Energize your week with Ohev Sholom October 1, 2020
Announcements and Shabbat Sukkot Times
Thank you to our amazing team of staff and volunteers who helped make the High Holidays a success, including our President Yaakov Roth, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that we could do so safely.
2020/5781 Printed Yizkor Books are still available for pickup at Ohev. Please email alejandra@ostns.org to schedule pick up. You can also view the electronic copy HERE.
Youth Programs on Friday, October 2:
12 pm Teens: Edible Sukkah Challenge (13+, Zoom, Click here to register) Challenge your knowledge of Kosher Sukkah building and sweet treats! Stop by Ohev's parking lot tonight (10/1) 4-7 pm to pick up the supplies you will need.
3 pm Kid's Edible Sukkah Making (All Ages, Zoom, Click here to register) Join us on Zoom as we build a Sukkah together that is also a sweet and delicious treat!Stop by Ohev's parking lot tonight (10/1) 4-7 pm to pick up the supplies you will need.
Thank you to our virtual learning sponsor from this past week, Janet Lipman. 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 at 1700 Duke St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, is now certified Kosher under DCKosher!
Friday, October 2 - First Night of Sukkot 12:00 pm | Teens: Edible Sukkah Challenge 3:00 pm | Kid's Edible Sukkah Making 5:00 pm | D'var Torah with Rabbi Herzfeld via Facebook Live 5:45 pm | Torah reading with Josh Segal via Zoom, followed by a Dvar Torah from Maharat Friedman, join here. 6:25 pm | Mincha/Maariv in person (advance registration required) 6:30 pm | Candlelighting Note: The shul sukkah will be available for use throughout Sukkot; registration required here and we ask that you practice social distancing.
On Sukkot we have the custom to welcome ushpizin, or guests, into our sukkah. This custom will be strongly limited this year, but we can still dine together virtually! This is especially important this year because there are some people who will not be able to eat in a sukkah in order to protect their health. So whether you have a sukkah and would like a virtual guest, or you do not have a sukkah and would like a virtual host, please sign up here and we will match you with someone for dinner. We then invite you to join our Sukkot concert (either on zoom or in person) - please sign up here.
*To order go to http://www.eatpowpow.com/. Click "Order Online." On the top of the page make sure the green oval is around "Pickup." Select pickup date for 10/6 at 1PM. Right under that it says CURBSIDE PICKUP in large black letters with a green underline. Underneath that it says "Curbside Pickup" again. Click on that and a little window should pop up where you can type Specific Instructions. Please write "Shepherd Park" and your cell phone number. Click "add to order" and it should take you back to the menu so you can select your order. Just pay as normal. Please wait until Tuesday 10/6 to place your order!
Recordings
This past Motzai Shabbat, Rabbi Weiss offered a message to the Ohev Sholom community on the occasion of his mother's 37th Yahretzit. You can view the recording here.
Capital Kosher Pantry Food Drive
Participate in the High Holiday food drive without leaving your home! The Capital Kosher Pantry has wishlists with several major retailers; visit https://www.yadyehuda.org/pantry-wishlist.html#/ to see the options. Shop from the wishlists and items ship directly to the Capital Kosher Pantry! You can also upload your receipt to the website and receive a donation receipt from Yad Yehuda.
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 on the Readings for the First Days of Sukkos Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This Shabbos, and the day following, are the first two days of the festival of Sukkos. After those two days of Yom Tov, and the four days that follow, of Chol Hamoed Sukkos, comes the next Shabbos, which will be Shemini Atzeres, followed, that Sunday, by Simchas Torah. Of course, those two days are Yomim Tovim, and on Shemini Atzeres we read the Book of Koheles (Ecclesiastes). More about all that next week.
On both of the first two days of Sukkos, the torah reading is the same. It comes from the book of Vayikra, parshas Emor (Vayikra 22:26-23). The reading describes the various festivals (moadim) that are celebrated during the year.
In particular, the parsha prescribes that during the festival of Sukkos, the Jewish people should live in booths (sukkos) for seven days. In remembrance of the Jews having to live in sukkas after they left Egypt and traveled in the desert, we celebrate Sukkos by living and at least eating in the sukka during the upcoming Yomim Tovim.
Although the Torah readings are the same for both of the first days of Sukkos, there are two separate haftoros.The haftorah for the first day of Sukkos comes from the prophet Zechariah (14:1-21), one of the twelve prophets (the Trei Assar) in the Tanach. It describes the plague that shall befall all the foreign nations that make war against Yerushalayim. Those of the nations that survive "shall make a pilgrimage year by year to bow low to the Lord and to observe the festival of Sukkos" (verse 16)
The haftorah for the second day of Sukkos comes from the first book of Kings (8:2-21). This haftorah is the same as that for parshas Pekudei in the book of Shmos (for Ashkenazim). The haftorah describes events that took place during the festival of Sukkos when Jewish people brought the aron (the ark) and the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting), and the holy vessels, to the Holy of Holies in the Temple.
A Haftorah Video by Hal Brodsky z"l
Will return next week....
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 10/4 In person option available for: Shacharit (Monday - Friday @ 8:00 AM) Mincha/Maariv (Monday - Thursday @ 6:25 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
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