For more information and details on how to sign-up for our limited outdoor in-person services, please visit ostns.org/reopening.
The congregation extends its condolences to Mayor Muriel Bowser on the passing of her beloved sister, Mercia Bowser, due to complications related to COVID-19. For more information, and to make a donation in Mercia's memory, please visit here.
Virtual learning for today and tomorrow is sponsored by Janet Lipman in memory of her mother, Betty Levine.
The Women's Megillah Reading is sponsored by Ziona Tanzer in memory of her beloved sister, Goldie Tanzer-Lapiner, who pioneered women's megillah reading in South Africa.
Dessert Kiddush To-Go: Join the community this Shabbat for a covid-safe kiddush following morning services. The kiddush is sponsored by the Potvin-Nadata family in commemoration of the yarzheit of Joe Potvin, Debbie's father. Cupcakes will be individually boxed and are to be taken to-go. Please maintain social distancing when approaching the table. Tot Shabbat: Join Yoni Friedman and Justin Rubin this Shabbat, February 27 at 10:30 AM. Masks, social distancing, and registration required; register here.
Purim Schedule: Our complete Purim schedule is posted at ostns.org/purim. Be sure to register here for megillah reading, if you haven't already.
It is a great mitzvah to get vaccinated! Please note that the DC government has recently expanded its eligibility to include more people. Please be vigilant about checking the website and registering when it is appropriate. Please also help register friends and neighbors for whom it is difficult to navigate the system. For more information visit here.
Thank you to our virtual learning sponsors for this past week, Ellen Epstein and Naomy Brodsky. If you are interested in sponsoring a day of virtual learning for $54, please visit https://www.ohevdc.org/form/virtual-learning-sponsor.html
Spotlight on.... Purim Light Shows Tonight!
YCT Learning Series: This Sunday, February 28 at 8:00PM
Next Week! Guest Lecture with George E. Johnson on March 2
Ohev's Winter Food Drive for Yad Yehuda
Ohev's February Food Drive: Yad Yehuda has asked Ohev Sholom to collect winter foods for the food pantry, specifically: dried (tube) and boxed (broth) soups, barley, lentils, Near East mixes, and quinoa. We have a bin outside the shul on the Jonquil steps for drop off or you can order online and have the items shipped to the shul for us to deliver. Below are a few direct links to items on Amazon:
Comments on this Week's Parsha, Haftorah, and Special Additional Readings, Submitted by Rabbi Ben Mintz
This week's parsha, Tetzaveh, offers further instructions for the furnishing of the mishkan -- the tabernacle -- and then contains the rules for the vestments of Aharon, the High Priest, as well as those of the other priests. The parsha then describes the consecration of Aharon and the priesthood.
As the parsha opens, God tells Moshe to take beaten oil to provide a "ner tamid." This has traditionally been translated , "an eternal light." In our synagogue, the ner tamid is always lit. When I was young, the Sunday program of the Jewish Theological Seminary was entitled "The Eternal Light" and began with a reading of these words from the parsha. Ironically, the light referred to in the Torah was not "eternal." It was lighted every night, that is "regularly." Rashi points this out in his interpretation of the words, "ner tamid."
The parsha describes in some detail the clothing of Aharon, the High Priest, and his sons. (Shmos, Ch. 25) Among these vestments was the Choshen Mishpat, the breastpiece of Judgment. As with many instructions in the Torah -- including more of them in this parsha, the descriptions are very specific. The Torah stipulates that the Choshen should have four rows of stones, each row called a Tur, the four rows called Turim. Each row had three stones, the total of twelve stones corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.
That name -- "Arba Turim" -- was adopted by the medieval codifier of Jewish law, Yaakov ben Asher (13th century) as the basis for the organization of Jewish law and as the name for his Code of Jewish Law. In his case, each Tur represented a different area of law: Choshen Mishpat covered the civil law; Yoreh Deah the laws of kashrut, Even Ha'ezer, the laws pertaining to women, and Orach Chaim, the Festivals. This arrangement was adopted by Rabbi Yosef Karo in his definitive code, the Shulchan Arukh.
The haftorah for this Shabbos is from the book of Ezekiel (Yechezkeil:43:10-27). It describes the second temple which was built in the time of Yechezkeil, the prophet during the Babylonian captivity.
