For more information and details on how to sign-up for our limited outdoor in-person services, please visit ostns.org/reopening.
Welcome to our new members:
Brian Miretzky
Chana Freyesleben
Mazal Tov to Sarah and David Feith on the birth of a baby girl!!!
Our High Holidays programming schedules for adults and youth are now available! Please visit https://www.ohevdc.org/highholidays5781 for complete details and to order your lulav and etrog sets.
Tomorrow September 11 at 5:30 pm Rabbi Herzfeld will offer “Reflections on Repentance,” a 15 minute shmooze on repentance via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 sponsored by Avril & Michael Weisman in memory of Judy Davis. Join us for selichot this Saturday night! Details below. Pick up your Rosh Hashanah "Kit" this Sunday (9/13), 1-4 pm at Ohev and get a (socially distanced) Shana Tovah greeting from Rabbi Shmuel and Maharat Ruth! Kit includes: sweet treats, new fruit, print-outs for chag and more!
Thank you to our virtual learning sponsor from this past week, Sheldon Kimmel. 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 the following establishments are now certified Kosher under DCKosher!
Taim located at 1514 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036.
AvenueSweets located at 3232 S 400 E #1400, Salt Lake City, UT 84115.
Spotlight On......
Join us for Selichot Saturday, September 12
Order from Sunflower for Rosh Hashanah
Recordings
Class in Memory of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz On 9/1 and 9/8, Rabbi Herzfeld taught the second and third of a four-part series teaching ideas from R. Steinsaltz' book, “A Dear Son to Me." A recording of the 9/1 class can be viewed here and a recording of the 9/8 class can be viewed here.
Elul Guest Lecture with Ilana Kurshan On 9/8, Maharat Friedman hosted a lecture with renowned author Ilana Kurshan titled "Sunset at the Dawn of Time: Judgement and Repentance in the Rabbinic Imagination." A recording of the class can be viewed here.
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.
Comments by Ben Mintz on the parsha, the haftorah, and Pirkei Avos
This Shabbos, we read two parshiyos, Nitzavim and Vayelech. As we approach the completion of the Torah (before beginning it again) we commence reading about the last days of Moshe Rabbenu.
God speaks to Moshe, saying that He has placed before the Jewish people "life and death," the blessings and the curses, and God directs that they shall "choose life." The Jerusalem Talmud learns from this that, in order that children "may live," parents have an obligation to teach them how to swim. If the parents fail to do so, the children must teach themselves. In this, the rabbis show themselves to be very practical.
I regret to say that my parents never taught me how to swim, nor did they teach my sisters.. Nor did I ever teach myself. So, in the many years that I went to the beach, all I could do was walk into the ocean and in the shallow water, get myself wet.
The Torah goes on to say that parents should teach their children the words of the Torah and, more specifically, that parents should place the words of the Torah "in their mouths, " that is, "sima be'fihem". Rabbi Akiva learns from this text that parents have an obligation to teach their children the words of the Torah, and to continue teaching them until they are able to repeat the words of the Torah by themselves "in an organized fashion" (31:19). I must emphasize that my father, z'l, did a good job in fulfilling Rabbi Akiva's instructions. If I did not always speak "in an organized fashion" when I discussed the words of the Torah, it was completely my inadequacy.
The Haftorah is the last of the Haftorahs of Consolation from the Book of Isaiah (61:10-63:9) "For Zion I will not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still, until her triumph shall shine forth like splendor in the presence of all nations." (61:1)
Pirke Avos This Shabbos, we study chapters 5 and 6. Chapter 5, Mishna 22: A generous eye, a humble spirit and a lowly soul, these are the qualities of the disciples of Abraham. A haughty spirit, and the proud soul are the signs of the disciples of Balaam. the wicked.
A Haftorah Video by Hal Brodsky z"l
A video about this week's haftorah can be viewed here: Isa. 61:10–63:9
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 9/13 In person option available for: Shacharit (Sunday - Friday @ 8:00 AM) Mincha/Maariv ( Sunday - Thursday @ 7:00 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.
Ohev Board Meeting will take place tonight (9/10) via Zoom at 8:00 pm. To listen-in please join 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
Jonathan Gruber Matan Silverberg Dalia Hochstein Carolyn Bonnett David Parker Ari Goldberg Tirza Kramer Amalia Netter Rachel Brem Sam Silverberg
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 Judy Blumenthal for father Paul Julius Blumenthal
Shabbat David Torchinsky for mother Janet Torchinsky Janice Epstein for father-in-law Michael Epstein Linda Katz for mother Janet Torchinsky Ronald Sann for father Robert Sann
Monday Elisheva Appelbaum for grandfather Norman Pressman Emily Appelbaum for father Norman Pressman Joshua Appelbaum for grandfather Norman Pressman
Tuesday Maraji Gwynallen for Mother Rosalie Levin
Wednesday James Karesh for mother Jaqueline Karesh
Thursday Nahanni Rous for daughter Alma Aviva Lazarus Ned Lazarus for daughter Alma Aviva Lazarus
Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
