For more information and details on how to sign-up for our limited outdoor in-person services, please visit ostns.org/reopening.
Register for High Holiday Seats, Deadline 9/9 Visit https://www.ohevdc.org/highholidays5781 to make your reservation.
Yizkor Book Messages, Deadline Tomorrow, 9/4 Visit https://www.ohevdc.org/highholidays5781 to submit your memorial message.
Download our High Holidays programming schedule here.
Communal Hike this Sunday- a few spots left! Meeting at 8:50 am for a 2.5 mile hike led by Charlotte Rest. Email info@ostns.org to register.
Ohev Cemetery Virtual Visit, this Sunday, 9/6 at 2:00 pm, since we cannot have a large gathering at Ohev's cemetery this High Holiday season, Rabbi Herzfeld will be going to the cemetery this Sunday, on behalf of the congregation, over Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941. Thank you to our virtual learning sponsors from this past week, April Rubin and Deborah Kopp. If you are interested in sponsoring a day of virtual learning for $54, please email Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
Spotlight On...... Lecture by Ilana Kurshan on Tuesday
Wednesday, September 9 at 8:00 PM!
Order from Sunflower for Rosh Hashanah
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
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.
Words on This Week's Parsha Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This week's parsha, Ki Savo, opens with a recitation of the obligation of the individual Jew to bring "First Fruits," bikurim, to the Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem, an obligation that takes effect when the Jews have settled in the Promised Land. The parsha presents the statement that the person bringing the bikurim must make in giving the fruits to the Priest. The statement (Dvorim 26:5-10) is a summary of the history of the Jewish people, from the forefathers and -mothers, through the sojourn and slavery in Egypt, and climaxing with the Exodus and the bringing of the Jews to the "Land of Milk and Honey."
That statement has particular importance, because it forms the nucleus of a large portion of the Passover Haggadah, since the Festival of Passover celebrates the delivery of the Jews from Egyptian slavery. That section of the Haggadah begins with the words of this Parsha "Arami oved avi." One of the interesting controversies in Biblical interpretation is the meaning of this phrase. Does it mean that "my father," Jacob, was a wandering Aramean (contemporary Syria), with reference to Jacob's service to his uncle Laban in Aram and his traveling to Egypt? Or is the subject of the phrase Laban himself, and does it mean that Laban tried to exterminate my father? We have different commentators and different interpretations. Ultimately, the issue Is: How did Jewish history begin, with "wandering" or with "persecution?" In any event, the portion ends with the thought that "you shall enjoy, together with the Levite and stranger in your midst, all the bounty that the Lord God has bestowed upon you and your household."
A Haftorah Video by Hal Brodsky z"l
A video about this week's haftorah can be viewed here: Isa. 60:1-22
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 9/6 In person option available for: Shacharit (Sunday - Friday @ 8:00 AM) Mincha/Maariv ( Sunday - Thursday @ 7:10 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 & 6:40 PM)
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
Abigail Sultan Hannah Joffe Nessa Meyerstein Rustin Silverstein Gavriella Auerbach Leor Hochstein Meital Hochstein Paul Margolis Reena Hollander Devra Marcus Elana Ernst Eva Wildavsky Itzhak Meir Stein Jacob Weinreb Jeremy Furchtgott Pesha Rubinstein Suzanne Schwartz Liz Yehuda Delilah Dauber Dvir Sacho-Tanzer Eitan Lesser Gregory Billing Matan Horowitz Moses Dauber Eden Resnick Kenneth Kalman Rebecca Joffe Uri Pasternak Cole Milner-Gillers Roy Ackerman Saul Wildavsky
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 Nancy Switkes for maternal grandfather Israel Cooper
Shabbat David Feinsilber for mother Bessie Freedman
Sunday Ariel Levine for father Richard Levine Arnold Einhorn for father Solomon Einhorn Robert Kott for brother Ronald Kott Susan Wachtel for husband Richard Levine
Monday Ben Wildavsky for father Aaron Wildavsky Dorothy Marder for sister Malka Glick Joseph Bonnett for mother Tillie Bonnett
Tuesday Rebecca Price for brother Adam Joel Anhang
Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
