Energize your week with Ohev Sholom October 8, 2020
Announcements and Shabbat Sukkot Times
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:
Friday, October 9 at 1:00 PM Make Your Own Mini Torah (recommended ages 4-9) REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Click Here (Please register no later than Thursday morning!) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82108723173
Saturday, October 10, 5:30-6:15 PM and Sunday, October 11, 10:30 - 11:15 PM: All children are invited to join us for a socially distant opportunity to partake in Simchat Torah joy! We are offering two different slots, so please register for the one that is most convenient for your family (recommended all ages). REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Click Here
Thank you to our virtual learning sponsors from this past week, Neil & Fran Kritz, Lowell Brazin, Harris Cohen, Brian Miretzky, Hannah Tsimmerman & Nate Druckman If you are interested in sponsoring a day of virtual learning for $54, please email Alejandra at alejandra@ostns.org.
Friday, October 9 - Hoshana Rabbah 8:00 am | Hoshanah Rabbah services led by Gedalia Penner. Also available on zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941. Hoshanos provided by Reuven Walder 1:00 pm | Make your own mini Torah "Kids event" (advance registration required) 5:30 pm | Vezot HaBracha laining by Josie Silverberg via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 5:45 pm | Erev Chag Yizkor service led by Rebecca Anhang Price via Zoom at
https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 6:15 pm | Mincha (registration required) or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/3127816941 6:19 pm | Candlelighting 6:25 pm | Maariv (in person only) (advance registration required)
Saturday, October 10 - Shemini Atzeret 8:30 am | Shacharit & Musaf 10:30 am | Abridged yizkor service followed by Kohelet laining by Yoni Friedman 11:15am -11:45 am | Full Yizkor service (advance registration required) 5:30 - 6:15 pm | Kids Socially Distant Simchat Torah celebration 6:15 pm | Mincha (advance registration required) 6:35-7:45 pm | Maariv with Socially Distant and Abridged Hakafot and Torah Reading (advance registration required) 7:18 pm | Candlelighting
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 SHEMINI ATZERES AND SIMCHAS TORAH Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This Shabbos is Shemini Atzeres, and the following day is Simchas Torah.
There are a number of special observances on Shemini Atzeres. Yizkor is said, and the congregation recites Tfilas Geshem, the Prayer for Rain, which is said at the beginning of the rain season in Israel. The Torah reading is from the portion of Re'eh, describing the various festivals
The haftorah is from the book of Kings (1 Kings 8:54-66); it refers to the celebration of the festival by King Solomon. In addition, on Shemini Atzeres, we read the Book of Koheles, Ecclesiastes. The tradition says that King Solomon wrote three books of the Tanach: In his youth, according to tradition, he wrote Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, which is about love. Mishlei, Proverbs -- which contains wise sayings -- is said to have been written during his mature years, and Koheles, Ecclesiastes, was composed during his senior years. Koheles encompasses a very depressingly realistic view of the world: "A generation goes and a generation comes, and the land stands forever.' (Koheles, chap. 1)
On Simchas Torah, we complete the reading of the entire Torah by reading the last parsha, Ve'zos Habracha. It contains Moshe's final blessings of the Jewish people.
The haftorah is the first chapter of the book of Yehoshua. Moshe has died and Yehoshua takes over the leadership of the Jewish people.
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 10/11 In person option available for: Shacharit (Monday - Friday @ 8:00 AM) Mincha/Maariv (Monday - Thursday @ 6:20 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
Micah Messinger Nathan Weissler Zachary Elkaim Benjamin Berger Elana Levine Brown Naama Levine Brown Nathaniel Evans Rae Ringel Emma Ribner Asher Epstein Claire Mosenthal Hannah Gerstein Jennifer Geetter Devorah Walder Rachel Behrman Abigail Buchler Arava Resnick Michelle Kerbel Ruthie Arbit
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 Bess Lewis for sister Lillian Cardash
Friday Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen for father Wilfred Ellenbogen
Monday Sylvia Block for mother Sarah G. Mushinsky
Tuesday Julie (Julius) Levine for cousin Lester Warfield Neilah Rovinsky for father Robert Rovinsky Neshama Rovinsky for father Robert Rovinsky Renana Brooks for husband Robert Rovinsky
Wednesday Eleanor Kott for mother Sarah Shapiro
Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