This evening (Thursday evening), Purim begins with the first reading of Megillat Esther. On Friday, the Megillah is read again. We commented on parts of the Megillah in last week's Shabboom.
Purim Sameach! A joyful Purim to all.
Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l
A video about this week's haftorah can be viewed here: Ezek. 43:10-27
Upcoming Events and Weekly Schedule
To view and register for upcoming events and view the weekly schedule, visit our website's online calendar. Sign up for in-person services here.
Sunday, February 28 (Adar 16) 8:00a Shacharit (in person or via Zoom) 9:00a Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld 12:00p Exploring Judaism: The Richness of our Tradition with Rabbi Mintz via Zoom 5:50p Mincha/Maariv (in person or via Zoom) 8:00p YCT - Winter Learning Series
Monday, March 1 (Adar 17)
Day of Virtual Learning Sponsored by Grayce Warren-Boulton for the yartzeit of her mother, Beverly Espinosa 7:00a Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld 8:00a Shacharit (in person or via Zoom) 12:30p Class with Rabbi Herzfeld on the Parsha via Zoom 4:30p Book of Kings with Maharat Friedman via Zoom 5:50p Mincha/Maariv (in person or via Zoom)
Tuesday, March 2 (Adar 18) 7:00a Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld 8:00a Shacharit (in person or via Zoom) 12:00p New Lecture by George E. Johnson 4:00p Parshah Storytime with Rabbi Herzfeld (recommended ages 4-6) 5:50p Mincha/Maariv (in person or via Zoom) 7:00p Class with Baruch Roth via Zoom 8:15p Class with Rabbi Herzfeld: The Laws of Pesach
Wednesday, March 3 (Adar 19)
Day of Virtual Learning Sponsored by: - Howard Marks in memory of his father, Morley Marks - Hanna Klapper in memory of Feyga Klapper, mother of Bernie Klapper, z"l 7:00a Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld 8:00a Shacharit (in person or via Zoom) 12:30p Class with Rabbi Herzfeld on the Parsha via Zoom 4:30p Book of Kings with Maharat Friedman via Zoom 5:50p Mincha/Maariv (in person or via Zoom)
Thursday, March 4 (Adar 20) 7:00a Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld 8:00a Shacharit (in person or via Zoom) 4:00p Teen Torah Class on Parashat Hashavua by Rabbi Herzfeld 5:50p Mincha/Maariv (in person or via Zoom)
Erev Shabbat, March 5 (Adar 21) 7:00a Daf Yomi with Rabbi Herzfeld 8:00a Shacharit (in person or via Zoom) 5:40p Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Registration required; Mincha available via Zoom) 5:46p Candle Lighting
Shabbat, March 6: Parshat Parah, Ki Tisa (Adar 22) 8:45a Shacharit (In person, registration required) 5:00p Daf Yomi 5:50p Mincha/Maariv 6:48p Havdalah
Lifecycles
Support our community and its members by making a donation dedicated in honor of (IHO) or in memory of (IMO) a loved one.
Joel Weintraub Mona Charen Yasmeen Pristoop Deborah Potvin Marti Reinfeld Adam Kopp Benjamin Parker Katie Schenk Nancy Switkes Aaron Sherman Ami Paul Avital Baer Justin Rubin Lara Fleischer Ruthanne Sheller Alma Bielenberg Eric Weisman Logan Pressberg Rebecca Gruber David (Etzy) Skromne
Don't see a birthday listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
Members Observing Yahrzeits
Thursday Joel Weintraub for mother Helen Weintraub Norma Burdett for mother-in-law Martha Burdett
Friday Deborah Potvin for father Joseph Potvin Ellen Epstein for grandfather Charles David
Shabbat Janet Lipman for mother Betty Levine
Sunday Howard Jacobson for father David Jacobson Sidney Rosenheim for mother-in-law Nellie Katzman
Monday Gilad Tal for mother Vera Tal Thera Swersky for first husband David Finbloom
Tuesday Jonathan Kopp for mother Charlotte Kopp Maraji Gwynallen for father Russell Levin Stefan Gottschalk for father John Gottschalk
Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)
