further instructions and to place your orders for the coming week. This service is available to DC residents as well.
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
This week's parsha, Shoftim, feels very close to me; it 's my bar mitzvah parsha. Back when I read the haftorah at my bar mitzvah, the world was a very different place than it is now. The Second World War was at its height. The day we were in shul for my bar-mitzvah, newspapers were displaying pictures of Nazi troops marching down the streets of Paris. We are grateful to the leaders and the armed forces of the Allied Nations for triumphing in the war and winning the battle for democracy.
The parsha begins with the injunction that the Jewish people appoint shoftim (judges), and shotrim (officers), who will govern the community in justice. Rashi explains that judges are those who adjudicate the law, and the officers are those who assure that the members of the community follow the law. These functions are parallel to our present day judicial and administrative divisions in our democratic separations of powers. But in our American system, we also have a legislative branch, those individuals who decide what the law is. Where is the legislative branch in this week's parsha? I believe we must say that God in the Torah makes the law and He is therefore the legislative branch in our system of Jewish government. As individuals, we then enforce and adjudicate God's law.
The parsha then goes on to present various rules in our judicial system The Torah's basic principle is "Tzedek tzedek tirdof", you shall shall surely pursue justice. These words have many meanings and many implications. One of these in the Talmud is that in a case involving the death penalty, it is the obligation of the court "le'hapoch le'zechu.t" That is to say, any doubt should be resolved in favor of vindication of the defendant. Before a death sentence can be imposed, the court must be certain that the evidence justifies the severest penalty, and there are no possible arguments to the contrary.
The parsha ends with the law of the "egla arufa," the heifer whose head is removed. The Torah states that if a murdered body is found between two cities, and the killer is not known, the procedure is as follows: The elders of the closer city to where the body was found bring a heifer whose neck is broken to a stream and recite the following: "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did eyes see it done." The question always asked is why do the elders have to make this declaration; they are surely not the murderers. The rabbis answer that the dead person must have come to the city without friends to help him or to provide for him, and his helplessness led to his murder. The elders are therefore responsible because they did not establish a social system that helps those in need.
The haftorah is the fourth of the haftorahs of consolation following Tisha B'Av. "How beautiful are the footsteps on the mountains, of the scouts declaring that God is the King who is ruler." (Isaiah 52:7)
Pirke Avot, chap. 6: A person who learns from his friend one chapter, one law, one sentence, even one word, has an obligation to treat his teacher with respect.
A Haftorah Video by Hal Brodsky z"l
A video about this week's haftorah can be viewed here: Isa. 51:12–52:12
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 8/23 In person option available for: Shacharit (Sunday - Friday @ 8:00 AM) Mincha/Maariv ( Sunday - Thursday @ 6:10 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
Inge Guttman Chani Bloom Howard Jacobson Jacob Einhorn Juana Lutzky Julian Goldberg Penina Avital Sherman Vered Resnick Ariele Mortkowitz R'ay Fodor Ariel Troy Brian Cohen Francesca Kranzberg Hank Sacks Kyle Butler Matthew Price Ezra Friedman Leon Furchtgott Lev Feith Lewis Reich Meital Burgos Talya Levisohn Benjamin Kanter Daniel Reich Jessica Lieberman Benjamin Mintz Gabrielle Mendelsohn
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 Harold Fruchter for mother Jeannette Fruchter Roy Ackerman for Mother Estelle Ackerman Kaplan Sylvia Block for father David Mushinsky
Friday Julie (Julius) Levine for grandmother Eva Levine Lawrence Rosen for father M.A. Rosen
Sunday David Schwartz for mother Deborah Schwartz
Monday Micah Salb for grandmother Leona Salb
Tuesday Joshua Resnick for mother Valerie Resnick Leon Kass for wife Amy Kass Ralph Block for brother Harry Block Rena Fruchter for father Robert Troy
Wednesday Robert Weissler for Mother Pearl Weissler
Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
July 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
Coronavirus Special Projects Roy Ackerman Stephanie Mazal
Day of Virtual Learning (Zoom) Monty Bennett Jonathan Kopp & Charlotte Rest Michael & Deborah Kopp Helene Reisler
General Gifts and Donations Rachel Elwell Davidi & Natalie Jonas Mariyan Kolev Roneet Lev William Levenson Geovanka Levine Julie (Julius) Levine Ran Nussbacher Samuel Saks
"In Honor of" Donations by: Melodie Land Michael & Avril Weisman, Mazel Tov. In Honor of the 40th Anniversary of David and Naomi Balto. "In Memory of" Donations made by: Ralph & Sylvia Block in memory of my brother, Arthur Block Stephen & Shoshana Bryen in memory of George Bryen - Shlomo Yosef ben Avraham Ha'Levi Beloved father of Stephen Bryen Richard & Barbara Daumit in memory of my maternal grandmother, Katie Kay Eitan Levisohn & Dina Epstein in memory of Phillip Redisch Debra Mann in memory of my father, Albert Rathner David & Tracey Pazornick in memory of my father, Isaac Pazornick Giselle & Mark Ratain in memory of Alexander Tscherny Pesha Rubinstein Arnold A Shuster in memory of my maternal grandfather, Samuel Shapiro Samuel & Thera Swersky in memory of my mother on her Yarzheit Susan Wachtel, Yahrzeit of David Wachtel Michael & Avril Weisman in Memory of Mina Gillers, mother of David Gillers
